Top 10 Zoo Lights in the US — The Best Zoo Holiday Light Displays of 2025-2026

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Key Takeaways
Unlike most zoo lights guides that only list names, this article includes real verified data – how many LEDs, how long each event has been running, ticket prices, and what makes each display truly unique.
Every winter, millions of American families search for “zoo lights” — over 90,000 searches per month on Google alone. But not all zoo lights are created equal. This guide ranks the top 10 zoo lights in the US based on USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2025, with real data on light counts, years running, ticket prices, and what makes each one unique. From Cincinnati’s 5-million-LED extravaganza to Detroit’s 280-animal-sculpture wonderland, here’s the definitive list of the best zoo lights in America.

What Makes These the Top Zoo Lights in America

The 2025 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Zoo Lights selected the top 10 zoo lights displays in the United States through a nationwide vote, following nominations by a panel of industry experts. The full list spans 11 states — from Ohio’s powerhouse trio (Cincinnati, Toledo, Columbus) to Colorado’s mountainside spectacle and Texas’s sprawling walk-through wonderland.

The rankings measure overall visitor experience, display size, creativity, and holiday atmosphere. Notably, 2025 marked the first time a dedicated lantern festival — not a traditional LED light show — entered the top 10, signaling a shift in what “zoo lights” can mean for American venues.

Sources: USA Today 10Best Best Zoo Lights 2025, individual zoo press releases and official event pages, November-December 2025 data.

#1 Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden — PNC Festival of Lights

5 million LED lights. 80 acres. 43 years. 8 consecutive years as America’s #1 zoo lights. Since 1983, Cincinnati Zoo’s PNC Festival of Lights has grown from a modest holiday display into the most awarded zoo lights event in the country. The 2025 season saw 65 larger-than-life animal lanterns scattered throughout the zoo, alongside the return of the Wild Lights show on Swan Lake (with a synchronized phone-app feature for audience participation).

New for 2025: Bear Ridge, home to bear cubs Hazel and Juniper, was illuminated with custom lighting. Ticket pricing is dynamic (included in standard zoo admission, approximately $22 per adult), with officials recommending advance online purchase as prices fluctuate based on expected attendance. The event runs from mid-November through early January.

Sources: Cincinnati Zoo official press release (Nov 2025), WLWT Cincinnati, Ohio Magazine.

#2 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo — Electric Safari

85+ custom light sculptures. 35 years. Mountainside terrain. Tickets $19-24 for adults. Located 7,000 feet above sea level in Colorado Springs, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Electric Safari is the only zoo lights event in the country built on a literal mountainside. The 85+ handcrafted light sculptures include species-specific animal displays that wind up the hillside — giving visitors a workout alongside the holiday magic.

Tickets range seasonally from $19 to $24, with free admission for zoo members (all requiring timed-entry reservations). Peak December weekends sell out in advance, and the event runs evenings through early January. The zoo itself was ranked #2 Best Zoo in the US by USA Today in 2025.

Sources: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo official site, Visit Colorado Springs, KRDO News.

#3-#5: The Top-Tier Middle Group

#3 Toledo Zoo — Lights Before Christmas

1 million+ lights. 40 years. 200+ illuminated animal images. $32 per adult. Toledo Zoo’s 40th annual Lights Before Christmas — one of the longest-running zoo lights in the nation — features the iconic 85-foot Norway Spruce (the “Big Tree”) as its centerpiece. The 2025 season added a spectacular drone show and 43 consecutive days of operation (Nov 21 through Dec 31). Ticket prices: $32 for adults (ages 12+), $29 for children (ages 2-11).

#4 San Antonio Zoo — Zoo Lights

Millions of LEDs. 110-year-old historic zoo. Runs Nov 15 to Jan 4. San Antonio Zoo’s Zoo Lights, powered by CPS Energy, transforms the historic zoo into “acres of dazzling lights” and “miles of trails.” Now in its 10th season, the event includes life-size animal lanterns, holiday treats, and photo opportunities throughout the zoo’s winding walkways.

#5 Memphis Zoo — Lantern Festival (New for 2025)

60+ larger-than-life illuminated fixtures. First-year event. $23-25 per adult. Runs Nov 14 through Feb 1 — the longest season of any top 10 zoo lights. Memphis Zoo’s 2025 debut of its Lantern Festival marks a significant shift in the zoo lights landscape. In partnership with Tianyu Arts & Culture (a major Chinese lantern manufacturer), the event features over 60 custom illuminated fixtures — not Christmas lights, but dedicated silk-and-steel lantern sculptures. The event runs a remarkable three-month season from November 2025 through February 2026, the longest of any top 10 zoo lights event.

