ZooLights opens at the Smithsonian's National Zoo on November 20, 2026 and runs through January 3, 2027. The gate opens at 5 p.m. Last entry falls 30 minutes before close. General admission is $10, and the event sells dated tickets against a capped capacity.
The band, night by night
Monday through Saturday runs 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday runs 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., one hour shorter. Last entry is 8:30 p.m. on the six longer nights and 7:30 p.m. on Sundays.
The Zoo keeps separate daytime hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with last entry at 3 p.m. Its FAQ states that daytime and member parking passes are not valid for ZooLights, so a pass bought for a daytime visit does not carry into the evening.
What the $10 ticket covers
Animal lanterns run through five habitat zones: ocean, desert, grassland, rainforest and polar. Holiday displays light the pathways between them.
Live entertainment appears on select December nights, with live music and holiday trivia, and the activities tab marks both as included with admission. Food and drink sell inside the grounds at extra cost, including hot cocoa, hot apple cider, mulled wine, cocktails and a s'mores kit.
Saturday carolers and the trivia nights
Every Saturday in December, roaming carolers dress in the style of a different decade and sing that era's holiday songs. Dec. 5 covers the 1950s and 1960s, Dec. 12 the 1970s and 1980s, Dec. 19 the 1990s and Dec. 26 the 2000s.
Holiday trivia runs 60 minutes in two 30-minute segments in the Visitor Center Auditorium, played in teams. Each night carries a decade theme: Sunday, Dec. 6 is the 1950s, Sunday, Dec. 13 the 1960s, Sunday, Dec. 20 the 1970s and 1980s, Monday, Dec. 21 the 1990s and Tuesday, Dec. 22 the 2000s.
What costs extra
Four add-ons sit outside the ticket price. The winter maze is $6. A ride on the National Zoo Choo Choo, a mini-train around the Great Cats exhibit, is $6. The Conservation Carousel is $6 and runs weather permitting. Festive glasses that turn the lights into snowflakes are $3 a pair, or $1 with an in-park attraction purchase. Glasses and attraction tickets sell on site.
Parking, and why it belongs in the booking
ZooLights parking is a separate purchase: $30 in advance and $40 on the day. Drivers enter through the main vehicle entrance at 3001 Connecticut Ave NW. The Zoo recommends buying the parking pass online because the event sells out. Bus parking is $120 per bus, with a maximum of two buses per order and up to 120 riders, and buses must arrive between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The one adults-only night
Wednesday, Dec. 16 runs 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for ages 21 and over. The ticket is $19 and includes one free adult beverage, with specialty snacks and drinks available to buy. That night carries after-hours access to selected animal houses.
Member Nights on Tuesday, Dec. 8 and Wednesday, Dec. 9 carry the same after-hours access. Members reserve up to six free tickets, pay $10 for each ticket beyond the six, and take 15 percent off in-park food and retail with a membership card and ID. Regular member perks for the carousel, the train and parking do not apply during ZooLights.
Most animals sit outside the show. The Zoo states that ZooLights is a lights-and-lanterns event, that indoor animal houses are closed and that most outdoor animals will be resting, with Member Nights and Adults-Only Night as the exceptions. The Elephant Community Center and the Reptile Discovery Center open after hours on those nights.
Booking rules to read before paying
Tickets are nonrefundable. Exchanges are available up to 48 hours before the event date, subject to availability and not guaranteed. Tickets may not be resold, and the Smithsonian warns that tickets bought through unauthorised sellers may be voided or refused at the gate. Children aged 3 and older need a ticket, children 2 and under are free, and the Zoo asks that a party enter together so staff can scan efficiently.
Groups of 50 or more go through the Visitor Services group sales form, and group nights are booked first come, first served. The Conservation Pavilion hosts a private gathering for up to 120 seated or 200 standing, or 300 with the patio, and a rental package includes event admission for every guest. Visitor Services answers on 202-633-2614.
Fitting the slot to a workday
A ZooLights ticket buys a fixed evening band, which suits a traveller whose working day ends before the gate opens. hotelSlots publishes four day-use windows: morning 6 a.m. to 12 p.m., afternoon 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., evening 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. and overnight 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. The afternoon window covers the calls, the shower and the change of clothes before a 5 p.m. gate. The evening window covers the back half of the event and the return. The platform allows any combination of the four, prices day-use rates at 30 to 75 percent below the nightly rate, lists 103,857 hotels across 46 states, and charges no booking fee.
Two decision points stay with the traveller. Sunday cuts the band to three hours and moves last entry to 7:30 p.m. Parking at $30 in advance is the cheaper route, and it is the item that sells out alongside the ticket.
