Get ready for some holiday magic, but with a side of economic drama at the Oakland Zoo. 🎄✨

The beloved Glowfari light festival is back, but this year’s tickets are hitting your wallet harder thanks to former President Trump’s ongoing tariff tantrum. The zoo’s illuminated wonderland, which transforms the park into a dazzling nocturnal playground, is now sporting a price bump that’ll make you do a double-take.

The Price of Political Drama

Oakland Zoo’s CEO Nik Dehejia isn’t sugar-coating the situation. “Unfortunately, we got hit with tariffs,” he told local media. “It’s hard to predict what’s going on in this economy, but no matter what it costs, we knew we had to bring it in. We need joy, we need some fun , and Glowfari brings that to the Bay Area”.

The Cold, Hard Numbers

Let’s break down the financial damage. Last year’s tickets were a cool $26.50, but this year? You’re looking at $30.75 for the most budget-friendly time slots. That’s a $4.25 increase that might have you questioning whether those magical lantern displays are worth the extra cash.

Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

The culprit? Trump-era tariffs on imported Chinese illuminated displays that have driven up the festival’s production costs by a whopping $100,000. Because apparently, international trade wars are the perfect holiday season accessory.

Glowfari runs nightly through January 25th, from 4:30 pm to 9 pm. So grab your warmest jacket, your most patient wallet, and prepare for a twinkling adventure that’s equal parts magical and mildly infuriating.