Why this matters for venues: Compared to the standard 6-week LED season, Memphis Zoo’s lantern festival runs nearly 3 months – double the operating window for the same setup cost. The lantern festival format also broke into the national top 10 in its very first year, while most traditional LED displays took 10+ years to reach the same ranking.

#6-#10: Strong Regional Favorites

#6 Columbus Zoo and Aquarium — Wildlights

3 million+ LED lights. 37 years. Included in $20 zoo admission. 10,000 animals on site. Columbus Zoo’s Wildlights covers the 580-acre zoo with animated musical light shows and species-themed displays. The 37th season (Nov 21–Jan 4) draws families from across the Midwest. The zoo is also home to the Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival — a dedicated Chinese lantern event that runs separately during summer months.

#7 St. Louis Zoo — Wild Lights

1 million+ lights. Free admission. St. Louis Zoo’s Wild Lights is the only free-admission event in the top 10, making it accessible to the broadest audience. The display includes two illuminated walk-through tunnels, themed animal displays (penguins, polar bears, tigers, giraffes), and access to the indoor penguin and puffin exhibit.

#8 Riverbanks Zoo and Garden — Lights Before Christmas

Nearly 1 million lights. 25+ years of tradition. Columbia, South Carolina. As Columbia’s longest-running holiday tradition, Riverbanks Zoo’s Lights Before Christmas draws visitors from across the Carolinas with animated animal displays, a giant electronic tree, and strolling holiday performers.

#9 Indianapolis Zoo — Christmas at the Zoo

Indiana’s largest holiday light display. 44 nights of operation. Indianapolis Zoo’s Christmas at the Zoo (Nov 22–Jan 4) is the largest holiday lights display in the state of Indiana. It features fresh décor and expanded light installations for 2025, with operating hours from 5-9pm Sunday-Thursday and 5-10pm Friday-Saturday.

#10 Detroit Zoo — Wild Lights

5 million LED lights. 280+ animal light sculptures. 445 trees illuminated. 13 years. Don’t let the #10 ranking fool you — Detroit Zoo’s Wild Lights matches Cincinnati’s 5 million LED count and adds 280+ animal-themed sculptures and 445 individually lit trees across Royal Oak. The 13th season runs Nov 22 through Jan 4, 2026, with a new “enchanted rainforest” walk-through added for 2025.

FAQ — Zoo Lights Questions Answered

What are zoo lights?

Zoo lights are nighttime holiday light displays hosted at zoos and aquariums across the United States. They typically feature millions of LED lights arranged as sculptures, tunnels, and animal-themed displays along walking paths. Most events run from mid-November through early January.

Which US zoo has the best zoo lights?

According to USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards (2025), the #1 zoo lights in America is the Cincinnati Zoo’s PNC Festival of Lights, which has held the top spot for eight consecutive years. It features 5 million LED lights across 80 acres.

How much do zoo lights tickets cost?

Prices vary widely across the top 10. The cheapest entry is St. Louis Zoo’s Wild Lights (free admission), while the priciest is Toledo Zoo’s Lights Before Christmas at $32 per adult. Most fall in the $19-25 range. Several zoos include the lights display with standard daytime zoo admission.

Can you host a zoo lights event at my venue?

Yes. While most top 10 zoo lights are traditional LED displays designed in-house, the emergence of dedicated lantern festivals at Memphis Zoo (#5) and Columbus Zoo shows that venues can partner with custom lantern manufacturers to create unique, long-season illuminated events. A custom lantern festival can run for 3 months or more and requires no seasonal LED strip setup.

How long do zoo lights events last?

The typical zoo lights season runs 40-50 days, from mid-November through early January. The longest in the top 10 is Memphis Zoo’s Lantern Festival at nearly 3 months (Nov 14–Feb 1). Most events operate 5-10pm on select nights.

What These Numbers Mean for Your Venue

The top 10 zoo lights above share one thing in common: they generate significant winter revenue for their host zoos. But there’s a clear opportunity gap in the current market.

Our Zoo Lights Revenue Guide breaks down the actual attendance, F&B uplift, and ticket revenue data from 14 North American zoos. Here are the key findings:

• Traditional LED zoo lights require extensive setup and takedown — most venues pay local installers tens of thousands annually.
• Custom zoo lantern festivals require one-time installation and can run for 2-3 months vs the standard 6-week LED season.
• Memphis Zoo proved that a first-year lantern festival can break into the national top 10 — the barrier to entry is lower than most venues think.

Interested in exploring a custom lantern festival for your venue? Contact our team for a free venue assessment and concept design. For the full picture on zoo lights economics, read our complete revenue guide or visit our North America venue guide.