Skate with the blue polar bears, eat luminous cotton candy and get lost in an illuminated pine forest. Wildnights 2023 is out.
Where in the past zoos and amusement parks often closed for the winter, every self-respecting attraction now has a winter event. Good for bonding with subscribers and for box office revenue at the end of the year.
Countless spotlights
“A good example is followed,” says Hanneke Wijnshake from Wildlands with a wink during her round on the opening evening of the sixth WILDnights in Emmen. “Every year it gets a little bigger, the fountains are higher and the range of eateries becomes more varied. We hope to welcome at least 40,000 visitors again,” she says at one of the novelties, the skating rink near the polar bears. The Arctic animals are blue in color this Christmas holiday due to one of the countless spotlights in the park.
Many other animals are in stables or play a supporting role in the shade. Only a heartfelt whine, howl or bark makes their presence known.
Spouting fountains
Until January 7, it is light, laser and fire that steals the show on these dark days in the park. The park is only closed on New Year’s Eve. On the savannah, the giraffes, rhinos and lions can only be seen through projection in the impressive spectacle with spouting fountains. “The animals are often indoors in the winter anyway. You also don’t want a rhino to trample the installation,” says Wijnshake.
Despite all the splendor and tens of thousands of lights in the park, nature remains the boss tonight. Right above WILDnights, after the beautiful bright orange sunset, a beautiful full moon faithfully keeps watch. About people and animals.