The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Cincinnati Zoo - for the first time in memory - will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The zoo is thought to have been open every day for more than a century.

The decision was made by zoo president Gregg Hudson, who arrived in summer 2001.

"He decided the keepers needed a holiday as well," said spokesman Chad Yelton. "The animals won't go unfed."

The Avondale zoo's much-anticipated Festival of Lights will begin Nov. 23 and continue through Dec. 30. The festival will be closed Christmas Eve, as well.

The new festival hours will be 5-8:30 p.m Sunday through Thursday, and 5-9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The zoo hours will change, too, during the five festival weeks, opening each day at noon instead of 9 a.m.