November 22, 2023 • 20 mins
Celebrate Columbus’ favorite holiday traditions by heading behind-the-scenes at Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo, a beloved experience with millions of lights and tons of festivities. You'll hear about the first years and history of Wildlights from Donivan Harkness, the Zoo's ground maintenance manager (who has long been instrumental toWildlights), and Sarah Cornell, the events and promotions coordinator, on what it takes to get Wildlights up and running.
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(00:00):
Live Fun of the Experienced Columbuses.Live Forward Live Podcast introduces you to a
new frontier of undiscovered possibility. Columbusis a city with an energy of its
own. Join Boxer, Kelsey andtheir guests for an insider's look at a
(00:24):
destination that invites visitors and locals aliketo share and explore. We'll go behind
the scenes of popular attractions, uncoverbest kept secrets for things to see and
do, and meet people who embodywhat it means to live forward. Welcome
back to another episode of Live Forward, Live and Experienced Columbus podcast. Of
(00:44):
course, it's the holidays, sowe're celebrating Columbus tis the season. Kelsey,
Oh my god, got Kelsey withus. I'm boxer with the hosts
of this great podcast, and we'reshowcasing the wonderful activities, tractions, unique
markets and all ways of the clubs, community in the charm and how we
celebrate this season. This is apretty exciting podcast. Guests, How we
(01:08):
got these two people here today?I don't either, considering how busy they
must be at the Columbus Zoo andat where I am. I was stressed
out, I know, but they'rethey're nice they don't seem like they're stressed
out at all. We want towelcome Donovan Harkness, who's the ground maintenance
manager at thirty plus year VET atthe Clumbus Zoo. Bravo, Donovan,
(01:30):
good to have you with us,and the lovely Sarah Cornell, who's the
events and promotions coordinator. Welcome,Sarah, thank you for having us.
Good to have you guys and yoursmiling. You seem happy. How are
you not stressed out? They're stressedon the inside internally, Okay, right
at the point where we are aboutto turn the lights on. Yeah,
(01:53):
the stressful times are almost all theway back time. Okay, So as
long as it doesn't rain stress levelsthere you go. Okay, rain stress
level, rain stress levels, soyou'd be happy when it gets colder and
the snow starts flying. It isdefinitely it helps with the lights because no
(02:14):
moisture and electricity well not friends,just think about your old lights at home.
Yeah, that's a really good point. Well, don Event and Sarah.
Let's why don't we start with youDonovan uh, thirty plus year VET
at the Columbus Zoo. How didit gets started for you? You from
Columbus not originally I considered since I'velived here for so long. I'm actually
from South Carolina, Okay, Iwas born in Charleston. Mom's family is
(02:37):
from this area, so I actuallywe were coming back up here to go
to Ohio State. So at mytime in Ohio State, to a friend,
I took a summer job at theColumbus City like all the other students,
just a three month seasonal gig.I liked it. I was good
at it. They invite me backeventually full time. And then I was
(02:59):
good at it that I got promotedand then promoted again, and yeah,
and I've just done it for thirtyyears and it time flew right by,
so you must love it. Yeahright? Oh no, I absolutely love
it, absolutely, absolutely love itwell with when you're a ground maintenance manager,
that's your official title. Is iteverything I can imagine when I see
(03:22):
the title with what you cover?I cover the general cleanliness, cleanliness aspects
of the zoo and zombiezy Bay.We also handle any form of activities needed
with group sales and large events atthe zoo, one of the large events
being wild lights and everything from custodialto sustainability. We kind of are big
(03:47):
catch all and you have really createclean restrooms. Yes, oh my gosh.
I mean when you go to ZoZBay and zombies e Bay, and
I mean all of the events atthis zoo. It's just pristine always,
I know. And you think aboutall the traffic that rolls through there.
Yes, and you guys are ableto keep up. That's pretty impressive,
(04:08):
thank you. It is a lotof pride for my department in our restrooms.
Right. Sounds silly, but anybodywho's gone to park where you walk
into their restuom and go, ohboy, that's not good. So we
never want that. Yeah, especiallyat the water park because everybody has no
shoes on. True. Oh ohyeah, that is true. Yeah.
