Celebrate the Holidays with New Animal Arrivals at Pairi Daiza.

From November 30 to January 5, 2025, the park awarded "Best Zoo in Europe" will host Christmas Time, a dazzling celebration for visitors and animals alike.

28 November 2024

For the holiday season, Pairi Daiza will once again be transformed into the largest illuminated garden in the country.

Starting December 7, guests can enjoy video projections on the Abbey Tower and the water screen in The Land of the Cold. Among the highlights are two spectacular shows: the debut of "Christmas Ark/Arc de Noël," showcasing over 40 animals in festive attire finding their new home in the park after a symbolic journey, and "Ice Animals," another stunning visual production.

Evening visits from December 21 to January 4 will allow guests to enjoy the park until 8 PM, accompanied by live concerts. However, on December 24, 25, 31, and January 1, activities will be limited, and the park will close at 6 PM.

Seasonal elements, such as Christmas trees up to 12 meters high, special treats for the animals, and festive decorations, create a magical atmosphere.

A thousand lights

A new illumination design lights up the worlds of The Kingdom of Ganesha, The Land of Origins, The Islands of the Rising Sun, and the recently renovated Abbey Farm.

The park's unique collection of illuminated animal sculptures grows to approximately 70 creations, with 20 new designs based on its residents. Visitors can admire these sculptures and compare them to the real-life animals nearby.

A breathtaking light extravaganza: multiple projection mappings

Additionally, Pairi Daiza continues its collaboration with Grand Les Yeux and Drop The Spoon, who have jointly already produced over 20 video mappings for the park since 2017. Their latest creation will premiere December 7 "Christmas Ark/Arc de Noël."

A separate projection, "Christmas Traditions," will adorn the Abbey Tower during this festive season.

Pairi Daiza invites all to immerse themselves in this enchanting experience, making the holiday season unforgettable.

Poster for Christmas Ark — Poster for *Christmas Ark*

6 mechanical orchestras with 30 animated animals in transparent snow globes

A Belgian tradition: mechanical orchestras.

In Belgium, a fascinating tradition of mechanical orchestras has entertained people since the 19th century. These orchestras, also known as automata, are special musical machines that play music and bring dolls and figures to life using complex mechanical systems. They are the result of precise craftsmanship and technology. They play an important role in Belgian folk culture, especially in cafés, fairs, and at public celebrations. Some musicologists relate their influence to the Belgian approach to electronic music and Belgian dj culture today.

Between The Land of The Cold and The Last Frontier, you can enjoy these animated animals playing Christmas music in snow globes.

Party Animals

Visitors to Pairi Daiza can meet Santa Claus and his helpers in the park. Pairi Daiza is planning over a month of festivities, including gifts for the 7,500 animals.

The program features various interactive outdoor activities for animals that particularly enjoy the cold, such as giant pandas, red pandas, Siberian tigers, kea parrots, and polar bears. Animals that prefer to quickly return to their warm indoor enclosures after a short winter walk, like hippopotamuses, giraffes, and gorillas, will also receive small seasonal surprises.

These thematic enrichments are designed to satisfy the animals' natural curiosity and are necessary all year round. For example, Pairi Daiza prepares a feast with Christmas trees, on which pieces of meat are hung for the lions, and snowmen decorated with fruits and vegetables for the elephants.

Stay Longer and Enjoy More

There are still some rooms available for a stay during the holiday period at the Pairi Daiza Resort! Accommodations with views of farm animals, polar bears, Siberian tigers, black bears, fallow deer, Steller's sea lions, or wolves and brown bears are still open for booking.

To end 2024 in the most unique way or to start 2025 peacefully, without fireworks, in comfortable rooms close to the animals, you can view and book available rooms online. Check availability and book online at Pairi Daiza Resort.

While staying overnight, you can enjoy traditional mulled wine and hot chocolate at various spots in the park. The Penguin Bar and Mökki also serve “Lazy Red Cheeks” cocktails and mocktails. At the Mökki gourmet restaurant, you can enjoy cocktails like "Dolce Notte" and "Apple Bliss."

During this festive season, the Brasserie also offers holiday dishes, including game options. The Orangerie offers a seasonal Raclette cheeseburger.

Some figures and tips:

35 days with extra lighting for ambiance, 11 nocturnes until 8:00 PM.
Kilometers of light garlands around the large trees and buildings in the park. Over 1 million LEDs (370,000 for the garlands, 430,000 for the animal sculptures, 240,000 for other decorations).
A lit tunnel of more than 60 meters.
6 (animated/mechanical) orchestras with 30 animated animals in transparent Christmas baubles.
Various street orchestras and musicians perform live Christmas music during the holiday season, both outdoors and in the event hall, the Dôme, where you can enjoy animation and live music until 7:30 PM and indulge in winter treats such as pancakes, cotton candy, onion soup, and savory potato dishes (tartiflette or variations including salmon).
The Wilderness shop in The Land of the Cold offers a Christmas market with fun Christmas items for the home.