USA TODAY 10Best
10 zoo lights events you don't want to miss this holiday season
Best Zoo Lights (2023)
Each winter, zoos across the country transform as they get into the holiday spirit. Once the sun sets and the animals go to bed, these 10 zoos — nominated by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best for their holiday lights — are set aglow with incredible illuminated displays.
- WildLights at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens - Palm Desert, California
- Wild Lights at Detroit Zoo - Royal Oak, Michigan
- Zoo Lights at San Antonio Zoo Powered by CPS Energy - San Antonio, Texas
- OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS Presented by OG&E - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Christmas at the Zoo at Indianapolis Zoo - Indianapolis, Indiana
- U.S. Bank Wild Lights at Saint Louis Zoo - St. Louis, Missouri
- Holiday Nights at Zoo Montana - Billings, Montana
- Electric Safari at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Lights Before Christmas at Toledo Zoo - Toledo, Ohio
- PNC Festival of Lights at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - Cincinnati, Ohio
Photo courtesy of The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
No. 10:
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens celebrates the holidays with life-size animal lanterns and more than a million lights decorating its pathways. Visitors can walk through a tunnel of lights, visit with St. Nick, ride a carousel, and roast s'mores.
Photo courtesy of Christina Ross
No. 9:
The Detroit Zoo is filled with festive cheer during Wild Lights, as millions of LED bulbs illuminate trees, buildings, and some 500 displays. Follow a fairy as she soars through an enchanting, illuminated trail, explore the field of light as it sways and changes colors in rhythm to your favorite holiday songs, and control the movement of the sea itself in a glowing underwater scene.
Photo courtesy of San Antonio Zoo
No. 8:
Featuring a 124-foot light tunnel and an outdoor museum full of illuminated animal portraits, the holiday lights at San Antonio Zoo are spectacular. In addition to the expansive, brilliantly lit wildlife trails to wander here, you can also book a photo session with Santa.
Photo courtesy of Oklahoma City Zoo
No. 7:
Oklahoma City Zoo's Safari Lights presented by OG&E features captivating wildlife-themed light sculptures. You can stroll their walking pathway, which features a musical lights show, or if the weather's chilly, even stay in your car with a separate drive-thru admission. The Zoo also hosts a Sensory-Friendly Night, which limits the flashing lights and louder sounds, along with fewer crowds, for those looking for a less sensory-loaded experience.
Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Zoo
No. 6:
For more than 50 years, Christmas at the Zoo has brought family fun to the Indianapolis Zoo. Visit Santa’s Village to see St. Nick’s sleigh and reindeer, traverse the illuminated Polar Pathway tunnel, pal around with penguins, or snap a selfie in front of a Christmas tree. The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir provides a cheerful soundtrack on select Saturday nights.
Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Zoo
No. 5:
While bathed in the glow of over a million holiday lights, guests of the Saint Louis Zoo during its annual U.S. Bank Wild Lights event enjoy a stroll through a number of unique light displays, including Celebration City and Snowy Savanna, twinkling tunnels, and a 40-foot lighted tree. Don't miss the holiday carolers or roasting campfire s'mores over a fire pit. The event can be enjoyed on select nights from late November through the end of December.
Photo courtesy of Holiday Nights
No. 4:
Billings' Zoo Montana celebrates the season with its Holiday Nights lights display — the largest throughout the region. Over 10 million lights create dazzling walkways and a beautiful winter Christmas village. There are plenty of large-scale displays to check out, sleigh rides, and community fire pits, and you can even rent your own private s'mores tent to snack and stay warm in.
Photo courtesy of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
No. 3:
Some 50 acres at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado are illuminated with more than 85 light sculptures during the park's annual Electric Safari. Select animal exhibits remain open during the festivities, and warming fires spread throughout the grounds offer a place to thaw those cold fingers and enjoy a hot cocoa.
Photo courtesy of Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
No. 2:
Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo features more than a million holiday lights and over 200 illuminated animal images. Guests can also enjoy an ice slide, photos with Santa, and an 85-foot Norway spruce tree decorated with 35,000 LED bulbs.