(04:28):
Sarah Cornell, who's the events andpromotions coordinator? You've been there what two
years? How'd you get started?You from Columbus? Sure? So I
grew up in Mansfield, Ohio actually, and moved down to Columbus to attend
the Ohio State University. I studiedhospitality management, so through my time there,
I worked in hotels, food service, events, weddings and all of
that helped prep me for my dreamjob, which was to work for the
(04:49):
zoo. So I feel very fortunateto be on such a great team at
the zoo. I swear she's youJust look at Sarah, She's like meant
to do hospitality. I think youwere born to it that right, refreshed,
smiling all the time, welcoming.And then also, you know,
I didn't realize that you can getmarried at the zoo. So you just
(05:11):
you have so many events at thezoo aside from just you know, the
animal stuff. I mean, peoplehave their like corporate events and marriages and
all that, right, Yeah,So we have a group sales department that
handles all of the weddings and morecorporate events, and then the events and
Promotions department that I'm a part of. We include the events that are included
(05:33):
in admissions, such as Boo atthe Zoo, Eggs, PAS, and
Clause. And then my coworker plansall of the fundraising events like Zufari and
those bigger events as well. Sowe kind of cover all the aspects of
events that you can have at thezoo. How many people get married a
year on average at the zoo,I don't quite a few. Yes,
I have weddings every weekend throughout mostof the year. So we have three
(05:57):
amazing venues that you can get marriedat and have your reception there as well.
So who knew a don of it. We're gonna get to you with
this as well. But Sarah,why don't we just start with you when
it comes to the holiday season,wild lights and everything that goes along with
at the Zoo. What are yourresponsibilities? Sure? So the Events department
is pretty much in charge of allof the decor that's not the lights,
So you'll come in and see.We have a Rudolph Meet and greed experience
(06:19):
with characters, So we're transforming Polarunderwater viewing to a Rudolph Meet and greet,
so we'll have those characters there.We have Santa Claus and we transform
that Polar building into a meet andgreet experience with him. I'm also in
charge of booking all the sounds ofthe season groups that we're really excited to
host. Local choirs, yeah,to come out with us, So we
(06:42):
have our hands in a little bitof everything. Yeah. By the way,
great job with the choirs. That'sa lot of choirs you book,
Sarah. Yeah, they're all veryexcited and we're happy to be able to
connect the community and have them outhere for guests to enjoy almost every night
of wild lights. All right,we are talking about the celebrating clubs during
the holidays season our Live Forward LiveExperience Columbus podcast. I'm Boxer Kelsey,
(07:04):
your host, and we're talking withSarah Cornell, the events promotions coordinator at
the Zoo, and Donovan Harkness,who's the ground management or maintenance manager.
Donovan, let's go to you nowwith the holiday portion of this, because
when I think of wild lights andeverything that goes along with it, that's
a tremendous undertaking. Yes, myresponsibility as a manager. I work with
(07:28):
all the other managers in our facilitiesapartment. We have a horticulture department,
LSS department, the maintenance department,and we all work together also with our
Rise maintenance apartment from the water parkto install the three million Christmas lights.
Grounds takes three million, Yes,Wow. Grounds takes the lead on it,
and then we are supported by allthe other departments and facilities. It's
(07:53):
in all your process that we workon. Mainly the bulk of installing the
lights starts in September, okay,and they all come down or some stay
up. Yes, we take allthe lights down. Wow in January and
February, which is not fun.It's I bet not eighty feet in the
air in February. It is nota good time. But we get it
(08:16):
all done and we actually take themall down and we make sure they all
function, and then from there weactually wrap them all back up like you
would see in the store so wecan put them in case lots on skids
and catalog everything that we have sowe can start getting ready for the next
year. So you make sure thatthey work before you put them away.
(08:37):
When you take them back out,are you making sure they work again?
Yes? Okay. One of thekeys like if anybody ever wants a tip
for putting up lights anywhere at ourplease please make sure your lights are plugged
in while you're putting them up,because the stress you can put on a
light strand can't break it. Andif it's not plugged in, you think
(08:58):
you're done, this is great,and then you go to turn I'm on
and it'll be light strand right inthe middle. That doesn't work always,
so then it's a lot worse.So they always are on while we put
them up. Chips from a professionalis this is this this is an old
school like if a string of lightsdoesn't work, or if there's one bulb
the whole thing doesn't work, it'sLED now, right, So yeah,
(09:18):
luckily, Yeah, that's that istrue with LEDs. It's the whole strand
or nothing. Okay. I doyou remember the days where I would when
I'd have to repair strands, weactually had a way to check every bulb,
find the bulbs that didn't work,put anyone's in, and make the
strand work. I know when Iput my trees around the my lights around
(09:39):
the tree, I get so frustrated, and you know, I swear,
And is it like, like,how do you keep your composure that's along
of lights to untangle. I'm I'mgonna be honest with you. Since I've
been doing lights for so long,there have been many times where I did
not keep my composure. Yeah.I can remember one time everything was going
(10:03):
wrong. I weird a lot ofstress, and I actually took the lift
eyes in, which was about aninety foot lift right straight up into the
air to where I was as highas I could get. I turned the
lift off and I sat down becauseI did not know what to do with
this. Yeah, and then it'sa lot of pressure. But luckily,
as we've moved forward and we've growndoing this endeavor, we've gotten really good
(10:28):
at it and we've done most ofthe areas so it's almost mechanical now.
