Fiona nutcracker is back, a sign the Festival of Lights is almost here

The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is getting ready for one of its most beloved traditions, and it all begins with a giant Fiona nutcracker standing watch over the grounds.The zoo's Festival of Lights officially kicks off Nov. 19, with members getting early access the day before on Nov. 18. The display has grown into a holiday staple, running for 44 years, and this year features 5 million LED lights across the park. At the center of it all is the 24-foot-tall Fiona nutcracker, which the zoo has displayed for about 6 years. Nearly every detail of the figure is a nod to the famous hippo's life story."This is it. This is the symbol. This is our Mariah Carey, as they say," Chad said.The nutcracker stands 24 feet tall because Fiona's birthday is January 24th. It features 29 buttons, representing the 29 pounds she weighed when she was born, and 6 slices of watermelon, marking the 6 weeks she was born premature. Her belt buckle is a camera, a nod to a life lived in front of the lens. In