ZooLights 2012 - Holiday Lights at the National Zoo

ZooLights at the National Zoo in Washington, DC is a winter holiday event that is sure to be fun for the whole family. The National Zoo presents a display of thousands of sparkling lights featuring sculptures of many of the Zoo’s most popular animals, including giant pandas, Asian elephants, gibbons, a sea lion, an octopus, and a Komodo dragon. Visitors at ZooLights will enjoy winter-themed crafts, ice sculpting demonstrations, choral groups, and storytellers. Visitors can warm up inside the animal houses and enjoy nocturnal animals. The Small Mammal House, Great Ape House, Reptile Discover Center, Think Tank, and Kid’s Farm will be open every night. Holiday treats will be available for sale including hot chocolate, donuts, and kettle corn. Families can take a photo with costume characters, or do some holiday shopping at one of the eco-friendly gift shops.

ZooLights is FREE! No tickets are required. All proceeds from ZooLights concessions and parking sales will benefit a variety of Zoo wildlife conservation programs and initiatives, from educational opportunities to new and improved animal exhibits, to conservation science research projects. ZooLights is supported by a generous donation from Pepco.

See Photos of ZooLights

2012 Dates and Times
November 23-December 9, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only
Open nightly December 14–January 1 (except Dec. 24, 25 and 31)
Hours: 5-9 p.m.

New for 2012

• Ride the brand new Speedwell Foundation Conservation Carousel and spin through scenes from forest, grassland, savannah and aquatic ecosystems, sitting atop hand-carved and painted animals – many of them endangered species. Tickets for the carousel are $3.
  
  
• Enjoy snowless tubing on Lion/Tiger Hill, a 150 foot-long ride down the hill. Tickets are $3.

Getting to the National Zoo

The National Zoo is located at 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC. The main entrance to the Zoo is along Connecticut Avenue. There are also two entrances at the east side of the Zoo, near Rock Creek Park. One is off Rock Creek Parkway, the other is at the intersection of Harvard Street and Adams Mill Road. See a map.

Parking for ZooLights is $9 for Friends of the National Zoo members and $16 for non-members. The parking lots may fill up, so the best way to get to the Zoo is to take Metro. The closest stations are Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan and Cleveland Park.

For more information, see A Visitors Guide to the National Zoo