I tried to go to this, but despite buying a pass that cost me nearly $70 for two people and parking, we came upon the zoo and it had a sign lit up saying zoo full and to go by way of Harding street to find parking and walk over. Being someone who has a handicap placard for a good reason, it didn't seem feasible to go because I wasn't sure I could make it. So the zoo got a nice donation from us since we didn't go. What a disappointment! They clearly overbooked and now I've wasted time and money. I have no pictures because I couldn't attend. read more

A magical place to visit during the holiday season! Penguin encounters, reindeer, visit Mr and Mrs claus -- what more can you ask for! The lights and fake snow (I think it's bubbles?) are also spectacular. Love the spiked hot chocolate with 'shmallow from hotel tango. Note: at night, most of the animals will be asleep. Don't expect to see the usual suspects out and about. Personally, I would skip the train ride. It's loud and a little lack luster compared to the rest of the lights around the zoo. read more

Christmas at the Zoo - Mrs. Claus!!! - Zoos Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

We visited on an unseasonably warm Saturday night after Christmas this year, and on our arrival at about 7:30PM a lot of the early arrivals were leaving and so we snagged a prime parking spot, and the crowds were not bad! We enjoyed a leisurely stroll around and all the lights were still working nicely on December 28 which was a big improvement over our sad experience 2 years ago on an after Christmas visit. The lights were beautiful and they do seem to add some every year. There were still some long-ish lines for the light tunnel and mirror maze, so we skipped those, but the crowds were definitely much lighter than my pre-Christmas visit last year. This will definitely stay on our list of holiday activities! read more

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I'm not sure when Christmas at the Zoo actually started, however, I am sure of the fact that despite being a lifelong Indy resident I've never actually made it to the holiday experience. Finally, I can say I've been here. Okay, I looked it up. The Indianapolis Zoo was the first zoo in the nation to do a holiday light event. It started in 1967 and has definitely continued to grow. Highlights? Santa's Village is a wonder. You can visit Santa or arrange to visit vacation Santa. White River Gardens is also all decked out and part of Santa's Village. You can meet characters like Jack Frost and Ice Princess. You can visit Mrs. Claus' kitchen and help decorate cookies. She sticks around until December 30th, though you probably shouldn't tell Santa. You can go to Santa's Barn and visit his reindeer. Polar Pathway is great for photo ops and, yes, selfies. There's story time with Sprinkles and Holly that occurs nightly outside Cafe on the Commons. From 6-8pm, you can have a penguin encounter (weather and animal dependent). Tinsel Tavern will appeal to the adults with Hotel Tango spirits and wines from Daniel's Vineyard. For silly fun, Mirror Maze is a blast. Plus, there are simply lights galore (Honestly? My favorite part.). Christmas at the Zoo has long been recognized by USA Today as one of the top five holiday light events in the country. It's included in Zoo membership and is open until 10pm on Fridays/Saturdays (amazing date night not that I remember dating). Christmas at the Zoo features 100 percent LED energy-efficient lights and displays and the zoo even offers free holiday Christmas light recycling. There's so much more I could say. This was a blast and I honestly had as much fun watching families experience it. So much to enjoy. So much fun. It's a great date night or a perfect family experience. This is definitely one of Indy's holiday highlights and I definitely recommend it. read more

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I'd never been to Christmas at the Zoo before and it was really fun and well done. There is plenty to see and do. Obviously the lights and animals but also caroler's, meet Santa & reindeer, Mrs Claus and her kitchen etc. A little advance planning will be helpful. If possible skip the weekend. We went Sat. night and it was busy. The parking lot was almost full when we got there at 6. Buy tickets online. Know what animal shows you want to see so you can pick time early. The dolphin shows are popular so get in-line about 20 minutes early. Be ready to stand in line for everything from purchasing drinks to getting on the train to pics with Santa. Know that for the evening tickets you won't see all the animals and some are more active than others. Bring your patience the zoo does a really great job with this event. Dress warm!! read more

