ZOOLights returns to the Jacksonville Zoo on select nights Nov. 20 to Jan. 3, 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets $30 online, $35 at the gate; Dec. 20 is already sold out.

Last checked Nov. 2, 2026, against the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ ZOOLights page and plan your visit page. This page is updated each year at the same address.

Yes, ZOOLights is back this year. The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens says its holiday light show returns after a three-year absence on select nights from Friday, Nov. 20, 2026, through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027, from 6 to 10 p.m. at 370 Zoo Parkway on the Northside. Community First Credit Union presents it.

The Zoo calls this year’s show “reimagined”: light tunnels, large lighted animal figures, interactive light, projection and sound displays, a holiday village and photos with Santa.

Key facts

  • When: select nights, Nov. 20 to Jan. 3, 6 to 10 p.m.
  • Closed: Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26) and Christmas Day (Dec. 25)
  • Sold out: Sunday, Dec. 20
  • Tickets: $30 online, $35 at the gate; children 2 and under free
  • Where: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, 370 Zoo Parkway

Tickets and entry times

The Zoo sells timed entry. Buyers choose a 6 to 7:30 p.m. or 7:30 to 9 p.m. window and must arrive during it; once inside, they can stay until the event closes at 10 p.m. Prices from the ZOOLights page:

Ticket Online In person
Nonmember $30 $35
Zoo member $20 $25
Children 2 and under Free Free
  • Buying online saves $5 a ticket.
  • Tickets are nonrefundable.
  • The Zoo closes at 5 p.m. on event days and reopens at 6 p.m. for ZOOLights.
  • The event goes on rain or shine, “weather and safety permitting”; if weather affects a visit, the Zoo says it may issue a rain check for another night.

The Zoo says ZOOLights runs on “select dates” and does not list every open night on the page. Check the date in the ticket calendar before you plan around it.

What is there

From the Zoo’s description:

  • Santa: photos with Santa on select nights, booked through the Zoo’s site.
  • Music: a roaming DJ, and live music at the Watering Hole on Friday nights.
  • Holiday Market: Wednesday, Dec. 16, to Sunday, Dec. 20, 6 to 9 p.m., with more than 25 vendors selling crafts, food and gifts.
  • Food and drink: s’mores, snacks and holiday drinks at stands around the Zoo.

Two warnings from the Zoo: some areas use flashing and strobe lighting, and the animals will not be on view, because they go to bed before dusk.

Is it on this year?

Yes. The Zoo’s own page is dated for 2026 and says ZOOLights starts Nov. 20, 2026, and that Dec. 20 has already sold out. The Zoo’s other light event, the Colors of the Wild lantern festival, is not part of this season: the Zoo lists it for February 2027, with tickets “coming soon.”

Parking and getting there

  • The Zoo is at 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218, on the Northside.
  • The Zoo’s ZOOLights and visit pages do not list a separate parking charge or shuttle for the event.
  • Expect the heaviest traffic at the start of each entry window, 6 and 7:30 p.m. Check our road construction and closures page and getting around page before you drive.

Who to call

What this means for you

  • Buy online and pick a night early: one December Sunday is already gone.
  • Pick the 6 p.m. window for small children; it gives the longest visit before the 10 p.m. close.
  • Do not go expecting to see the animals.

More holiday lights, including Glowing Gardens at the Arboretum and Deck the Chairs at the beach, are on our holiday lights and Christmas events page and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

Is ZOOLights back at the Jacksonville Zoo in 2026?

Yes. The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens says ZOOLights returns after a three-year absence, on select nights from Friday, Nov. 20, 2026, through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027.

How much are ZOOLights tickets?

Online, $30 for nonmembers and $20 for Zoo members; at the gate, $35 and $25. Children 2 and under are free. Tickets are nonrefundable, the Zoo says.

What time is ZOOLights?

The event runs 6 to 10 p.m. Guests pick a timed entry window, 6 to 7:30 p.m. or 7:30 to 9 p.m., and can stay until 10 p.m.

Is ZOOLights open on Thanksgiving and Christmas?

No. The Zoo says ZOOLights is closed Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, and Christmas Day, Dec. 25. Sunday, Dec. 20, is sold out.

Can you see the animals at ZOOLights?

No. The Zoo says the animals will not be visible because they go to bed before dusk.