It's like we got a job todo. Everybody knows what their job is
and it's just boom, boom boom. As long as the weather holds.
It's actually we actually have a lotof fun. Yeah, bad weather,
because the lights do have to getdone on time. So yes, we
(10:50):
are out there in the rain,the wind, if it's snowing, and
that that's no fun. Donovan,do you ever encounter problems during the Wild
Lights season that you behind the scenesthat you have to fix that we wouldn't
know about. Does that happen?Oh? Oh yeah, we've We've had
like our some of the main showsthat are animated, so yeah, over
(11:13):
one hundred control boxes hooked to acomputer. We've had it go down and
this is a and we will trickeverything to make it look like it's working
and then be back in, youknow, sometimes at five in the morning
to start finding the little light grumones that are messing keys up. When
some of our larger displays like let'ssay have a large like a big little
(11:35):
elephant. Let's say it would breakin the middle of the night. The
elephant would just disappear, nothing tosee here. It would go behind the
scenes and the staff would get fixedand it would be magically back. Yeah.
Man, well for both of you, I know, you know you
put so much work into this.What's it like the moment where the kids
(11:58):
are running in and the smiles areon their faces and it's all comes to
fruition, and you know, themagic just is in the air. It
definitely, it's very heartwarming because welike working there obviously get to see it
every single day, which it nevergets old for us, but seeing it
through the kid's eyes and the family'seyes that come and visit is just so
(12:20):
rewarding, and it makes you forgetabout all the hard work that it went
into it, because what really mattersis putting on a great experience for our
guests. Yeah, Sarah, doyou have a favorite part of Wild Lights
or the holiday season at the Zoo? I think it's honestly just that we
can bring the community together, likeI mentioned, seeing their reaction and just
providing like a fun, unique spacein the zoo where they can see animals,
(12:43):
they can see the lights, andcome with family and friends or even
if you come by yourself, you'regonna have a great time at the zoo.
So yeah, Donovan, how aboutyou, I think to go on
what she's saying. I think it'sjust all the families as they arrive,
because I mean, Christmas, theholiday season can can be pretty stressful for
people. Yeah, and now youget to come to the zoo. It's
awesome. It's beautiful. We havethe music playing and people are taking pictures
(13:07):
and then they come back to nextyear and it's another family picture. So
it's kind of cool that my jobis to make like holiday memories. Yeah,
I mean who gets to do that, And that's what I get to
do every year, So I thinkthat would be it. And then my
other favorite wild Lights, partially becauseI created it, is a jingle Jam
which is on the Shores Park area. Yea suggest suspended like dancing spears of
(13:31):
light all through the air and it'sa little funkier of the music we use,
and children really love to play onthe playground that's underneath it, and
they are just having so much fun. And yeah, I get to do
that. Is there a budget whereand maybe it's not every year, but
you know every few years you getto come up with a new you know,
creation or innovation. Yes, wehave to think about that almost a
(13:56):
year ahead of time, okay,because we budget years out and there's lots
of people involved with the ideas andwhether it's my department's idea or let's say,
marketing's idea, we just once weget it going and then we have
to try to future price it andthen yeah, we just get it push
(14:16):
through and then we do Is thereone energy bill that you get like in
January season and someone has to openit and look at it and not like
faint it is sponsored by AEP soyeah, luckily that is the financial apartment
and not me. So can youimagine on that note. I was talking
(14:37):
to your marketing apartment a couple ofweeks ago when we were talking about flipping
the switch, Jane and Jeff,and they kind of chuckled at first,
like, that's that's really difficult todo. It sounds really cool and we've
done it before, but the tremendouscoordination apparently that it takes to be able
to flip the switch. It's likea master control roll or what there's no
(15:01):
master control for the whole zoo.Yeah, I can turn on and off
our main lake area, sure,because that's actually controlled by a computer.