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I read somewhere that Christmas at the Zoo is rated a Top Ten zoo lights attractions in the country, and I think they are right. The Indianapolis Zoo does a great job of decorating the entire grounds with festive lights. I don't think you can wander anywhere without feeling the sights and sounds of Christmas. Having the Bicentennial Pavilion available is a game changer. The Santa's Village is located here with a variety of activities. You can visit Santa, check out the reindeers and penguins, and walk through the Tunnel of Lights. Additional concession stands are also available. In general, having the pavilion provides a reprieve from the elements during cold weather. Due to capacity limits, expect to wait in line to visit indoor attractions such as dolphins, aquarium, and desert. The event seems to be most crowded during the first couple of hours. If you can stick around a bit you can have a quieter stroll in the final hour or so. If you are not a zoo member, be prepared to pay for parking when you arrive. Christmas at the Zoo is worth the visit, I recommend doing it at least once or make it an annual tradition if you would like. read more

I went back to Christmas at the Zoo in 2018 for the first time in a few years and was super impressed with the changes they've made! As always, guests are free to wander the open exhibits (Waters, Forest, Dolphin pavillion, etc. - basically everything but the Plains) and see light displays throughout. The zoo has stepped up their game with light shows to sound, similar to Newfields Winterlights (but not nearly as sophisticated). The big difference is the Santa Village in the Bicentennial Plaza near the entrance. You can meet live reindeer, see Santa's workshop, get hot cocoa, visit the mistletoe gazebo, go through a snowflake funhouse mirror maze and see the pretty blue light tunnel. This area adds to the experience. My advice: go early around 5 p.m. or later when most kids have gone home as the line gets backed up on the weekends, sometimes all the way out to Victory Field! Or wait until post Christmas and the crowds aren't as bad, but it's still just as magical. read more

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A beautifully lit up winter wonder land with the cutest animals. To experience this seasonal treat you must go at night. I must say it's different at night at the zoo but fun to see all of the lights-there's so many colors everywhere! They do have animal exhibits to see and some inside to get out of the cold. We happened to go on a calm winter day so it was very tolerable. I especially loved seeing the reindeer and their huge antler racks. One was even expecting a baby and the representative with them helped to answer our questions and we learned a lot. They only carry 1 calf at a time and it takes approx 210-240 days to birth one. They are born with velvet covered antlers that is eventually shed. Females are territorial and will fight for dominance and use their antlers. Antlers can be broken off and or shed which does not hurt them. Christmas at the zoo is a great experience I'd recommend. They even had penguins on display that some got the chance to interact with. read more

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Christmas at the zoo is always a fun Christmas-y thing to do here in Indy! Right now they have an arctic fox exhibit and oh my it was soo cute! Definitely a highlight of our zoo trip We arrived at 3:30 and it was awesome because it wasn't super busy yet. We planned to see all the animals while it was still light outside and then we could enjoy the Christmas lights right as the sun went down around 5:30. I would definitely recommend doing this because the lines to go into the indoor exhibits got longer as the night went on. The last exhibit we wanted to go in was the oceans one and we were in line for 45+ minutes!! That's when it started to get busy around 5:15pm. If you want to skip the lines definitely go earlier in the day. As far as COVID goes, the lines were long because they only let a certain number of people inside at each exhibit. This was good to help with social distancing. Most people were wearing their masks 24/7 inside the zoo so I felt very safe. read more

Christmas at the Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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It was a wonderful time me and my family had we had so much fun visiting Santa and mrs . Claus we had fun in the mirror maze and the hot chocolate was delicious. read more

Christmas at the Zoo - Tree - Zoos Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This was my first time at Christmas at the Zoo and came at the end of visiting about a half dozen other Christmas exhibits around Indy earlier in the day. I really liked the Santa's Village area with so many activities for young and old. I also liked that everywhere I went in the zoo seemed to have festive lights. They also had a giant fireplace and fire pits for warming though parents really need to watch their kids around those. You can expect to pay usual pricing for zoo entrance which also includes a steep parking fee ($8) for non-members. So, I wasn't surprised by the cost. The only negative is that if you are going to see the animals, you won't see too many. Sure, the walrus, the penguins, and a tiger were moving about. And you could see some of the indoor exhibits like the oceans, dolphins (at a set time based upon when you arrive), and the orangutans, but the Plains area was closed off and many of the animals were not out. Even the bears were sleeping. So, five stars for the lighting and festive activities (I really enjoyed the Snowflake Mirror Maze) but a 3 for being able to watch the animals. Review #3425 read more

