[Columbia, SC] - It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas as Riverbanks Zoo and Garden prepares for South Carolina’s largest and longest running holiday tradition, Lights Before Christmas. Riverbanks celebrates the 20th anniversary with more than half a million twinkling lights and an all-new spectacular light show, making this year a must-see for all ages. “Lights Before Christmas is like the kick-off of the holiday season. Many people don’t get into the spirit until they come to the see the Lights,” said Satch Krantz, executive director of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. “In celebration of the twenty year anniversary, we will open a weekend early and promise a whole new experience that will have guests talking for years to come.” New to the celebration this year is Music in Motion Lights Spectacular, a 10-minute digital light show complete with enchanting holiday carols and seamlessly choreographed lights brought to you by First Citizens. The show will start as music, accompanied by a slow build of lights that crescendos into a dazzling display of moving colors and patterns. A 20-foot, computer-animated tree will dance to a medley of holiday favorites from “Jingle Bells” to “Holly Jolly Christmas,” while spotlights sweep the ground, stars sparkle and snowflakes fall. In keeping with Riverbanks mission, the environmentally friendly tree is lit with LED lights. Guests can look forward to snow every night as the new light show captivates the crowd. Show times will be listed at the front gate and online. Also new to the lights festival this year is a condensed version of the popular children’s book and blockbuster movie starring Tom Hanks, The Polar Express™ 4D Experience. Family members of all ages will enjoy the captivating holiday themed story of a doubting young boy who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole. He embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. “With all of the new additions, guests will still find the traditional favorites,” said Krantz. “It’s the lights that people really come out to see. Lively hand-crafted light displays will surround the Zoo along with brilliantly lit trees, shrubs and buildings.” Over 350 light displays, designed to imitate everything from elephants splashing and siamangs swinging, make Lights Before Christmas truly unique from other holiday lights festivals. Recently selected as one of Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for Fall 2007, a full-time staff works year-round to create new and dazzling light displays, making this holiday spectacular one you’ll want to experience again and again. To top off the experience, families can roast warm and gooey marshmallows at the Jingle Bell Bonfire and wash down the sticky delights with a cup of hot cocoa or Starbucks coffee. No trip to Lights Before Christmas is complete without a visit to Santa Claus. The jolly-old soul will visit Riverbanks each night, and parents are offered the opportunity to take photographs with Santa free of charge using their personal cameras while the little ones tell him whether they’ve been naughty or nice. Lights Before Christmas will run November 23 until December 30 from 6 to 9pm with closings on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Riverbanks members receive one free visit to Lights. General admission tickets are $5 for children and $7 for adults. Tickets to see The Polar Express™ 4D Experience are an additional $2. Lights tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the Zoo entrance. THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s07) | 