Now, oh okay, but yes, back before you know, we had
the technology, we actually it wouldbe a whole bunch of switches and we
try to coordinate a countdown over aradio and then it would only be three
(15:24):
two one. And people, Imean some people are actually like next to
an outlet, like plugging it in. I generally would get the lovely job
of actually turning on like a mainbreaker box with the with the main switch,
which is it was always exciting becauseyou're always like, I hope this
works and I don't look like atotal idiot. But yeah, we used
to do it that way. Butnow, I mean, in reality,
(15:46):
it's an SD card. Yeah,it's in a small computer, so it
is, and it's so nice andsimple. Now. I know you guys
are the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.But I will say, especially with the
holidays, I love and I'm I'msure you you purposely try to do this
as best as you can. Ilove how you incorporate you know, your
stars, who are the animals atthe zoo. I like, how you
(16:08):
guys do that? Are you alwaystrying to come up with new fresh ways
to incorporate the animals? Yeah,so I know Donovan's crew is always making
the animal outlines with the lights becauseyou can't see all of the animals sadly
at night, because I like togo to sleep just like we do at
night, but you can see likethe aquarium, you can wander into the
reptile building, but the main drawof Wild Lights is definitely the lights.
(16:32):
So we're we're always trying to havelight outlines of different animals so you can
enjoy those as well. Yeah.How many hot cocoa cups do you go
through? That's a great question.A lot. The question I would ask
being the grounds manager is how manyhot coco cleanups we do? A good
(16:53):
question? Yes, right ifew youknow that's truly when you ask someone,
Oh, it's your favorite place togo in Columbus for lights or anything?
Christmas and Wild Lights Columbus Zoo handsdown is either number one or number two,
but usually number one. So I'msure you also need to find an
escape outside of the zoo. Sarah. We can start with you, where
(17:15):
do you like to go in Columbus, that's another holiday outlet for you.
Sure, So I like to godowntown. The Scioto Mile is always really
pretty with the lights reflecting off thewater. Franklin Park Conservatory. I love
plants, so plants plus lights islike a dream. And then I really
want to go ice skating this year. I haven't been in a while,
but I know Bridge Park is puttingtheir ice skating rink up, so I'd
(17:37):
love to go there. And thenjust getting dinner with family at any of
our great local restaurants is always funaround the holidays as well. Yeah,
down event, how about you.I live over in Hilliard, so we
go down to this old Hilliard andalso the Franklin County Historical Society, and
they have like a big tree that'sdecorated. We do like a tree lighting
(17:59):
right in the middle of a toHilliar and you know, they it's not
like wild lights, but it's definitelya fun, nice atmosphere. And then
of course there are our restaurants downthere, so that's kind of like our
little escape. Yeah. How aboutat your own home, do you go
all out with decorations or do youjust spend your time doing it? At
the zoo. Well, for along time, I did not do holiday
(18:21):
decorations outside of my home. Idid inside, but recently with my new
significant other, I am as muchas I'm very tired, I am out
there putting up holiday lights. Imean you're the pro. Yeah, yes,
Sarah, how about you. Ijust have a small apartment, but
I always enjoy putting up a tree. I'm gonna have to be creative this
(18:44):
year because I adopted a kitten,so I'm oh, she's gonna be up
in it, pulling it over.But I always have some kind of lights
and ornaments hanging throughout as well.Oh and by the way, can I
go back to Donovan for a second. I'm impressed with that with the putting
up the lights outside, because youknow, usually the mechanic is the last
to get his own cars fixed.But you actually are able to get your
(19:07):
lights up on your own. That'simpressive. Yeah. It's always interesting because
my significant other is a very freespirit and I am the exact opposite.
She's super excited and she starts grabbingthe lights and she goes working with lights
here here, and I'm like,no, it has to be perfect.
We're going to use this color here, this color here, a transition and
she's like, well, that's notfun. And so it's interesting to see
(19:32):
the two of us actually try totry to do this because I'm very systematic
because I have to I have tobe right. But yes, and I
had to say, the house doeslook pretty good for the neighborhood, so
I am a little competitive. Well, look, Sarah and Donovan, we'll
wrap up here. But I haveto tell you many memories, thousands and
thousands and thousands I can't even imagineivememories have been made over the years with
(19:55):
wild Lights, and both of youare a part of that. So we
appreciate what you've done and continue todo and it's fascinated to hear the behind
the scenes. So I just wantto wish you a great holiday season and
thanks for being a part of thispodcast. Thank you for having us for
sure, happy holidays, and wehope you guys will come join us at
Wildlife this year. Thanks for listeningto Experience Columbuses Live for Live for this
(20:26):
podcast and others, go to Experiencecolumbusdot com.