Photo courtesy of DJJamm Photo
No. 1:
During the annual PNC Festival of Lights at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, some 4 million LED lights illuminate the night. Visitors can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, marvel at the Wild Lights show on Swan Lake, explore a gingerbread village, munch on s'mores, or ride through a light tunnel on the North Polar Express train.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Nicky Omohundro
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of Read More
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of LittleFamilyAdventure.com, the popular family travel & lifestyle website that inspires families to leave no child left inside. Since 2013 LFA has been providing inspiration to get families outdoors, eat well, and travel everywhere from their own backyard to around the world. Always up for a family adventure, she has traveled to 37 states and 6 countries to zip-line through a Costa Rican rainforest, see Finland’s Northern Lights, and go camping throughout the US. Nicky is the co-founder of Tourism WorX a travel consultancy group. Connect with her Twitter and Instagram.
Nicky Omohundro
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of LittleFamilyAdventure.com, the popular family travel & lifestyle website that inspires families to leave no child left inside. Since 2013 LFA has been providing inspiration to get families outdoors, eat well, and travel everywhere from their own backyard to around the world. Always up for a family adventure, she has traveled to 37 states and 6 countries to zip-line through a Costa Rican rainforest, see Finland’s Northern Lights, and go camping throughout the US. Nicky is the co-founder of Tourism WorX a travel consultancy group. Connect with her Twitter and Instagram.
Nikky J
NikkyJ is a theme park super fan, Author of The... Read More
NikkyJ is a theme park super fan, Author of The Solo Theme Park Traveler’s Guide, the founder and owner of ThemeParkHipster.com, a wishful Food Critic, coffee enthusiast, and a lover of life! She currently resides in Orlando, Florida where she enjoys spending time with her husband and two little girls while discovering the beautiful attractions of Florida. You can watch her on YouTube or listen to her podcast.
Nikky J
NikkyJ is a theme park super fan, Author of The Solo Theme Park Traveler’s Guide, the founder and owner of ThemeParkHipster.com, a wishful Food Critic, coffee enthusiast, and a lover of life! She currently resides in Orlando, Florida where she enjoys spending time with her husband and two little girls while discovering the beautiful attractions of Florida. You can watch her on YouTube or listen to her podcast.
Robb Alvey
Robb Alvey is the owner of ThemeParkReview.com,... Read More
Robb Alvey is the owner of ThemeParkReview.com, started in 1996 and one of the longest running and largest theme park fan sites with over 3 million followers. Robb travels to theme parks all over the world each year including Europe, Asia, Australia, and all around the Americas, has visited hundreds of different parks and ridden about 2,000 different roller coasters. His background in theme parks started as a cast member for Disneyland when he was 17 years old and has continued more than 30 years later.
Robb Alvey
Robb Alvey is the owner of ThemeParkReview.com, started in 1996 and one of the longest running and largest theme park fan sites with over 3 million followers. Robb travels to theme parks all over the world each year including Europe, Asia, Australia, and all around the Americas, has visited hundreds of different parks and ridden about 2,000 different roller coasters. His background in theme parks started as a cast member for Disneyland when he was 17 years old and has continued more than 30 years later.
Skye Rodgers
Skye is a freelance writer that adopted Tampa as... Read More
Skye is a freelance writer that adopted Tampa as her hometown over a decade ago and never looked back. As a native of Canada, Skye has happily embraced the no snow climate, and in her spare time enjoys nothing more than basking on the white sand beaches of the Gulf with rum runner in hand. Living in such a dynamic and up-and-coming city as Tampa provides plenty to write about, and Skye spends much of her time exploring new attractions and discovering hidden treasures for her readers. You can connect with Skye via her Facebook page @BestofTampa.
Skye Rodgers
Skye is a freelance writer that adopted Tampa as her hometown over a decade ago and never looked back. As a native of Canada, Skye has happily embraced the no snow climate, and in her spare time enjoys nothing more than basking on the white sand beaches of the Gulf with rum runner in hand. Living in such a dynamic and up-and-coming city as Tampa provides plenty to write about, and Skye spends much of her time exploring new attractions and discovering hidden treasures for her readers. You can connect with Skye via her Facebook page @BestofTampa.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
