The picturesque Wilhelma zoo is one of the most popular destinations in Stuttgart, and this holiday season it got an added jolt of loveliness.

The Christmas Garden Stuttgart is lighting things up, literally. Unfortunately, time is running out to see it. The exhibition, which began Nov. 15, ends Jan. 6. While the clock ticks, it is worth a scramble to take in the nighttime sights.

The garden, which meanders through the sections of the zoo, includes 25 displays. There is an assortment of lighted sculptures: reindeer pulling a sleigh, penguins, an elephant and lots of angels. Illuminated pavilions, pillars and arches add to the atmosphere.

Best of all, there are small snack areas along the way where you can roast a marshmallow, eat something off the grill and drink a warm gluhwein, that aromatic German wintertime staple that translates in English as mulled wine. I’ve never heard “mulled wine” uttered, let alone consumed, by any stateside American. But gluhwein has a place in the German lexicon for victuals right up there with beer and bratwurst.

As you walk through the zoo, you encounter a few animals along the way — penguins, storks and flamingos. You’ll miss out on the big cats and elephants during the nighttime walk, but after a few gluhweins, there are no regrets.

Instead, the lights and holiday mood, complete with Christmas music piped in at various parts of the walk, carries the night.

It is best to purchase tickets online through the zoo’s special event site: christmas-garden.de/en/stuttgart. It is open daily and admissions are done hourly, with the first at 5 p.m. and the last at 9 p.m. The garden closes at 10 p.m., so it is best to choose an early admission time to wander in the garden.

If you miss the Christmas Garden this go around, Wilhelma is still worth a stop any time of year. The zoo recently opened a new ape house, where you can watch gorillas and all kinds of monkeys. There are more than 1,000 different types of animals and 7,000 plant varieties. In addition to the big attractions, like giraffes and lions, the zoo also has a petting area where visitors can play with miniature goats and farm animals.

The zoo says it gets more than 2 million visitors each year, making it one of the most popular sites in the city. It was originally planned as an estate, designed in Moorish architectural style, for King Wilhelm I in the mid-19th century. The design gives the zoo an exotic flair.

So, whether it’s for the lights or the animals, Wilhelma is worth the price of admission, which admittedly is a tad high.

vandiver.john@stripes.com Twitter: @john_vandiver

DIRECTIONS: Location: 13 Wilhelma/Neckartalstrasse, Stuttgart 70376 The zoo has a parking garage. Several U-bahn lines also stop near the zoo.TIMES: Open daily. Admission is done hourly, with the first at 5 p.m. and the last at 9 p.m. The garden closes at 10 p.m.COSTS: Tickets are 17 euros ($20) Monday-Thursday and 19 euros Friday-Sunday.FOOD: There are several stands throughout the zoo.INFORMATION: Helpful tips and online ticket purchasing: christmas-garden.de/en/stuttgart

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