Live Fun of the Experienced Columbuses.Live Forward Live Podcast introduces you to a
new frontier of undiscovered possibility. Columbusis a city with an energy of its
own. Join Boxer, Kelsey andtheir guests for an insider's look at a
(00:24):
destination that invites visitors and locals aliketo share and explore. We'll go behind
the scenes of popular attractions, uncoverbest kept secrets for things to see and
do, and meet people who embodywhat it means to live forward. Welcome
back to another episode of Live Forward, Live and Experienced Columbus podcast. Of
(00:44):
course, it's the holidays, sowe're celebrating Columbus tis the season. Kelsey,
Oh my god, got Kelsey withus. I'm boxer with the hosts
of this great podcast, and we'reshowcasing the wonderful activities, tractions, unique
markets and all ways of the clubs, community in the charm and how we
celebrate this season. This is apretty exciting podcast. Guests, How we
(01:08):
got these two people here today?I don't either, considering how busy they
must be at the Columbus Zoo andat where I am. I was stressed
out, I know, but they'rethey're nice they don't seem like they're stressed
out at all. We want towelcome Donovan Harkness, who's the ground maintenance
manager at thirty plus year VET atthe Clumbus Zoo. Bravo, Donovan,
(01:30):
good to have you with us,and the lovely Sarah Cornell, who's the
events and promotions coordinator. Welcome,Sarah, thank you for having us.
Good to have you guys and yoursmiling. You seem happy. How are
you not stressed out? They're stressedon the inside internally, Okay, right
at the point where we are aboutto turn the lights on. Yeah,
(01:53):
the stressful times are almost all theway back time. Okay, So as
long as it doesn't rain stress levelsthere you go. Okay, rain stress
level, rain stress levels, soyou'd be happy when it gets colder and
the snow starts flying. It isdefinitely it helps with the lights because no
(02:14):
moisture and electricity well not friends,just think about your old lights at home.
Yeah, that's a really good point. Well, don Event and Sarah.
Let's why don't we start with youDonovan uh, thirty plus year VET
at the Columbus Zoo. How didit gets started for you? You from
Columbus not originally I considered since I'velived here for so long. I'm actually
from South Carolina, Okay, Iwas born in Charleston. Mom's family is
(02:37):
from this area, so I actuallywe were coming back up here to go
to Ohio State. So at mytime in Ohio State, to a friend,
I took a summer job at theColumbus City like all the other students,
just a three month seasonal gig.I liked it. I was good
at it. They invite me backeventually full time. And then I was
(02:59):
good at it that I got promotedand then promoted again, and yeah,
and I've just done it for thirtyyears and it time flew right by,
so you must love it. Yeahright? Oh no, I absolutely love
it, absolutely, absolutely love itwell with when you're a ground maintenance manager,
that's your official title. Is iteverything I can imagine when I see
(03:22):
the title with what you cover?I cover the general cleanliness, cleanliness aspects
of the zoo and zombiezy Bay.We also handle any form of activities needed
with group sales and large events atthe zoo, one of the large events
being wild lights and everything from custodialto sustainability. We kind of are big
(03:47):
catch all and you have really createclean restrooms. Yes, oh my gosh.
I mean when you go to ZoZBay and zombies e Bay, and
I mean all of the events atthis zoo. It's just pristine always,
I know. And you think aboutall the traffic that rolls through there.
Yes, and you guys are ableto keep up. That's pretty impressive,
(04:08):
thank you. It is a lotof pride for my department in our restrooms.
Right. Sounds silly, but anybodywho's gone to park where you walk
into their restuom and go, ohboy, that's not good. So we
never want that. Yeah, especiallyat the water park because everybody has no
shoes on. True. Oh ohyeah, that is true. Yeah.
