Guest Blog: Zooluminate at Dartmoor Zoo

Looking for something family friendly to do this Christmas? Dartmoor Zoo has you covered.

Zooluminate is back – and this year as a little festive thank you, your ticket includes a free hot drink of your choice (hot chocolate, tea or coffee – not from the barista menu) and a mince pie, with GF options available upon request!

                    

If you’ve never been to Zooluminate before, here’s what you need to know.

Zooluminate is a magical and wintery walk around the gorgeous Dartmoor Zoo site, taking in a series of beautiful light installations (from JHAV, the incredible team that brought you The Atlantic Project and Illuminate Festival of Light), which bring the Zoo to life after dark in the most enchanting way possible!

There are stunning installation spaces the entire way around the Zoo, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities for those selfies, plus – some of their animal enclosures are going to be illuminated, so you might even get the chance to see some of the animals all snuggled up for the night.

Dartmoor Zoo can’t guarantee the animals will be outside of their cosy homes, but the lights have been specifically researched and chosen to illuminate without causing any harm or disruption, so if they’re outside, you should be able to capture some wonderful evening photos of some very happy animals.

And don’t worry…even if you have experienced Zooluminate before, with a whole host of new and exciting installations, you won’t want to miss the brand-new Zooluminate experience this year!

Plus, another new addition to get excited about this year is:

Santa’s Grotto 
Meet Santa, get a surprise mini plush, try some arts and crafts with one of Santa’s happy elves and get plenty of opportunities for those festive photos! Santa’s Grotto is a ticketed event, NOT included within Zooluminate general admission/annual pass tickets and spaces are strictly limited and may not be available on the evening, so Dartmoor Zoo strongly suggest booking in advance. Each slot lasts approximately 20 minutes and tickets are £10 for 1 adult and 1 child. Excludes 24th – 28th December.

For evening meals, the Jaguar Restaurant is open daily until 19.00 throughout the event, offering a whole host of delicious food, drink and snack options to refuel your Zoo adventure, including some festive specials.

To purchase your tickets, you can visit their website here.

                                              

Getting here and key event info:

• Zooluminate admission is from 17:00 – 18:30 and the event closes at 19:30.
• Food is available at the event until 19:00 when the Jaguar Restaurant closes.
• Zooluminate is an evening, ticketed event – access to this event is NOT included within your general admission/annual pass tickets and requires a separate admission ticket to attend. If you are an annual pass holder or purchase a general admission ticket as well as a Zooluminate ticket, you will be given a wristband and can stay on site after the Zoo closure at 16:00.
• Tickets to Zooluminate are non-refundable, but can be transferred to another night subject to extreme weather conditions where the Zoo may need to close.
• Dartmoor Zoo is hilly and uneven in areas, so although predominantly accessible, some may find it difficult in wheelchairs or with prams in certain areas. Mobility scooters are available for hire, and these can be booked prior to your arrival. It is recommended to wear sturdy footwear throughout this event.
• If you’re arriving from the A38, take the Deep Lane turn off signed for Plympton, follow the signs for ‘Wildlife Park’ from the roundabout at Chaddlewood. This will take you past Langage Business Park to Sparkwell village, which Dartmoor Zoo is just on the far side of, approximately 300 yards further on.
• If you’re arriving from Plympton, continue on the B3416 towards the Chaddlewood roundabout, then go straight ahead and follow the signs to Sparkwell. Once you get to Sparkwell, drive through the village and you’ll find Dartmoor Zoo approximately 300 yards further on.
• If you’re arriving by bus, the 59 bus service stops outside the zoo main entrance. Route 59 operates from Monday to Saturday. There is no service on Sundays and bank holidays. The 59 leaves Royal Parade (stop A13) in Plymouth City Centre takes around 30 minutes, stopping at Sparkwell village and then right outside the zoo entrance. It takes approximately 45 minutes in the opposite direction from the George Park and Ride outside of Plymouth.