Join us for a family holiday festival at the Bronx Zoo.
Select dates
November 22, 2024 — January 5, 2025
Exclusive Member Previews November 19 • 20 • 21
Tickets are required and must be reserved in advance.
Check the tickets page for available dates & time or book a Holiday Lights Any-Night ticket, and you’ll have the option to visit when it works best for you.
Changes to activity availability may occur due to unforeseen conditions. This program does not include animal exhibits. 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, holiday train, and much more.
Lantern Trails
Millions of lights and hundreds of wildlife lanterns spread across 7 lantern trails representing almost 100 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 at our zoos and aquarium in New York.
- Africa
- Asia
- Forest of Color
- Latin America
- North America
- Oceans
Africa
A glowing pathway celebrating Africa’s animals in lights! Your favorites, including giraffes, lions, lemurs, ostriches, African forest elephants, hippos, Aldabra tortoises, Aldabra white-throated rails, Aldabra sacred ibises, and many others will be there.
Asia
Encounter the glittering snow leopard, Asian elephants, Indian rhinos, Malayan tapirs, tree kangaroos, cassowary, fruit bats, and many other favorites.
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.
Latin America
Discover the illuminated jaguar, orinoco crocodile, scarlet macaws, Andean cocks-of-the-rock, giant anteater, Andean bears, white-lipped peccaries, brown-throated sloth, and two-toed sloth, and other favorites.
North America
Experience North American animal lanterns, including polar bears, caribou, gray wolves, bison, Pacific walrus, wolverine, grizzly bears, moose, trumpeter swans, golden eagles, prairie dogs, beavers, raccoon, great egret, common snapping turtle, and red fox.
Oceans
An undersea journey in lights including penguins, sea turtles, larger-than-life black seadevil, anglerfish, vampire squid, Atolla jellies, deep-sea nudibranch. and many others, including a nurse shark with a body that you can walk through! Plus, you’ll find animals from the Bronx River and the New York Seascape, including alewife, American eels, and Atlantic sturgeon.
New this year!
Play with Light
Touch, dance, and draw using interactive glowing walls, shimmering flowers, and colored stepping stones, and get into the seasonal spirit with help from snow and bubble machines!
Light Show Experiences
Holiday Lights includes enhanced light shows that provide perfect photo ops for friends and family. On Astor Court, a towering holiday tree features synchronized musical light performances. And the walk-through Light Tunnel will dazzle you with animal-themed light shows.
Enchanted Sea
Returning by popular demand! Get your glow on in Schiff Family Great Hall with LED swings, interactive floor projections, ocean-themed interactive light panels that create patterns that mimic ocean life, and a jellyfish celebration in lights.
More Holiday Lights Fun
Holiday Train
The family-favorite kids’ ride returns for 2024!
Fountain Circle
$4 ($3 Members)
Ice Carving Demonstrations
Join us for nightly ice carving demonstrations as expert artists create wildlife art from giant ice blocks!
Grizzly Corner
Illuminated Performers
Encounter amazing animal-themed illuminated performers – perfect for family photo ops and festive fun.
Astor Court
Wildlife Theater
Enjoy family-friendly puppet adventures and wildlife trivia.
Dancing Crane Pavilion
Seasonal Treats
Get your fill of hot cocoa, roasted s’mores, warm churros, pretzels, popcorn, Dippin Dots, and gifts to purchase and enjoy.
Throughout the Zoo
“”
Holiday Lights is a must-see part of our family’s holiday season.
—
Paula, Holiday Lights Attendee
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Sensory Inclusive Nights on December 5 & January 3
A beloved tradition returns! Plan your visit today.
WCS Members’ Benefits
Member Reservations
Tickets are required and must be reserved in advance
Free admission to Member preview nights is based on availability.
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: November 19-21*
40% off tickets to all event days
Idnyc and aquarium members
40% off tickets to all event days
*November 21 Member Preview date is sold out
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.
Holiday Lights is proudly sponsored by
Events & Catering
Host your very own holiday party at the Bronx Zoo during our Holiday Lights celebration. Perfect for groups of any size.
Contact us today to learn about all event options.