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    LA Zoo Lights

    2.9 (637 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    LA Zoo Lights Photos

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    Nevin A.

    What a beautiful night at the LA Zoo Lights! This was my first time going there and I loved it so much. There is plenty of parking and it is free. You can purchase tickets online in advance or at the window there. Tickets were reasonably priced considering how amazing the lights were and how many things to do there were. The lights themselves were spectacular. There were stunning illuminated pathways, glowing animal sculptures (some of which also moved), decorated trees, a kaleidoscope area, and plenty more. My favorite area was a tribute to ancient Egypt which was truly beautiful. There was music everywhere, which made the vibe even more festive. They even had Christmas carolers the whole night, who sounded lovely. There was an area for kids to meet and take a photo with Santa, and you could ride the carousel there for $3, which was a lot of fun. As for food and drinks, there were several areas where you could purchase cocktails, hot cocoa (including with a cute collectible cup), and things like churros, a cookie decorating kit, and a smores kit that you could make over one of the fires that they had. Compared to other holiday lights events, the prices were more reasonable. My family spent almost 3 hours walking around and enjoying the zoo lights. Overall, this is a fun and festive event, perfect for an evening out with your family or friends. I highly recommend it and look forward to coming back next year

    Mohammed N.

    Environment was good. Nice place to see animals and other diffrent types pretty cool here

    Eric P.

    We got an awesome deal through Groupon. Haven't been to this for a long time, as in years lol. Getting in can be rough just because of traffic around the area but we arrived in a relatively smooth manner. There was plenty of parking close to the entrance. We reserved for the 6pm time slot. Its good time! There are vendors near the parking lot with toys and food and a food truck or two. The portable restrooms outside are crazy busy. Just go inside lol. The entrance line outside is long too but goes by fast. The zoo itself is closed for regular operation so you won't see any actual animals. Plus they need their sleep. It's all about the lights and there are some really nice displays. Some holiday but mostly zoo themed. There was a group caroling inside near the entrance. Lot of photo ops and make sure to explore because there are multiple paths. Along the paths there are multiple snack and cocktail stands as well as more restooms. All in all a great family experience. Thank you LA Zoo!

    Meee
    Nicole L.

    Came to LA Zoo Lights this past weekend and wowza I don't remember it being this packed¿??? There was a line to get in (we alrdy had tix). The lights were so nice but I kinda wish they were playing Christmas music/ had more Christmas lights instead of just animals. Despite that, it was a fun experience :-) definitely lots of walking but this is a cute place to go to on a date night or night out with family hehehe

    Los Angeles Zoo Lights Animals Aglow.
    Shik P.

    We had such a cheerful night at Los Angeles Zoo Lights Animals Aglow on a Friday night, few days after Christmas. We went with our family and the little ones enjoyed it. They were amazed at all the display of animal lights and plants. This is the perfect time to go as it's not crowded. We purchased the 6pm time slot from the LA Zoo website. There were also plenty of parking spots available. We parked right in front of the Zoo and just walked several steps down the entrance. It took us 2 hours going through the whole lights display and we really enjoyed it. We took our time and took some photos. Some food stalls were open inside the LA Zoo selling hot chocolate and churros. The Los Angeles Zoo Lights Animals Aglow is open until January 5th. We bought our tickets for $35 for adults and $23 for children ages 2 to 12. This is such a fun experience to take your family to especially during this holiday season. Can't wait to go back next year after Christmas.

    Flamingo
    Paul P.

    Coming here since I was a kid. I know they operate with donations but lots of exhibits empty also why don't they pass out maps because the directions on the post are very confusing maybe improve on this issue. Notice lots of kids having lots of excitement good things

    Rebekah L.

    Much obliged to the LA Zoo for hosting Zoo Lights and Vendors on Thursday, 12/12/24. My Super Lucky night. Finally caught an event here. All I had to do was walking across the Zoo from parking across The Autry Museum of the American West, LA. There were some shopping vendors and hot dog as well as Elotes' stands here tonight. My super lucky night catching their Vendors event and light show. I'll be back again in the near future. I just chowed down one of those hot dogs from the stand...cost $8. All worthy!!!! Thank you, LA Zoo. I'll be back to see the animals again.

