Celebrate the Holiday Season at Audubon Nature Institute

Audubon has your holidays planned out with many activities and events to get you in the merry mood.

Audubon Zoo Lights presented by Children’s Hospital kicked off, November 23 at 5:30pm. The event is running select nights from November 23 to December 30, 5:30pm-9:30pm. Audubon Zoo Lights presented by Children's Hospital features an array of festive, family-friendly activities.

Guests can drop by the Elves Workshop crafts tent and create special messages that will be delivered to patients at Children’s Hospital, send letters to Santa at the North Pole Post, peruse the wares of local artisans in the Mistletoe Market, or drop by Fireside Tales for a children’s story time with local authors. Come be one of the first to experience the signature attraction, Wildlife Wonderland, where visitors can view larger than life, silk lighted replicas of some of the Zoo’s most popular animals.

Santa will be diving throughout this holiday season. Make sure and stop by Audubon Aquarium of the Americas say hi and let him know if you have been naughty or nice!

Jingle Bugs, December 8, from 10:30am – 4:30pm at Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium is sure to get you buzzing with joy. Families are invited to come and enjoy bug-themed activities and treats.

Test your knowledge of "winter bugs" with our GUMDROP HUNT. Look high and low for gumdrops to answer questions. Pick-up game cards in the lobby and turn them in at the Metamorphosis Lab to enter for a prize. Sample holiday treats such as Peppermint Cricket Bark, Bug Nog and Fruit Fly Cake.

“Jingle Bugs offers the perfect way to hop into the holiday season with face painting or a Santa Claus meet and greet in our Hall of Fame which showcases the biggest, fastest and most impressive bugs on the planet!" says Zack Lemann, Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium Curator of Animal Collections.

Friends of Joe W. Brown Memorial Park and Audubon Louisiana Nature Center are hosting a Winter Wonderland East of the North Pole, December 8 from 12:00pm – 4:00pm. Get your photo with Santa, sip on some hot cocoa and enjoy tasty treats. There is even a toy give-away! Call 504.427.2596 for ticket pre-registration and for additional information about the event visit: www.friendsofjoewbrownpark.org.

Ring in the New Year, kid style at Zoo Year’s Eve, December 31, 10:30am – 12:30pm. Audubon Zoo invites families and kids of all ages to celebrate the new year in style with music, games and prizes. Pick up a party hat and noise maker, grab a Pepsi drink for toasting, and countdown to Noon to ring in the New Year with "The Pop Princesses!"

"We celebrate the wonders of nature here at Audubon, we’re delighted with the help of our partners to offer a way to celebrate the wonder of the holidays with an animal twist for the families of our community” says Ron Forman, Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO.

Jingle Bugs, Zoo Year's Eve, Winter Wonderland and Santa Dive events and activities are complimentary for Audubon members or included with Zoo admission. Zoo Lights is not included in price of admission.  All items are while supplies last.

Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance and can do so at https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/tickets.

For more information on these wild holiday activities visit https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/events.