Wildlights columbus zoo free#

Stingray Bay & the Sea Lions in Adventure Cove.

However, there are plenty of indoor attractions to keep those who are too cold (or toddlers that are too crabby) entertained when not viewing the Columbus Zoo lights. In fact, during our visit, the Heart of Africa was completely closed. Yes, December is too cold for many of the animals at the Columbus Zoo. If you can, visit on a weeknight to avoid sitting in traffic. Overall, I recommend visiting early in the day and then staying for the wonder of the lights to appear at dusk! Parking gets really dicey in the evenings, and long lines of traffic will form from the parking lot. The best time to visit, in my opinion, is before Thanksgiving! I know that time has already passed, but that is when the crowds are lightest! When is the best time to visit the Zoo lights in Columbus? We like to visit the zoo earlier in the day and enjoy some of the animals during daylight, then retreat when the crowds start showing up around 6 or 6:30. One of my favorite things about visiting the Christmas lights at the Columbus Zoo is that zoo admission is included in the cost of the ticket! So many other zoos have special pricing and hours for the lights, but the Columbus Zoo allows you to arrive any time in the day and stay until the lights come on! I think this is perfect for young families like ours who tire out by 7 pm. The Columbus Zoo Lights will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In 2021, the Zoo lights run until January 2nd. Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo are back for another year of Christmas magic to be enjoyed by young and old. There will also be discounts for seniors and youth.The Columbus Zoo lights are a Christmas event you won’t want to miss!

Wildlights columbus zoo free#

Wildlights is free to zoo members, while general entrance is $21.99 for non-Franklin County residents and $16.99 for Franklin County residents, according to Rohrbacher. “You can come out and learn about animals and enjoy the holiday season.” “You don’t have to have kids to come to the zoo,” Glorioso said. Glorioso said the zoo is for guests of all ages and visitors can come out, enjoy the Wildlights and have a great time, as long as they dress appropriately for the coming weather. “It’d be great for fraternities, sororities, student organizations, whatever it is, to get out here, have a fun outing,” Rohrbacher said. Rohrbacher said the zoo has a program with Ohio State D-Tix, a campus organization that provides discounts for students, and encourages student groups to enjoy the festivities at a discounted price. However, visitors will still have the chance to visit many fan favorites, such as the Manatee Coast exhibit, the zoo’s Discover Reef, the Reptile Lab and the elephants, which will be in an indoor area, he said. Glorioso said guests who bring six non-perishable food items will receive free admission into the park for the night.ĭue to the winter weather, some animals will not be able to participate in the festivities, Glorioso said. 3 event benefiting the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. “Get out and enjoy some of the wintertime festivities we have out here.”Īdditionally, Jeff Glorioso, director of events and promotions at the zoo, said the Columbus Zoo will feature several nights of appreciation for healthcare workers and first responders. “It’s just going to be an awesome place to come out and come hang with some friends, or bring a date,” Rohrbacher said.

The zoo will also feature rides and attractions, such as the Polar Bear Express and the S’mores Experience, which invites guests to roast marshmallows over a fire, according to the website. every night, Wildlights will feature roughly 3 million lights throughout the zoo, Kevin Rohrbacher, sales supervisor for the Columbus Zoo, said. The zoo is putting on its annual Wildlights event from Friday through Jan. Jones.įor the rest of the calendar year, when the sun goes down, visitors at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium will find themselves bathed in a different kind of light. Wildlights will feature roughly 3 million lights throughout the zoo. The zoo is putting on its annual Wildlights event from Nov.