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We love this event. It's great for kids and adults of all ages. The littlest of kids love looking at all the lights and animals and I always see adults without kids enjoying the lights and food/drink! Our favorite attractions are the train ride, carousel, cookie decorating with Mrs Claus and seeing all the animals. It's open for a long time so if you're able to go on a night that has nice weather it's such a beautiful experience. A lot of families wear the light up necklaces and holiday gear. To can get them less expensive if you bring them rather than buy them there. read more

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Now this is the way to visit the zoo. I haven't been to the zoo since I was a kid, so this event was a surprise. It was even better than I expected! (I didn't realize we would be able to go in all of the animal buildings in addition to seeing the lights!) First- I LOOOVE how you can see a huge array of the zoo lights from the road. We got excited driving up and it looked awesome with the city skyline lit up to the right of it. I've heard that this event is we even bigger and better this year. In addition to all the lights, they use their new outdoor pavilion (to the left of the entrance) as an adorable Christmas village. There's a "snowflakery", Santa, Mrs. Claus' baking station where you can decorate your own sugar cookie), a mirror maze (that was actually so fun and trippy and tons of beautiful star lights hanging from the ceiling. There were lights on every tree and a cool light up tunnel in the middle of it all. I'd recommend staying until the very end when the event closes so that you can experience it for a few minutes without the huge crowds (a lot of the crowd are families with young children who don't stay until 10pm when it closes). The cafe offers a $9 mug for unlimited hot cocoa or hot cider or you can get one cup for $2. They also have a holiday snack mix, frosted krispie treats and more. It was a great experience and I'll be back. We even talked to a zookeepers who had super cool facts about the orangatangs (there's computers that they're learning to use!- crazy). read more

The Indianapolis Zoo really step up there game this year with Christmas at the Zoo! Outstanding! Santa's Village is so much fun. Instead of having to go to the gardens to see Santa, he is right there in the village. Along with Mrs Claus decorating cookies for a fee. A snowflake maze and a barn to see Santa's reindeer. Plus there is a booth to buy an unlimited cup of cheer. There is a blue and white lite tunnel to walk through. The selfies in there look so pretty. We have taken our 7 month old son through the tunnel many times this year already. I love all of the photo ops. There is a giant blue tree with a "ice glacier" in front of it. You can see the blue tree from about everywhere in the zoo. Last night IMPD was there with three officers on horse back. The kids were loving the horses. I can see why the Indianapolis Zoo was is in top 5 Christmas displays across the US. I can't wait to see what they do next year. read more

Christmas at the Zoo - Beautiful peacock - Zoos Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit. The lights are definitely worth going to see! The Dolphin's are always putting on the best show, there were kids with fidget spinners that the Dolphins were obsessed with coming up to and checking out, it was probably one of the coolest experiences I've ever seen. All the area's are open beside the plains because of the weather. We laughed our way thru the "Snow Flakery" mirror maze, it's way trickier than expected even as adults. It was a great evening to gather and go with friends, then explore downtown for dinner. I didn't realize you could have your work Christmas parties there, there was one going on in the Dolphin Arena, how cool is that- then walk around with your coworkers & family. I wouldn't mind making this one of our Christmas traditions, definitely put us all in the Christmas Spirit! read more

