There's a low-effort way to get into the holiday spirit this winter: stay in your car, crank the heater, and roll slowly through half a kilometre of twinkling lights at a zoo in central Alberta.

Discovery Wildlife Park in Innisfail, about 90 minutes north of Calgary and a short hop south of Red Deer, is once again hosting Light the Night, its annual drive-through holiday display. The event runs nightly from Friday, Nov. 13 through Sunday, Jan. 3, from 6 to 9 p.m., skipping holidays and pausing when the weather doesn't cooperate.

The format is simple. You pay per vehicle, not per person, then cruise the route at around 5 km/h, which works out to a 20 to 25 minute loop. Brief stops are allowed, so bring a phone or camera and take your time snapping photos and videos. Better still, from Monday to Thursday you can drive the whole thing as many times as you like — handy if the kids fall asleep or you want another pass at the best photo spots.

New for this year is a walk-through section, where visitors can stretch their legs, wander a smaller set-up on foot, and stage some proper family holiday photos without a windscreen in the way.

Then there's the Grinch. He'll be on site Wednesdays through Sundays between 6 and 8 p.m., which means most visits will include at least a chance of a photo with everyone's favourite holiday grouch. If the lights and the green guy work up an appetite, a food concession will be serving mini donuts and seasonal snacks, and there's an on-site Christmas store for gifts and souvenirs.

Pricing is straightforward and, for a full car, genuinely good value: $30 plus taxes and fees covers a vehicle with up to eight people, $50 covers nine to 15, and larger groups of 16 or more pay just $10 per vehicle. Tickets are sold at the gate with no timed entry and no capacity limits, so you can turn up on a whim — though weekends closer to Christmas will likely be busier than a quiet Tuesday in November.

Why it's worth the trip: per-vehicle pricing makes Light the Night one of the more affordable festive outings for families or groups, and the drive-through format means you control the temperature, the playlist and the pace. Pair it with a day at the park's animal enclosures or a Red Deer stop en route and you've got an easy winter day trip from either Calgary or Edmonton.