(04:28):
Sarah Cornell, who's the events andpromotions coordinator? You've been there what two
years? How'd you get started?You from Columbus? Sure? So I
grew up in Mansfield, Ohio actually, and moved down to Columbus to attend
the Ohio State University. I studiedhospitality management, so through my time there,
I worked in hotels, food service, events, weddings and all of
that helped prep me for my dreamjob, which was to work for the
(04:49):
zoo. So I feel very fortunateto be on such a great team at
the zoo. I swear she's youJust look at Sarah, She's like meant
to do hospitality. I think youwere born to it that right, refreshed,
smiling all the time, welcoming.And then also, you know,
I didn't realize that you can getmarried at the zoo. So you just
(05:11):
you have so many events at thezoo aside from just you know, the
animal stuff. I mean, peoplehave their like corporate events and marriages and
all that, right, Yeah,So we have a group sales department that
handles all of the weddings and morecorporate events, and then the events and
Promotions department that I'm a part of. We include the events that are included
(05:33):
in admissions, such as Boo atthe Zoo, Eggs, PAS, and
Clause. And then my coworker plansall of the fundraising events like Zufari and
those bigger events as well. Sowe kind of cover all the aspects of
events that you can have at thezoo. How many people get married a
year on average at the zoo,I don't quite a few. Yes,
I have weddings every weekend throughout mostof the year. So we have three
(05:57):
amazing venues that you can get marriedat and have your reception there as well.
So who knew a don of it. We're gonna get to you with
this as well. But Sarah,why don't we just start with you when
it comes to the holiday season,wild lights and everything that goes along with
at the Zoo. What are yourresponsibilities? Sure? So the Events department
is pretty much in charge of allof the decor that's not the lights,
So you'll come in and see.We have a Rudolph Meet and greed experience
(06:19):
with characters, So we're transforming Polarunderwater viewing to a Rudolph Meet and greet,
so we'll have those characters there.We have Santa Claus and we transform
that Polar building into a meet andgreet experience with him. I'm also in
charge of booking all the sounds ofthe season groups that we're really excited to
host. Local choirs, yeah,to come out with us, So we
(06:42):
have our hands in a little bitof everything. Yeah. By the way,
great job with the choirs. That'sa lot of choirs you book,
Sarah. Yeah, they're all veryexcited and we're happy to be able to
connect the community and have them outhere for guests to enjoy almost every night
of wild lights. All right,we are talking about the celebrating clubs during
the holidays season our Live Forward LiveExperience Columbus podcast. I'm Boxer Kelsey,
(07:04):
your host, and we're talking withSarah Cornell, the events promotions coordinator at
the Zoo, and Donovan Harkness,who's the ground management or maintenance manager.
Donovan, let's go to you nowwith the holiday portion of this, because
when I think of wild lights andeverything that goes along with it, that's
a tremendous undertaking. Yes, myresponsibility as a manager. I work with
(07:28):
all the other managers in our facilitiesapartment. We have a horticulture department,
LSS department, the maintenance department,and we all work together also with our
Rise maintenance apartment from the water parkto install the three million Christmas lights.
Grounds takes three million, Yes,Wow. Grounds takes the lead on it,
and then we are supported by allthe other departments and facilities. It's
(07:53):
in all your process that we workon. Mainly the bulk of installing the
lights starts in September, okay,and they all come down or some stay
up. Yes, we take allthe lights down. Wow in January and
February, which is not fun.It's I bet not eighty feet in the
air in February. It is nota good time. But we get it
(08:16):
all done and we actually take themall down and we make sure they all
function, and then from there weactually wrap them all back up like you
would see in the store so wecan put them in case lots on skids
and catalog everything that we have sowe can start getting ready for the next
year. So you make sure thatthey work before you put them away.
(08:37):
When you take them back out,are you making sure they work again?
Yes? Okay. One of thekeys like if anybody ever wants a tip
for putting up lights anywhere at ourplease please make sure your lights are plugged
in while you're putting them up,because the stress you can put on a
light strand can't break it. Andif it's not plugged in, you think
(08:58):
you're done, this is great,and then you go to turn I'm on
and it'll be light strand right inthe middle. That doesn't work always,
so then it's a lot worse.So they always are on while we put
them up. Chips from a professionalis this is this this is an old
school like if a string of lightsdoesn't work, or if there's one bulb
the whole thing doesn't work, it'sLED now, right, So yeah,
(09:18):
luckily, Yeah, that's that istrue with LEDs. It's the whole strand
or nothing. Okay. I doyou remember the days where I would when
I'd have to repair strands, weactually had a way to check every bulb,
find the bulbs that didn't work,put anyone's in, and make the
strand work. I know when Iput my trees around the my lights around
(09:39):
the tree, I get so frustrated, and you know, I swear,
And is it like, like,how do you keep your composure that's along
of lights to untangle. I'm I'mgonna be honest with you. Since I've
been doing lights for so long,there have been many times where I did
not keep my composure. Yeah.I can remember one time everything was going
(10:03):
wrong. I weird a lot ofstress, and I actually took the lift
eyes in, which was about aninety foot lift right straight up into the
air to where I was as highas I could get. I turned the
lift off and I sat down becauseI did not know what to do with
this. Yeah, and then it'sa lot of pressure. But luckily,
as we've moved forward and we've growndoing this endeavor, we've gotten really good
(10:28):
at it and we've done most ofthe areas so it's almost mechanical now.
