ZooLights 2011 - 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

Dates and Times
November 25-December 11 (Friday-Sunday nights) and December 16, 2011-January 1, 2012 (every night except December 24, 25 and 31), 5-9 p.m.

New at ZooLights for 2011

• ZooLights has added dates and expanded hours this year, giving families more time to enjoy the festivities.
  
  
• For the first time, visitors will have a chance to skate on an “iceless” rink at the Zoo’s Picnic Pavilion. Families will enjoy ice skating on an eco-friendly synthetic ice skating surface, composed of specially engineered polymers that permit skate blades to glide as smoothly as on real ice. Admission is $5 for a 30-minute session. Skate rental is available for an additional $2. Visitors can also bring their own skates.
  
  
• Go for a ride on a new trackless train around the Zoo’s lion and tiger habitats and view the Zoo’s holiday light displays. Admission is $3 per person for each ride.
  
  
• Local chool groups will be performing every night of ZooLights at three locations throughout the event site. Jazz bands, chorus groups, and more will add a festive holiday sound to the holiday lights.
  
  
• This year FONZ is partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington to donate gently worn winter outwear, including hats, scarves, gloves, mittens and coats. Donations for all ages will be accepted, but the need is especially great for children ages 2-12. Guests can donate outerwear during the Zoo’s regular business hours and during ZooLights. Donation boxes will be located at all three gift shops and the Mane Restaurant.

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