Glow Wild: An Animal Lantern Celebration

Glow Wild: An Animal Lantern Celebration is the Birmingham Zoo's holiday lantern festival, a mile-long outdoor walk through hundreds of handcrafted lanterns and more than one million lights. The displays celebrate the natural world, from deep-sea creatures to soaring birds, with brand-new installations mixed in along the trails. A Holiday Village adds Santa visits, carolers and photo spots, the Red Diamond Express Train gives a twinkling ride through the zoo, and the treat stands lean into hot cocoa, apple cider, s'mores and churros. Most animals head indoors after dark, though flamingos and elephants may be out depending on the weather.

Our take: If seeing Santa matters to your kids, line your visit up with one of the select Santa nights, and save animal viewing for a separate daytime trip.