12th Man tree at Zoolights gives Seahawks fans even more reason to cheer

ZOOLIGHTS SHINES THROUGH JAN. 5 – AND GIVES SEAHAWKS FANS EVEN MORE REASON TO CHEER

12th Man Tree among more than half a million sparkling lights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

TACOMA, Wash. – Seattle Seahawks fans celebrating the team’s NFC West championship will find even more reason to cheer at Zoolights. 

A huge tree strung with lights in Seahawks’ blue and green towers over the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium plaza at the entrance to Zoolights. And the tree is topped with a large lighted 12 in honor of the 12th Man, the term representing the team’s loyal and exuberant fans.

The team colors on the tree are just some of the more than half a million lights decorating the zoo for the holiday season. And the show continues into 2014.

Zoolights is open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly through Jan. 5.

Tickets are available online at www.pdza.org and at the Customer Service counters in Puget Sound-area Fred Meyer stores for $7.50 per person. General admission at the gate is $8.75.

Zoo members receive discounted rates at $4.25 per person and can find details at www.pdza.org.

There is no admission charge for children 2 and under.

Parking is free.

Zoolights’ dazzling displays include a stunning 15.5-foot-high replica of Mount Rainier; a 17-foot tall tiger head in mid-roar; a majestic family of polar bears; a glorious green-trunked-and-purple-crowned Flame Tree ablaze with more than 30,000 LEDs; and dozens of zoo animals brought to “life” in colorful lights and artful animation. There are sequential light scenes featuring an eagle swooping down to snatch a salmon and a tiger cub chasing a butterfly. There are ice skating puffins, a wolf howling at the moon, zoo and aquarium animals pulling Santa’s sleigh, prancing peacocks, a grinning Cheshire Cat and dozens more.

Several zoo exhibit spaces are open, and visitors can touch stingrays, watch sharks glide through the South Pacific Aquarium, view dozens of fish and other sea creatures in the North Pacific Aquarium, or marvel at meerkats and see many other animals in the zoo’s Kids’ Zone area.

Plus, there are carousel and camel rides available.

Zoolights is a great way to wind up the holiday season or ring in the New Year.

And even for people who’ve been to Zoolights already this season, the NFC championship the Seahawks won today will give fans a reason to see the displays in a whole new light.