It's like we got a job todo. Everybody knows what their job is
and it's just boom, boom boom. As long as the weather holds.
It's actually we actually have a lotof fun. Yeah, bad weather,
because the lights do have to getdone on time. So yes, we
(10:50):
are out there in the rain,the wind, if it's snowing, and
that that's no fun. Donovan,do you ever encounter problems during the Wild
Lights season that you behind the scenesthat you have to fix that we wouldn't
know about. Does that happen?Oh? Oh yeah, we've We've had
like our some of the main showsthat are animated, so yeah, over
(11:13):
one hundred control boxes hooked to acomputer. We've had it go down and
this is a and we will trickeverything to make it look like it's working
and then be back in, youknow, sometimes at five in the morning
to start finding the little light grumones that are messing keys up. When
some of our larger displays like let'ssay have a large like a big little
(11:35):
elephant. Let's say it would breakin the middle of the night. The
elephant would just disappear, nothing tosee here. It would go behind the
scenes and the staff would get fixedand it would be magically back. Yeah.
Man, well for both of you, I know, you know you
put so much work into this.What's it like the moment where the kids
(11:58):
are running in and the smiles areon their faces and it's all comes to
fruition, and you know, themagic just is in the air. It
definitely, it's very heartwarming because welike working there obviously get to see it
every single day, which it nevergets old for us, but seeing it
through the kid's eyes and the family'seyes that come and visit is just so
(12:20):
rewarding, and it makes you forgetabout all the hard work that it went
into it, because what really mattersis putting on a great experience for our
guests. Yeah, Sarah, doyou have a favorite part of Wild Lights
or the holiday season at the Zoo? I think it's honestly just that we
can bring the community together, likeI mentioned, seeing their reaction and just
providing like a fun, unique spacein the zoo where they can see animals,
(12:43):
they can see the lights, andcome with family and friends or even
if you come by yourself, you'regonna have a great time at the zoo.
So yeah, Donovan, how aboutyou, I think to go on
what she's saying. I think it'sjust all the families as they arrive,
because I mean, Christmas, theholiday season can can be pretty stressful for
people. Yeah, and now youget to come to the zoo. It's
awesome. It's beautiful. We havethe music playing and people are taking pictures
(13:07):
and then they come back to nextyear and it's another family picture. So
it's kind of cool that my jobis to make like holiday memories. Yeah,
I mean who gets to do that, And that's what I get to
do every year, So I thinkthat would be it. And then my
other favorite wild Lights, partially becauseI created it, is a jingle Jam
which is on the Shores Park area. Yea suggest suspended like dancing spears of
(13:31):
light all through the air and it'sa little funkier of the music we use,
and children really love to play onthe playground that's underneath it, and
they are just having so much fun. And yeah, I get to do
that. Is there a budget whereand maybe it's not every year, but
you know every few years you getto come up with a new you know,
creation or innovation. Yes, wehave to think about that almost a
(13:56):
year ahead of time, okay,because we budget years out and there's lots
of people involved with the ideas andwhether it's my department's idea or let's say,
marketing's idea, we just once weget it going and then we have
to try to future price it andthen yeah, we just get it push
(14:16):
through and then we do Is thereone energy bill that you get like in
January season and someone has to openit and look at it and not like
faint it is sponsored by AEP soyeah, luckily that is the financial apartment
and not me. So can youimagine on that note. I was talking
(14:37):
to your marketing apartment a couple ofweeks ago when we were talking about flipping
the switch, Jane and Jeff,and they kind of chuckled at first,
like, that's that's really difficult todo. It sounds really cool and we've
done it before, but the tremendouscoordination apparently that it takes to be able
to flip the switch. It's likea master control roll or what there's no
(15:01):
master control for the whole zoo.Yeah, I can turn on and off
our main lake area, sure,because that's actually controlled by a computer.