    Jo S.

    Probably the best holiday lights I have seen in LA area and beyond. Before buying tickets for family coming to town, I asked a friend who went to see all the lights at all gardens in LA area and this was her favorite. I second that! I got cheaper tickets (not cheap, but still) during week time, earlier in December when we had guests in town! Lost of parking. Bundle up! They sell hot beverages and churros, among others, we had dinner before so we didn't purchase anything, but there are lines. Lots of restrooms along the way. That being covered, what else is do than explore the light shows? Wear comfy shoes, you will walk for at least 90 minutes. No animal sighting since they are asleep. But the light show is wonderful, very unique and it puts you in a festive mood. The place is crowded even for a week night, but it's joyful and a fun activity for anyone, no matter the age! It never got terrible. Bring a charged camera/phone, there are lots of opportunities for amazing photos. Just one spot was a no go, they wanted to charge extra??? But other than that, you will enjoy spectacular lights, very unique. An enjoyable activity during the holidays, fun and festive for everyone. LA Zoo was sparkling with joy and wonder. Full of magic!

    This fish is up a tree without a branch
    Te-see B.

    I'm off to see the Wizard the wonderful Wizard of all...ooops wrong song... Lions, and tigers and bears, oh my... well, yes that and more in a glorious array of lights, holiday music & spirit!!! Perfect night for the entire family to step out into the chilly air with the feeling that you might be back East or in the Mid-West for the Holiday season! Ssshhh...The "real" zoo animals are sleeping while you are there. Have some spiked hot cocoa/virgin cocoa to feel even more in the holiday spirit!!! Keep moving and step to the side if you want to look longer at the displays as to "not be run over by a stroller:)" *Wear layers and bring a wool hat. It gets cold as the night sky gets darker *Sneakers or Uggs are highly recommended *Tickets tend to see out try purchasing online ahead of time. *Free parking in the zoo lot

    Alex K.

    This was my first time here as I was meeting some friends here. It's held inside the la zoo. Heads up, more than likely will not see any animals if your hoping for that. There was two times for entries when booking tickets. Plenty of parking as the lot was quite big. When walking to the entrance, there's was loads of food vendors outside s selling things as well gifts. No food or drinks are allowed inside. Once inside, the whole zoo is covered in lights. A Christmas wonderland but inside the zoo. There's going to loads of kids. Food wise, I recommend eating prior as there's nothing really. They had a restaurant/snack shop that had chicken strips and fries. And other stall that had pizza slices. Mainly zoo food. They did offer hot chocolate but spiked with liquor. Overall, the light display was pretty. A nice thing to do if you want to just wander around and see holiday lights. I think there was somewhere that you could purchase a s'mores kit. They had a section with fire pits that people were roasting the marshmallows. Also, the carousel was operating.

    Anthony F.

    This is the second time I've been here, the first after COVID. It's a family-friendly place to walk through, if you're a fan of Christmas lights with a zoo theme. Let me start off by saying that there were acouple of protestors with megaphones demanding to let the elephant go, and accusing everyone who bought tickets of supporting animal cruelty. Considering that zoos try to promote the conservation and protection of rare and endangered species, I didn't get it. They also accused the light attractions of keeping animals awake all night, but the exhibits were all closed and there wasn't a real animal in sight. The protestors were also trying to convince everyone to not eat the animals, but I didn't even know that was an option? Anyway, there were lights everywhere, and a plethora of (pinatas?) lit up animals everywhere. There were several tunnels to walk through, along with different themed areas to look through. Again, not a real animal in sight, but plenty of lit up caricatures! My little one loved it. There was also a surprise in one of the areas - Star Wars night! There were a bunch of people dressed up in some serious cosplay costumes of Vader, different Stormtroopers and Imperial officers, a Jedi or two, Boba Fett, and the Mandalorian, complete with Grogu. They were ready and waiting to take pictures with everyone! Overall, this can easily take you a couple of hours to wander through and IMHO is well worth the price of admission. If you're hungry, there are a couple of food trucks, a place or two open for food, and hot chocolate and churros.

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    Thank you for visiting! We're so glad you enjoyed it.

