ZOOLights at the Jacksonville Zoo: November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027
Share
ZOOLights is back at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on select nights from Friday, November 20, 2026 through Sunday, January 3, 2027, after a three-year break. Entry is timed, between 6 and 9 p.m., and the event closes at 10. Tickets are $30 for non-members and $20 for members online, per the Jacksonville Zoo.
- When: select nights, November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
- Entry windows: 6 to 7:30 p.m. or 7:30 to 9 p.m. Arrive during your window and stay until 10.
- Where: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, 370 Zoo Parkway, Northside
- Cost: $30 non-members and $20 members online, $5 more at the gate. Kids 2 and under are free. Tickets are nonrefundable.
- Sold out: Sunday, December 20
What to expect
Light tunnels, lit animal displays, and interactive light and sound experiences, plus a holiday village, projection games, s'mores, and holiday drinks at select spots. A DJ roams the grounds, and the Watering Hole has live music on Friday nights. Santa photos run on select nights and are booked separately.
A Holiday Market with more than 25 vendors runs December 16 to 20, from 6 to 9 p.m.
The animals won't be on view. They go to bed before dusk, which is the zoo's way of saying the lights are the show.
Before you go
The zoo closes at 5 p.m. and reopens at 6 for ZOOLights, so you can't roll a daytime visit into the evening. The event runs rain or shine, weather and safety permitting, and the zoo may issue a rain check if weather affects your visit. Some areas use flashing and strobe lights, so guests sensitive to flashing lights should plan around them.