LA Zoo Lights
Los Angeles, CA
Giant glowing animal lanterns light up the Los Angeles Zoo — elephants, butterflies, peacocks, and dragons — across an after-hours holiday walk-through that runs from November through early January.
Giant glowing animal lanterns light up the Los Angeles Zoo — elephants, butterflies, peacocks, and dragons — across an after-hours holiday walk-through that runs from November through early January.
L.A. Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow is a ticketed after-hours holiday experience at the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Griffith Park. Sculptural lantern installations and immersive light environments transform the zoo into a glowing wonderland — larger-than-life birds, butterflies, insects and flowers in the pollinator zone; lanterns depicting wildlife of Southeast Asia; an African landscape with iconic regional wildlife.
Animated and interactive displays include glowing ring swings, walk-through snow globes, and luminous multicolored wings.
The event runs from mid-November through early January (closed most Mondays and Tuesdays, plus Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve). Live animals are not part of the after-hours experience — this is about the lanterns and the zoo grounds illuminated at night.
L.A. Zoo Lights is ticketed timed-entry — buy in advance, as weekend slots sell out. Children’s tickets are priced below adult tickets, Zoo members receive a discount, and children under 2 are free.
No — the Zoo’s regular animals are not viewable during L.A. Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow. The after-hours experience features lantern sculptures and immersive light installations only.
Plan 90 minutes for an unhurried walk through the full path. It’s a comfortable walk with rest spots along the way; you can take longer if you stop at the interactive installations.
Yes — the glowing lanterns delight young children, and the interactive features (ring swings, snow globes, multicolored wings) are big kid favorites. Strollers are welcome throughout.
L.A. Zoo Lights is fully ticketed. If a free outing is the priority, the LA Zoo neighbors many free Griffith Park holiday spaces; off-park, Holidays at Union Station and Olvera Street are free downtown alternatives.
Southern California’s holiday lights and festive outings are pure magic — but nothing compares to Santa Claus himself stepping through your own front door. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded, professionally trained Santa to homes and gatherings across SoCal for an intimate live visit your family will treasure for years.