Christmas at the Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I think I'm fortunate to live in a city with a pretty amazing zoo. Unlike other cities I've been to, the zoo here is always growing and expanding, and the animals seem to be well taken care of. The Indianapolis Zoo has been selected over and over again to provide a home for animals from around the world, and I think that says a lot about how the animals are cared for. The Zoo has many special events throughout the year, but my favorite is Christmas at the Zoo. I'm here every year gazing up at the colored LED Christmas lights like a little kid, memorized by the displays set to music and warming my hands around a fire while drinking hot cocoa. Some items of note: -The concession stands sell a $7 "cup of cheer". I felt I was cheerful enough and opted for the $3 hot cocoa with tiny marshmallows. This made my wallet cheerful too. -If you want to see the dolphin show, get a ticket when you pay your admission (it's free and lasts about 20 minutes, but seating is limited) and get to the dolphin pavilion about 25 minutes early to get a seat. Carting kids with you? Pay attention to the stroller parking section just before you go into the pavilion. Don't be one of those people trying to bring it in... It'll just be annoying. -Desert pavilion is closed. This means no Meer cats. I know. I was sad too. -Dress warmly. It's December in Indianapolis, and it gets quite nippy outside once the sun goes down. Scarves and gloves are suggested. -Admission to the zoo also includes Santa's workshop at White River State Park. Make sure you check it out before you head out. read more

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Had ball. It was worth being out in the cold. My kids loved it. The lights were beautiful. The music was festive. The penguins were clearly having fun. Be sure to wear your warmest. The food spots were still open. Some of the shops had hot coffee and cocoa. Mrs. Claus made cookies for the little ones to help decorate. The bears and tigers were up and moving about. Warning: it's dark shortly after 5:30p, so be mindful that there a lot toddlers running around. This is definitely something to see. There were some flashing lights. But overall I'd say that this was a very family and sensory processing friendly event. The kids are worn out and passed out before we even got home. I'm so happy I finally got to see what all of the fuss was about. read more

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My wife and I joined our niece and her parents at the zoo for the Christmas lights displays the week between Christmas and New Years. It was fun and I think they added more lights this year. Our niece had been twice with grandparents so she gave us the lay of the land. We got to the zoo around 4:30 and none of the Christmas themed things were open yet and the carousel wasn't running which my niece was sad about. The carousel was turned on at 5 so she did get to ride and then we headed to Santa's village. She was really excited to meet Santa so was a bit disappointed to find out that he had gone back to the North Pole for a much needed break ;). On the other hand, she was excited to find out that Mrs. Clause was in house and she could meet her. We also went through the barn and learned about the reindeers: Comet and Clarice. Overall a fun experience and look forward to returning next year. I feel the need to deduct one star not for the experience, but because the cost of entry is so high unless you're a member making this activity out of reach financially for a lot of families in the area. read more

Lights, lights, lights everywhere! Santa, Mrs. Clause, and hot cocoa too! Every year when the weather starts to get cooler and the chill of Jack Frost is in the air, I start getting excited for this event. Close your eyes and imagine the Indianapolis Zoo, but all lit up and glowing at night. This is exactly what you can expect to find at the Zoo during the holiday season. If you have littles visiting the zoo with you, may I suggest getting there a little bit before dusk so everyone has time to visit with the animals before the sun goes down and all the lights turn on. On thing that is a must do is to purchase their mug of hot cocoa. Having a family of five makes it to where things can become pretty pricy going out, but their hot cocoa that comes in a holiday mug you can take home it worth it. When you finish drinking all your hot cocoa simply stop at any location inside the zoo for a free refill. Yup you read that correctly, FREE REFILLS!!! read more

Christmas at the Zoo - Holiday party at the Zoo! - Zoos Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Christmas at the zoo is always fun however, there will be long lines and lots of crowds. Not many animals were out compared to the summer months but it is still nice to see all the lights. read more

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My goodness, this is such a wonderful place to take your family or even a good date night! Me and my fiancé went to walk around, and even my fiancé was impressed and he's not super into Christmas lights. The atmosphere was so fun + I gotta say. Santa's village was amazing even for us adults. A total winters bucket list addition! read more

What a magical time! This was my first time having my own child to take and it was everything I had hoped for. All the lights made her oh and aw. This year they had ticketed times to see Santa, I felt it was very organized and we got through the line in about 20 minutes from our time. I've been in past years and it was always a horrible Long line in the cold. She was a little too young to take advantage of Mrs. Claus' cookie station, but she got to see all the aquarium animals and the orangutans . The bears were outside and the the red pandas were also out playing, as well as the tiger. I can't wait to take her back for years to come. My parents went with us and acted liked kids again! read more

