With Christmas just rounding the corner, the time to begin shopping for friends and loved ones has begun. Getting the Christmas tree and “out decorating” our neighbors seems to be a priority. But what a lot of people tend to forget about is all the precious time that we get to spend with the people we care most about. One of my favorite things to do is to look at lights that are aesthetically hung.

The first place I went to was “A Wild Wonderland of Lights” at the LA Zoo Lights. Running from Nov. 16- Jan. 6, this event is located in Los Angeles Zoo. The whole event is a self-guided tour that lasts about 60 to about 90 minutes that includes live music, food, and even reindeer.

Right upon entering, the first thing guests see is a big Christmas tree with a snow machine placed next to it. As children and adults play with the faux snow, people begin to line up and take pictures in front of the beautifully lit up tree.

Walking up the steps on the dim zoo, to the right is a somewhat hidden path with blue and green lights. Although the path doesn’t really lead to anywhere specific, it’s still mesmerizing walking through the vibrant trees and bushes.

One of my favorite areas to be in was the tunnel of lights. As guests walk into the tunnel, they are enveloped with such a variety of lights. The tunnel changes color as well, so every few seconds is a completely different show. At the end of the tunnel, two people were performing with, you guessed it, more lights. The way they twirled their patons can make anyone stay and watch for a long time.

A show that brought many guests to gather around was one of the various light shows that were held throughout the night. Once the show began, many people were starting to cheer, taking pictures and enjoying the view. The lights projected many different animals and displays that danced along with the music.

If I could rate this entire event as a whole, I would rate it 5 out of 5 flickers.

Another popular event that occurs during this time of year is “Enchanted: Forest of Lights” at Descanso Gardens. Running from Nov. 18- Jan. 6, this event is held in a botanical garden in La Cañada Flintridge.

Guests are greeted with a great photo-op at the entrance of the path. The sign is brightly lit with colors that change from blue, green, pink, and purple.

At the beginning of the path, a large field of dazzling flowers were lit up, changing color in waves. In the background, calming sounds, like wind chimes, and ambient music was being played, reassuring guests that the experience would be calming.

As the path continues, guests enter a tunnel filled with star-like lights hanging from the roof. The sides of the tunnel have bushes and vines the intertwine with the foundation, giving the scene a rustic vibe. Walking through the tunnel gives anyone a perfect opportunity to take pictures.

As the tunnel continues, a mandala-like statue waits for guests at the end. With bright purple lights, the shadows that the statue create reflect off of people’s faces. With many statues alike, most of them were more interactive where one could spin them around and from side to side.

The last part of the event showcased a lot of lanterns. Bright and red, the lanterns were strung on trees and bridges for people to walk through. With many benches places around, guests were able to sit and enjoy the view and company of those around them.

If I had to rate this event, it would be 5 out of 5 flickers.

With many light festivals readily available for the holidays, these two are definitely recommended.