Now, oh okay, but yes, back before you know, we had
the technology, we actually it wouldbe a whole bunch of switches and we
try to coordinate a countdown over aradio and then it would only be three
(15:24):
two one. And people, Imean some people are actually like next to
an outlet, like plugging it in. I generally would get the lovely job
of actually turning on like a mainbreaker box with the with the main switch,
which is it was always exciting becauseyou're always like, I hope this
works and I don't look like atotal idiot. But yeah, we used
to do it that way. Butnow, I mean, in reality,
(15:46):
it's an SD card. Yeah,it's in a small computer, so it
is, and it's so nice andsimple. Now. I know you guys
are the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.But I will say, especially with the
holidays, I love and I'm I'msure you you purposely try to do this
as best as you can. Ilove how you incorporate you know, your
stars, who are the animals atthe zoo. I like, how you
(16:08):
guys do that? Are you alwaystrying to come up with new fresh ways
to incorporate the animals? Yeah,so I know Donovan's crew is always making
the animal outlines with the lights becauseyou can't see all of the animals sadly
at night, because I like togo to sleep just like we do at
night, but you can see likethe aquarium, you can wander into the
reptile building, but the main drawof Wild Lights is definitely the lights.
(16:32):
So we're we're always trying to havelight outlines of different animals so you can
enjoy those as well. Yeah.How many hot cocoa cups do you go
through? That's a great question.A lot. The question I would ask
being the grounds manager is how manyhot coco cleanups we do? A good
(16:53):
question? Yes, right ifew youknow that's truly when you ask someone,
Oh, it's your favorite place togo in Columbus for lights or anything?
Christmas and Wild Lights Columbus Zoo handsdown is either number one or number two,
but usually number one. So I'msure you also need to find an
escape outside of the zoo. Sarah. We can start with you, where
(17:15):
do you like to go in Columbus, that's another holiday outlet for you.
Sure, So I like to godowntown. The Scioto Mile is always really
pretty with the lights reflecting off thewater. Franklin Park Conservatory. I love
plants, so plants plus lights islike a dream. And then I really
want to go ice skating this year. I haven't been in a while,
but I know Bridge Park is puttingtheir ice skating rink up, so I'd
(17:37):
love to go there. And thenjust getting dinner with family at any of
our great local restaurants is always funaround the holidays as well. Yeah,
down event, how about you.I live over in Hilliard, so we
go down to this old Hilliard andalso the Franklin County Historical Society, and
they have like a big tree that'sdecorated. We do like a tree lighting
(17:59):
right in the middle of a toHilliar and you know, they it's not
like wild lights, but it's definitelya fun, nice atmosphere. And then
of course there are our restaurants downthere, so that's kind of like our
little escape. Yeah. How aboutat your own home, do you go
all out with decorations or do youjust spend your time doing it? At
the zoo. Well, for along time, I did not do holiday
(18:21):
decorations outside of my home. Idid inside, but recently with my new
significant other, I am as muchas I'm very tired, I am out
there putting up holiday lights. Imean you're the pro. Yeah, yes,
Sarah, how about you. Ijust have a small apartment, but
I always enjoy putting up a tree. I'm gonna have to be creative this
(18:44):
year because I adopted a kitten,so I'm oh, she's gonna be up
in it, pulling it over.But I always have some kind of lights
and ornaments hanging throughout as well.Oh and by the way, can I
go back to Donovan for a second. I'm impressed with that with the putting
up the lights outside, because youknow, usually the mechanic is the last
to get his own cars fixed.But you actually are able to get your
(19:07):
lights up on your own. That'simpressive. Yeah. It's always interesting because
my significant other is a very freespirit and I am the exact opposite.
She's super excited and she starts grabbingthe lights and she goes working with lights
here here, and I'm like,no, it has to be perfect.
We're going to use this color here, this color here, a transition and
she's like, well, that's notfun. And so it's interesting to see
(19:32):
the two of us actually try totry to do this because I'm very systematic
because I have to I have tobe right. But yes, and I
had to say, the house doeslook pretty good for the neighborhood, so
I am a little competitive. Well, look, Sarah and Donovan, we'll
wrap up here. But I haveto tell you many memories, thousands and
thousands and thousands I can't even imagineivememories have been made over the years with
(19:55):
wild Lights, and both of youare a part of that. So we
appreciate what you've done and continue todo and it's fascinated to hear the behind
the scenes. So I just wantto wish you a great holiday season and
thanks for being a part of thispodcast. Thank you for having us for
sure, happy holidays, and wehope you guys will come join us at
Wildlife this year. Thanks for listeningto Experience Columbuses Live for Live for this
(20:26):
podcast and others, go to Experiencecolumbusdot com.
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