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    LA Zoo lights went very well and match couples like the relationship and those who are married together. I recommend that!

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    Page 1 of 16

    Ask the Community - LA Zoo Lights

    Can i buy tickets at door?

    Do you need a reservation at the zoo

    Are the gift shops open?

    Yes!

    How long does people usually spend there?

    We only planned to be there 45 minutes but the kids had such a good time we stayed for about an hour and a half.… Read more

    Can we bring bottled water and snacks for the kids to the park during the Zoo lights?

    Yes, nobody was checking bags when I went.

    Are the tickets the same price if we buy at the door?

    No, You will get better prices ordering online from Goldstar.

    Can we bring a wagon to LA Zoo Lights?

    Yes.

    Anyone know the difference between the premium ticket and the value ticket?

    Only difference is the dates that it's on. On nights where it's less busy, they offer the value night at a lower price. No difference in experience.

    Is there alcohol sold in the zoo? If so what kind?

    Only beer.

    Can we buy our tickets at the door or it has to be online?

    Buy them online. They sell out a day or two before the date you want to go.

    Is there a special event on new year's eve?

    Yes, there's a Family New Year's Eve 2018 event at L.A. Zoo Lights on Monday, December 31, for all ages. Admission includes entry to L.A. Zoo Lights plus food, soft drinks, activities, a carousel ride, and more. You can find info and tickets here:… Read more

    Can we bring a small dog?

    Hi there. The Los Angeles Zoo allows service animals on its premises to provide assistance to people with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the ADA, “a service animal is a dog that has been… Read more

    If i have an 8pm could I go in at 7pm to join the rest of my family who have 6pm passes?

    You should be able to - I was able to get in 30 ish minutes before my entry slot. They don't really check the times.

    Are there any restrictions on bringing dslr cameras?

    No, lots of people had them when I was there.

    What days do you guys recomend? Thursday or friday ? 6pm or 8pm?

    Thursdays, less busy. They also have Value Night tickets on some Thursday's. 6pm to give you time to enjoy all the displays and not be rushed.

    Tomorrow will be raining all day, will it still open?

    Yes, zoo lights is open rain or shine.

    Are there places to eat inside that open for the Zoo lights time?

    Hello Rebecca. Yes! Zoo Grill, Fork in the Road, and Cafe Pico are open every night, with full menus. Zoo Grill serves burgers, wraps, fries, chicken tenders, and pre-made salads. Fork in the Road offers pizza by the slice. Cafe Pico has street… Read more

    And also how much is the ticket and at what time is the event?

    Tickets range from $12-$22 depending on the night, and times are 6pm-10pm. https://www.lazoolights.org/

    Do they charge for parking?

    No. The parking is free of charge. The LA Zoo has a large lot with many spaces.

    When is it gonna be?

    It's running now through January 6, 2019

    Are there any animals out at this time? Was told there's only reindeers

    No, no animals outside of the reindeer. Much of the zoo is closed off. You will find maybe an alligator or swan (that's what we saw). But don't expect elephants, zebras, etc...

    View All 26 Questions

    Review Highlights - LA Zoo Lights

    Beyond the twinkle tunnel and set beside a wall of mystical trees, were FOUR enchanting elephant sculptures.

    Mentioned in 46 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    I cannot say enough amazing things about Aquarium City. From the moment you walk in, you can tell…read morethis place is run by people who truly care, not just about their business, but about their customers and the animals themselves. The selection is incredible. Everything is clean, well maintained, and thoughtfully set up. You don't get that overwhelming, chaotic feeling that a lot of aquarium stores have. This place feels organized, calm, and honestly just really beautiful to walk through. What really sets them apart though is the customer service. They take their time with you, answer every question no matter how small, and you can tell they actually know what they're talking about. There is no pressure and no upselling, just genuinely helpful guidance, which is so rare these days. I also really appreciate how much they care about making sure you're set up for success, not just making a sale. They give honest advice and want your tank to thrive long after you leave the store. Whether you're brand new to aquariums or have been doing this for years, this is hands down the place to go. You can feel the passion the second you walk in. I will definitely be coming back again and again. Highly, highly recommend.

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    LA Zoo Lights - zoos - Updated July 2026

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