Celebrate the Magic of the Holiday Season by Experiencing Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Powell, OH – It’s beginning to look a lot like Wildlights season at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium! One of Central Ohio’s most cherished holiday traditions, Wildlights, efficiently powered by AEP Ohio, opens to Columbus Zoo members on Thursday, November 18, 2021, followed by all guests on Friday, November 19. This ever-popular, family-friendly event will run through Sunday, January 2, 2022.

This year marks the 33rd Wildlights season and offers more holiday cheer than ever before. The entire Zoo has been transformed into a winter wonderland covered in millions of LED lights. Guests can also look forward to the following main Wildlights attractions:

Sparkling Spruce, presented by Diamond Cellar, featuring two animated light displays, “Candela: The Evolution of Light” and “Holiday Cheer,” located in Adventure Cove
Animated Light Displays, including “Holiday Rhythms Around the Watering Hole” at Conservation Lake, and “Jingle Ball,” presented by Nationwide, at the Shores Play Park
Wildlights Rides, including the Polar Bear Express, a train ride through the North America Winter Wonderland; Camel Rides, located in the North America region; and the 1914 Mangels-Illions Carousel, a historic Central Ohio treasure located near the Columbus Dispatch Charities Grand Pavilion. Additional fees may apply.
S’mores Experience – New last year and back by popular demand, this socially-distanced activity provides guests with the opportunity to gather around a glowing fire to roast their own giant marshmallow. Additional fees apply.
Santa Experience at Polar Frontier, located in the North America Region at the Battelle Ice Bear Outpost. Enjoy the ability to speak with Santa, as well as take part in a safe and fun photo opportunity. Please see the “Know Before You Go” section below for more information. Additional fees may apply. Please note that Santa will not be available after December 23 due to other obligations.
The Polar Express™ 4D Experience® - Guests are invited on an extraordinary 4D adventure this holiday season on THE POLAR EXPRESS™! When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. THE POLAR EXPRESS™ 4D Experience® is based on the inspiring and beloved Caldecott Medal winning children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. Additional fees may apply.
And, of course, amazing animals! While some animals may be able to be seen in their outdoor habitats, other animals will be visible from the comfort of heated, indoor viewing areas, including Manatee Coast, Discovery Reef, the Naomi Coyle Dempsey Quest for Enlightenment Interpretive Center, Vanishing Giants, Jack Hanna’s Animal Encounters Village, the Reptile Building, and Bob & Evelyn’s Roadhouse Nocturnal Building. Others—including the sea lions at Adventure Cove and, of course, the reindeer—will be outside during the festivities. Please note that some animals settle in early (such as the gorillas, bonobos and polar bears) and will not be available to view after 4 p.m.

Additional Activities for Member Night (Thursday, Nov. 18)

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Members can be the first to explore Wildlights during Member Night on Thursday, November 18! Bonus activities for this night ONLY include:

Santa’s Special Delivery to the Reindeer! At 5:15 p.m., Santa will make a special grand entrance by the Zoo’s reindeer habitat to deliver goodies to reindeer, Sugar Plum, Snowflake, and Abby. The delivery helps to highlight “Trim to Treat,” a partnership between AEP Ohio’s forestry program, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds, a conservation center and safari park managed by the Columbus Zoo. Through this program, AEP Ohio’s forestry crews trim trees and brush that would otherwise cause power outages for customers and then provides this browse (tree trimmings, branches, and twigs) to the Zoo and The Wilds to benefit the animals, who use it for food, perching, and more.
Conservation Marketplace – Columbus Zoo Members are invited to stop by the Zoo’s Lakeside Pavilion to get started on their holiday shopping! Featured items include unique, handmade items from our conservation partners. Members can also learn more about Versiti Blood Center of Ohio, one of the Zoo’s newest Official Partners, by visiting their information booth.
Complimentary cookie and hot chocolate (while supplies last)
Additional special promotions

Explore More Offerings!

Tours and Experiences, presented by Nationwide

We all have special memories at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, but how many of those memories are from an up-close and personal animal encounter? From meeting a reindeer to going behind the scenes at Adventure Cove, make sure that your next visit to the Zoo stands out like no other! Guests looking for a more relaxing way to enjoy the splendor of Wildlights can also opt to book an after-hours tour and be escorted through the Zoo on VIP golf carts while enjoying a warm blanket and mug of hot chocolate. This experience is perfect for holiday fun with family and friends. Tours book quickly, and reservations must be made at least three days in advance. Times, attractions, and other information are subject to change. More information about all of these unique tours and experiences can be found on the Zoo’s website here.

Other holiday traditions happening concurrently with Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo include:

Wildlights Stuff the Truck Food Drive benefitting the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Wildlights while giving back to our community. Each guest who donates six non-perishable food items at the Zoo on Friday, December 3 may enjoy one complimentary ticket to Wildlights to be used that evening. Guests who show one of their donated items at the parking booth will also receive free parking. The collection of cans will begin at 10 a.m., and it is recommended that guests arrive early for this event.

Know Before You Go

Regular Zoo hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Wildlights activities take place Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Zoo will be closed Thanksgiving Day (November 25) and Christmas Day (December 25), as well as for Wildlights on Christmas Eve (December 24).
Wildlights is included with Zoo admission. Regular admission rates apply to all guests, and admission is free for Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Members.
For this year’s Santa experience, guests are encouraged to make reservations online for this experience to help regulate the number of guests at the activity. Guests will have the ability to speak with Santa, as well as get a photo near Santa while he is in his sleigh and a few of his reindeer adorn the “housetop.” Strollers will be permitted inside the building but not near the photo set. Guests are also permitted to take their own photos but only at a designated location after the professional photograph is taken. There is no cost to see Santa, and guests who would like to purchase photos taken during the experience may do so for an additional fee. Parking and Wildlights admission are not included with this experience.
Per CDC guidance, we strongly encourage everyone to wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Please note that for the health and safety of the animals, some designated tours will require masks, regardless of vaccination status. Please visit the Zoo’s website for more information.

For additional updates about the Columbus Zoo, events, and more, be sure to follow the Zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and visit us at ColumbusZoo.org.

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About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species worldwide, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads and inspires by connecting people and wildlife. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a regional attraction with global impact, annually contributing privately raised funds to support conservation projects worldwide. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Columbus Zoo has earned Charity Navigator’s prestigious 4-star rating.