Christmas at the Indianapolis Zoo is one of the most exciting of our family Christmas outings. I'll be honest, we don't even visit the animals! The Christmas Village has it all! Braxton dances on snow flakes and twirls in the snow, whether there is snow or not because the zoo creates this winter wonderland. Mrs. Claus is cooking up cookies in her kitchen and she invites all the kiddos to join her and make their own cookies which is a great way to replenish after standing in line to meet her very popular husband. The Christmas Village features Santa every year, make sure you get your ticket upon entry and come back to see the big guy at your appointed time. The lights are spectacular. The light tunnel is my personal favorite but Braxton likes the Peacock. read more

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Great experience.. we loved to go check out the lights with our little one. But, WOW, was it packed! More people than I ever would have expected. There were a lot of exhibits closed/under construction. We did get to see the polar bear though, so that was a plus read more

I was so excited to find out that my new company was having our Christmas party at the zoo. We had our reception in the dolphin pavilion and also had our dolphin show tickets paid for. The lights all around the zoo were beautifully set and the food (I think the zoo has a contracted catering service) was surprisingly fantastic. However the dolphin was not so great. But all the children certainly enjoyed it and that's all the counts. I look forward to our next Christmas party here! read more

Christmas at the Zoo - All of the lights! - Zoos Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

My children had a ball! We were lucky enough to get discounted tickets from my job so entrance was inexpensive for us. $43 for 3 adults and 2 kids. This did not include the dolphin show. I later regretted not getting tickets to the dolphin show because not many of the other animals were really available to be seen. We saw the orangutans, the under water Walrus, penguins, two reindeer, and a couple of birds in the dessert. Other animals were either asleep or the section was closed for the season. So if you're hoping to see animals you won't see many. The REAL attraction to this event are the lights. And they are BEAUTIFUL!! The zoo staff took special care turning the zoo into a winter wonderland. Walking into to Santa's village there is a fake snow machine blowing. There are several cute little stops for the kids to make such as Mrs. Claus' kitchen, pictures with Santa, and a small stable with reindeer. My kids were so amazed at all the lights. We will make this a yearly tradition. read more

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This event just keeps getting better every year! Lots of beautiful light displays, a special dolphin show, and a good handful of animal exhibits are still open. (Not all of them though, so make sure you aren't planning on seeing specific animals.) The little village set up right at the entrance has a variety of activities - visit with Santa, see a reindeer (who unfortunately wasn't there when we went), and even a mirror maze. We were already fans of the zoo, but this is a great new holiday tradition that we'll definitely continue in future years. read more

This was my first year attending Christmas at the Zoo at Indy's zoo and I was completely blown away by the attention to detail the zoo had on every aspect of the event! Lights strung up all around the premise really set the Christmas sprit into action and everyone attending had smiles on their face.The staff was very helpful and friendly, if anyone had a question they were right there for assistance and every time you left an exhibit you would be wished, "have a merry christmas". Its the little things the zoo did, like a kind gesture, that made my experience so pleasant. I went during the evening two weeks ago, I was able to see one of my favorite animals, the red panda, walk around his tree. This was a nice treat (since they aren't active during daylight hours). He was the only animal I saw active, but I didn't mind because all of the other attractions that the zoo had kept my attention. I was a huge fan of the reindeer petting and taking pictures with santa really was a nostalgic moment for me. I highly recommend attending this event. Makes for a perfect evening with a significant other or a memorable time with your family. Once you go I think it will turn into a yearly tradition because I know that I am coming back next year! read more

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A premier event at the Zoo. Everything is decorated in lights and is very elegantly done. Many animals are already in for the night, but some who like the cold are out. The main attractions, besides the pretty lights, are the bonfire by the treat station and "Santa's Workshop" in the pavilion. The bonfire is not a huge affair, but more like a campfire. It's proximity to the shop with hot chocolate and treats makes for nice halfway point in the cold zoo. Santa's Workshop has more refreshments, but it is indoors. There are complimentary cookie decorating stations with red, green, and white icing and sprinkles available with the purchase of a sugar cookie. There is a small gift shop kiosk, tables to relax, and last, but certainly not least, Santa there to ask the kids if they've been naughty or nice. There is also a special Christmas show at the Dolphin Pavilion and the outdoor carousel still operates and plays Christmas music. If you go during the day, there are animal shows that go on at specified times, but the Zoo doesn't open until noon during almost all of December. On those days, it is open until 9pm. If you have never been to the Indianapolis Zoo, before it is definitely worth your while to check out Christmas at the Zoo one evening! read more

