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November 18, 2022 — January 8, 2023
Exclusive Member Previews Sold Out

Buy Tickets Member Admission
Tickets are required and must be reserved in advance.

Join us for a family holiday festival at the Bronx Zoo. During the evenings, the park comes to life with holiday cheer as immersive light displays, custom-designed animal lanterns and animated light shows sparkle across the zoo. The celebration includes festive entertainment, seasonal treats, the Holiday Train, and classic holiday music. The walk-through experience is a beloved tradition, enchanting and fun for all ages.
Changes to activity availability may occur due to unforeseen conditions. This program does not include animal exhibits. Holiday train ride purchased separately on site. All animal exhibits close at 4:00pm. Holiday Lights is a rain or shine event.

A celebration in lights

We’re celebrating the wildlife we love with animal lantern trails, holiday decor, animated sculptures, tree lighting, and much more.

Explore our Lantern Trails

More than 360 lanterns representing almost 90 animal and plant species will connect you to the real wildlife and wild places that WCS staff works to protect through our field programs around the world and our zoos and aquarium in New York. 70 new lanterns representing 30 new animal species will make their debut at this year’s Holiday Lights!

A glowing pathway celebrating Africa’s animals in lights! Your favorites, including giraffes, lions, lemurs, and many others, are joined by NEW additions: ostriches, African forest elephants, hippos, Aldabra tortoises, Aldabra white-throated rails, and Aldabra sacred ibises.

Encounter the glittering snow leopard, Asian elephants, Indian rhinos, and many other favorites, plus NEW this year: Malayan tapirs, tree kangaroos, cassowary, and fruit bats.

Discover the illuminated jaguar, orinoco crocodile, scarlet macaws, and other favorites plus NEW this year: Andean cocks-of-the-rock, giant anteater, Andean bears, white-lipped peccaries, brown-throated sloth, and two-toed sloth.

Experience North American animal lanterns, including polar bears, caribou, gray wolves, bison, Pacific walrus, wolverine, grizzly bears, moose, trumpeter swans, golden eagles, and prairie dogs.

An undersea journey in lights including penguins, sea turtles, and many others including and a nurse shark with a body that you can walk through! Plus, NEW this year: larger-than-life black seadevil, anglerfish, vampire squid, Atolla jellies, and deep-sea nudibranch.

Forest of Color

The brightly colored larger-than-life animal and plant lanterns that fill the Forest of Color represent the beauty and diversity of nature, showing that our planet is home to tiny animals who display some of the brightest colors on earth, and sharing ideas on how we can help to protect them.

Light show experiences

This year’s Holiday Lights includes enhanced light shows that provide perfect photo ops for friends and family. On Astor Court, a new holiday tree show features synchronized musical light performances featuring more trees than ever before. And the walk-through Light Tunnel will dazzle you with animal-themed light shows.

Bison Lantern

Entertainment

Holiday Train

The family-favorite kids’s ride returns for 2022!

Fountain Circle; $4 ($3 Members; Free for Conservation-levels)

Ice Carving Demonstrations

Join us for nightly ice carving demonstrations as expert artists create wildlife art from giant ice blocks!

Grizzly Corner

Costumed Stilt-walkers

Encounter amazing animal-themed stilt walkers - perfect for family photo ops and festive fun.

Astor Court

Seasonal Treats

Get your fill of hot cocoa, roasted s’mores, warm churros, pretzels, popcorn, Dippin Dots, and gifts to bring home and enjoy.

Throughout the Zoo

Wildlife Theater

Enjoy family-friendly puppet adventures with wildlife trivia.

Dancing Crane Pavilion
American Sign Language Interpreters Dec 26-30

A beloved tradition returns! Plan your visit today.

Buy Tickets Member Tickets
Tickets are required and must be reserved in advance.

“Holiday Lights brought joy and happiness into our hearts. A great family holiday experience.”

Amy, Holiday Lights Attendee

Deer

WCS Member benefits

Conservation level members

Reserve FREE tickets to Holiday Lights throughout the program
Free admission to Holiday Lights is based on availability.


Wcs Zoo AND LAND & SEA Members

Three exclusive preview days: Sold Out
40% off tickets to all event days
Free admission to Member preview nights is based on availability.


Idnyc and aquarium members

40% off tickets to all event days

Member Reservations
Tickets are required and must be reserved in advance.

Join as a Conservation Level Member now for FREE access to Holiday Lights!

Become a Conservation Member Now

Want to upgrade your existing membership?

Call us at 718-220-5112 from 9 am to 5 pm daily!

Check out Members FAQs for more details.

This year, Holiday Lights will feature a series of special events! Check out the events listing for more information.

View Events

Events & Catering

YOUR Holiday Lights

Interested in booking a private, exclusive Holiday Lights evening experience for your group?

Learn More

Presented By

Holiday Lights is a fully outdoor experience.

CHECK OUT OUR KNOW BEFORE YOU GO PAGE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON OUR CURRENT ENTRY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR ALL OTHER WCS PARKS.

Check out our interactive map!

Maximize your next trip to the zoo. Check out bronxzoo.com/today on your smartphone to view real-time info and our interactive map.

Need some direction? Access real-time info and our interactive map.

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