The fourth annual Essex County Holiday Lights Spectacular kicks off tonight at Turtle Back Zoo. For the next three weekends the lights will be on for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from 5 to 9 p.m. On December 17, the light show will switch to an every day schedule and run through January 2, except for December 24 and 25.
The zoo strings up more than 100,000 lights for the show, turning them into 40 animal and holiday-themed figures. Several animal exhibits will be also be open, including the Essex Farm, Tam-ring Gibbons Reserve, Tropical Currents Aquarium and the Reptile Building.
Admission is free throughout the event, but you might not want to go empty-handed: The zoo is collecting non-perishable food for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots program.