This is one of my favorite double date spots in the winter. It is so hard to find things outside that are not miserable. Just as you start to get really cold here, you can hit the desert or the oceans exhibits and warm up. Funny enough, I do not think of this as a kid friendly event. Unless you can go on a really mild night, it is just too cold. But it is fun to go with adults, grab a hot chocolate, and wander around looking at the lights. Yes, it is pricey, but the zoo is self sustaining, so I am ok with paying a bit more. Plus, it includes admission to White River Gardens next door, so there is plenty of entertainment for your buck. read more

This was a very "whatever" event, so I was pretty upset that I paid almost $50 for two people to go. The dolphin show was "free," but since it was the best part of the night, I'm just telling myself that I paid to see that instead. The lights were nice-ish to look at, nothing super special for the price I paid. We hardly got to see any of the animals, so I really don't know why the price was so high. read more

I've lived in Indianapolis for 4 years now, and I can't believe I never made it over to the Indianapolis Zoo. This is a holiday must for both locals and visitors - do yourself a favor and check out Christmas at the Zoo! This event really has something for everyone. Go when it's darker outside so you can see all the pretty lights! The entire place is decked out for the holiday season. Reindeer greet you upon walking through the entrance, and festive decor lights up the entire premises. My classmates and I loved strolling from one exhibit to the next, and we especially loved being able to take a class photo with Santa! The zoo staff was extremely informative and friendly - we were there pretty late at night, but were still able to see a lot of the animals. I definitely recommend paying the zoo a visit this Christmas season, you'll be glad you did! read more

Everyday since I moved to Indianapolis three years ago for college, I have fallen more and more in love with the city. The Indianapolis Zoo and their Christmas at the Zoo experience has become a great addition to the list of impressive things that Indy has to offer. My first visit to the Indianapolis Zoo was for the Christmas at the Zoo event. I expected the zoo to be a basic and generic zoo; one similar to the other zoo's I have visited throughout the years. However, I am a big Christmas enthusiast and am a fan of anything and everything that has to do with Christmas. My expectations for the Zoo itself were definitely surpassed and the Christmas spirit that I was looking for did not disappoint. The lights draped all throughout the zoo were very impressive. The atmosphere was electric and really complimented the holiday season. I thoroughly enjoyed my evening at the Christmas at the Zoo experience. The Orangutan exhibit was my favorite stop and I definitely want to come back again to see the Orangutan's in action outside when the weather warms up. However, know that although the experience is good holiday fun, later at night the animals are not out and the few that are still out are sleepy and not very active. So, it is really not good if you are looking for a true animal experience. Overall, a great activity for all ages. read more

As someone who has been going to this event for years, I have to say this year was a little disappointing. There were a lot of lights for sure, but they were just haphazardly tossed all over the landscape. It wasn't that pretty. Not deliberate and attractive like it has been in the past. I was very happy the lights weren't so bright that it hurt eyes or induced headaches like some LED lights do. I wanted a reusable/refillable hot chocolate cup and couldn't find one anywhere. The lines were too long, and we couldn't even get passes for there dolphin show. There is no eagle, even though it always shows there is on the map. The space for decorating cookies with Mrs. Claus needs to be bigger like it used to be. The mirror thing had a long line/ wet long wait and was tiny and awful. For me, the penguins were the stars of the night. They were so cute! They need more holiday treats available for purchase. We went on a busy night so it was very expensive thanks to the way they price tickets now. It was a get less pay more situation going on a busy night. I will always love Christmas at the Zoo, but comparing it to years past, it was disappointing! read more

