( upbeat music) - Utah's Hogle Zoo is presenting a new after-hours event this spring called ZooLuminate: Where the wild things glow.

And here with all the exciting details, it's guest engagement supervisor, Tauni Crisp and her special guest, Kalahari, the chuckwalla.

Hi Tauni.

- Hi.

- So first of all, why don't you tell us who Kalahari is here?

- Yeah.

Kalahari is a chuckwalla.

It's a type of iguana that lives in Southern Utah, and Kalahari lives in the Norma Building in our brand new wild Utah area.

And when you come for ZooLuminate, these areas are open while the sun is still up.

So as you come in, I recommend first saying goodnight to the animals, walk throughout the whole zoo, and then be on the far end zoo, like Rocky Shores, by the time that sun actually sets, so you can walk back through the zoo in the dark and see the new beautiful lights that are all over the zoo.

- Oh wow.

You've got it all mapped out for us.

Okay, so is it a little like the ZooLights in the winter?

- What a good question.

You know what I really like about this one is that it's warm, so there's not gonna be snow and the animals are still gonna be awake if you come right when it starts at 6:30.

And there's a whole bunch of different food options at our food areas throughout the zoo.

So it is like ZooLights in that there's lights, but it's also nothing like ZooLights because it is so much more.

- I know, it's such a good idea you're doing it in the spring.

- Yeah.

- Seriously.

And you can have dinner there and as you say, wander around.

So about what time will the lights come on?

- The lights will come on as soon as it starts to get dark, which, as we know, as we enter into summer, every night is a little bit later.

So the best time to come is right when it opens.

Enjoy the zoo as that sun sets.

It's a beautiful time.

Listen to the lions roar.

They love to do it when the sun is setting.

And then the lights will be all on and beautiful and dazzling as you exit.

- Okay.

And like how many lights do you have this time?

- So there are millions of lights and over 80 displays, and there are lots of animal lanterns around.

Every area has a theme, like a neon jungle and a larger-than-life garden, it's gorgeous.

- Ah, great way to spend a spring evening.

And thank you for being here.

- Of course.

- And if you'd like to know more about ZooLuminate coming up this spring at the Hogle Zoo, now through May 15th and 18th, and then the 22nd through the 26th at the Hogle Zoo, of course, go to hoglezoo.org, hoglezoo.org.

I'm Mary Dickson.

Thanks for watching "Contact."

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