Zoo Lights Tickets Are On Sale Now!
Experience the Zoo after hours under the glow of over one million lights! All tickets include unlimited carousel rides and pictures with Santa. Food and beverages are available for purchase. Adult beverages are available with proof of ID.
2025 Zoo Lights Dates
November 22 – December 23 Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and select week nights.
General Admission Tickets $12
Children 3 and under FREE
Buy a 4-Pack of General Admission Tickets for $40!
Specialty Nights:
Sunday, December 7th – Henry’s Holiday Pajama Party!
Join our mascot, Henry the Lion, for his first Holiday PJ Party! Enjoy an earlier look at the lights of Zoo Lights, unlimited carousel rides, and meet and greets with Santa like a usual. On top of the normal Zoo Lights fun, guests are encouraged to try our specialty menu at the Glacier Grille featuring toddler-friendly treats and smaller portions of some of our favorite Zoo Lights foods (Full Menu to Come). Additionally, guests can enjoy one of Henry the Lion’s favorite activities at Henry’s Sleepy Storytime Station! Henry and his pals will alternate between reading animal themed stories at special times and doing meet and greets with his friends before tucking himself into bed! Guests can participate in storytime at 5:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
Wednesday, December 10th – Sensory Friendly Night
Join us for a special, Sensory Friendly night of Zoo Lights! Our staff have revamped this night of Zoo Lights to create a lower sensory experience for all guests! Enjoy a quiet night of lights with no additional music in the park or in the carousel, deliberately smaller crowds, specially trained staff and volunteers who are excited to spend time with you and your family, access to our free KultureCity sensory bag rentals, and our digital social story linked here.
4-Pack Discount automatically applied at checkout. To purchase tickets, choose the night you would like to visit and click on the “register” button.
There is more parking available in our South parking lot! If you are using GPS to get here and want to enter through our south gate, please use 1202 Vilas Park Drive.
BOOK YOUR PRIVATE ZOO LIGHTS EVENT
Know Before You Go:
Parking: Our parking lot fills up quickly! Please consider carpooling if you are able. We have two gates. There is usually more parking available for guests entering through our South gate located directly across the street from Vilas Park Beach. (1202 Vilas Park Drive)
Santa: Santa is available for photos every night leading up to Christmas. You will need to bring your own camera or cell phone for photos.
Adult Beverages: Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase at various bar huts throughout the Zoo. All guests will have to show valid ID to purchase alcohol.
Carousel: Your Zoo Lights ticket includes UNLIMITED carousel rides! (Don’t worry, we added a bar hut right next to the carousel this year!)
We are proud to be one of only a few admission-free, community-supported zoos across the country. We are dedicated to exceptional animal care and conserving wildlife through local engagement and global partnerships. Please consider an end-of-year gift!
