The Doncaster visitor attraction has announced its events for the end of the year

Doncaster’s award-winning Yorkshire Wildlife Park is looking forward to a busy winter season starting with a spooky Halloween half term week before its popular Winter Illuminations return with a brand-new Polar Bear Express themed section.

Halloween will be the first of the seasonal events to take over the Park.

Visitors can enjoy the returning Halloween entertainment, including live shows, a Trick or Treat trail, fairground rides, costumed characters and plenty of surprises in the woodland walk.

CEO John Minion said: “We're looking forward to putting on our annual Halloween event and welcoming new and returning guests to enjoy the entertainment.

“It will definitely be a week filled with the usual family fun and spooky activities."

The Park will then turn its attention to Christmas with the return of its annual Winter Illuminations.

This year will see the introduction of a brand-new Polar Bear Express themed section, taking visitors on a magical journey to Lapland through illuminated frozen landscapes.

Early bird tickets for Winter Illuminations are now on sale.

Visitors will begin the Polar Bear Express journey at a snowy departure scene before making their way through a Penguin Kingdom and an illuminated icicle walkway.

The route will continue through displays featuring whales, seals and reindeer before reaching an Ice Valley filled with polar bears and towering ice formations.

The journey will eventually arrive in Lapland, where Christmas trees, elves, presents and festive scenes await.

There will also be more interactive elements along the route this year, including moving displays and specially created light shows.

John said: “Winter Illuminations is one of our most popular events and a real highlight of the year.“

“We always want to give visitors something new to enjoy, and the Polar Bear Express will be a brilliant addition to this year’s Illuminations.“

Visitors will be taken on a magical journey to Lapland through some incredible new displays featuring penguins, polar bears and other Arctic wildlife.“

“There are also more interactive elements to discover this year, and we can’t wait to see everything lit up for the first time.”

Winter Illuminations will take visitors around the Park after dark, with lights and lanterns transforming the route.

Other displays planned for this year include African wildlife and an underwater scene featuring sharks, stingrays, a sea turtle, jellyfish and other marine life.

It will also be the first winter at Yorkshire Wildlife Park for its 20 endangered African penguins, who have been settling in well since their arrival during the summer.

Whilst visitors won’t see the animals during the Illuminations trail, there will be an option to upgrade to a Wildlife Park visit before setting off on the trail, giving guests the chance to see the new penguins and the Park's other animals during the day.

The Yorkshire Hive, the shopping, dining and entertainment village located at the entrance to the Park, offers visitors somewhere to eat and drink before or after their visit.