COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is welcoming the holiday season this weekend with the opening of Wildlights.

What You Need To Know

  • Wildlights is returning to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for its 34th year
  • Powered by AEP Ohio, the holiday lights come on Nov. 18 for visitors and run through Jan. 1, 2023

  • Zoo members are able to get early access for a member night on Nov. 17 and a Sensory Friendly Light Stroll is available on Tuesday, Nov. 15

Powered by AEP Ohio, the holiday lights come on Nov. 18 for visitors and run through Jan. 1, 2023. Zoo members are able to get early access for a member night on Nov. 17 and a Sensory Friendly Light Stroll is available on Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Among the attractions are several new events and offerings including:

  • “Sounds of the Season,” featuring choirs, bands and musical groups from local schools and organizations on select nights
  • “12 Days of Wildlights” train ride, themed to the zoo's rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas
  • “Jolliest Holiday” craft beer celebration, which offers guests ages 21+ the opportunity to sample more than 40 craft beers, ciders and seltzers at locations throughout the park

Other offerings include a giant animated holdiay tree, Jingle Jam along the Shores Play Park and an animated light display.

The Rudolph 4D experience brings the same stop-motion classic into the limelight along with a reindeer corral and S'mores Experience for a tasty treat. Santa is present as well and interested families are able to reserve time with him through the zoo's calendar page online to be sure they get to chat with St. Nick. 

In order to see the animals, guests are encouraged to arrive before 4 p.m. for a better chance to catch certain animals that like to go to sleep early such as the gorillas and bonobos. Other animals that can be seen both outdoors and at their indoor enclosures include:

  • Sea lions (Adventure Cove)
  • Jack Hanna’s Animal Encounters Village (Adventure Cove)
  • Naomi Coyle Dempsey Quest for Enlightenment Interpretive Center (Asia Quest)
  • Pachyderm Building (Asia Quest) – restricted hours
  • Discovery Reef (Shores & Aquarium)
  • Manatee Coast (Shores & Aquarium)
  • Reptile Building (Shores & Aquarium)

The zoo's regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily while Wildlights activities occur Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, the activities run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

The zoo will be closed both Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day while Wildlights will be closed Christmas Eve.

Wildlights is included with zoo admission, and admission is free for zoo members.