I've grown up going to the Zoo but I was not impressed by the Christmas at the Zoo. It was fun to come at dark but it seems like they try to hard to sell things and it's very overpriced. I was disappointed the Plains area was closed so that left deserts, forest, and oceans...plus the few other outdoor such as the orangutans. We went through the zoo in about an hour and I'm glad we got free tickets to go. Maybe it's because we don't have children..Idk. I just wasn't impressed and felt like it could've been better... read more

Nothing makes me more holly and jolly than rolling into the nearly vacant zoo at 4:30 in the afternoon and being able to to view all the exhibits and pet the sharks without being rolled over by strollers full of children! Of course, it was pretty chilly the Saturday following Thanksgiving so I can't imagine it's always nearly empty! The real highlight of Christmas at the Zoo are the amazing light displays. Want to see your favorite animal as a light display (and possibly wearing a Santa hat)? Well, by golly, they are bound to have it! Aside from the awesome lights, there are seasonal treats that can be purchased like hot chocolate and cookies. You can visit with Santa and have a family photo op in Santa's sleigh at several locations within the zoo. A little chilly? Step up to the cozy fires and warm up your hands before you make your way to the Christmas dolphin show. The gift shop has a variety of seasonal gifts, such as ornaments and candy/chocolate. White River Gardens has been transformed into Santa's Workshop with cookie decorating, visiting with Santa, and a scavenger hunt! They also have an awesomely huge tree as soon as you walk in that is perfect for photo ops of all kinds! Overall, a great way to get into the holiday spirit and you don't even have to be a kiddo! After all, my sister and I are well into adulthood and found the light displays pretty amazing and managed to make a freezing cold evening a lot of fun! read more

The lights are very pretty throughout the park. However, if you are expecting to have a "zoo experience" during Christmas at the zoo, then you really are going to be left unsatisfied. The Dolphin show was like the normal dolphin shows, which is fine, but it was so terribly crowded that many had to sit in the splash zones. Since it's December, of course everyone was wearing winter clothes at the dolphin show. I witnessed some poor woman holding her child get hit by two bucketfulls of water. While it appeared that the dolphins did less of the "splash" moves, the fact that they did any next to the window during Christmas at the zoo just seemed like really poor planning. I don't think anyone at the show was hoping to get wet. The Desert was dark and vacant minus a few lizards and huge crowds of people, the orangutans were nowhere to be found and the plains were closed. Overall I was pretty disappointed in my visit. The only time that I would recommend going to Christmas at the zoo is if you can find a time to go when the volume of people is not as crazy as it was when I went (~6 pm, Monday, December 21). read more

A wonderful evening of lights and holiday fun! Although some of the animals aren't out in the cooler weather, the trip is well worth it for all of the festive decorations, a cup of hot chocolate, and plenty of animal activity from the inside exhibits and cold weather critters. We watched the dolphin show from under the dome and spent lots of time watching the lively seals by the entrance! The zoo is officially a destination all year round :) read more

Be warned! If you go once then you are probably going to make it a yearly tradition! Whether you are looking for a nice date night, something to do with the family or a Christmas activity just in general, Christmas at the Zoo is the place to go too! Just strolling through the zoo, walking from exhibit to exhibit I had to stop myself in order to just take in the credible view of the zoo. There truly is nothing like it in Indianapolis. It is an incredible view to see all the lights light up the zoo. From Christmas lights just hanging on trees, to figures in lights, it surely is an experience you will never forget. It captions the essence of Christmas and if it snows it is one of the most beautiful places to be! Not only are you able to see the zoo at night which gives you a chance to see the animals in a different way than if you want during any other time of the year, but Santa also comes to visit! He has his own workshop there where children are able to send mail to the North Pole, tell Santa what they want for Christmas, and get their picture taken with Santa. It is a place that will get anyone into the Christmas spirit! read more

Christmas at the Zoo was my first experience visiting the Indianapolis Zoo and I was more than impressed! Upon arriving at the park and seeing the multiple buildings and trees decorated in Christmas-style, I immediately felt like a child again. The entire zoo is decked with strings of colorful lights and holiday features including a Santa Station. As you walk through the park the lights and set-up dazzle you from location to the next. Even during a very cold evening, it was a real treat to walk through the park and experience the zoo in all its holiday spirit. read more