ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo is one of new our favorite family holiday pastimes. Since moving to Oregon, it’s a new family tradition to see the ZooLights each year. Our kids love the annual trip to the zoo for holiday lights and an evening of train riding, lights, treats, and hot chocolate. Seriously, the Oregon Zoo has the best hot chocolate! If you buy the souvenir cup, you can get refills throughout the park for only $1.
Because ZooLights is at night, many animals can’t be seen, but some can. Walk around, see the lights, and catch a glimpse of some of the animals that may be out at night. Mountain goats, sea otters, sea lions, leopards, tigers, polar bears, bats, elephants, and some primates can be seen during ZooLights. If you haven’t been to ZooLights, just being able to see the bats in full nocturnal night-time action alone is worth the admission price. They are lively and fun in a way you can only imagine if you’ve seen them at the zoo during the day. 
The train light at #zoolightspdx #kids #holiday #travel A photo posted by Jana | Merlot Mommy (@merlotmommy) on
If you want to take the train (which is an additional fee than just the ZooLights admission), the line maybe shorter at the beginning of the evening. However, if you are all about the lights, the train isn’t where you’ll see the bulk of the lights, so make your call on time wisely if you have a limited amount of time to spend that evening. The train is also a nice break if you happen to go on a rainy night since it’s covered.
We love ZooLights, but make sure to bundle up! Hats and mittens are a must. These Oregon winter nights get chilly, and the vast majority of ZooLights is outdoors.
ZooLights runs until January 3, 2016
If you go to ZooLights:
ZooLights Admission
Members: Free!
Adults (12–64): $14.95
Seniors (65 and up): $12.95
Children (3–11): $9.95
2 and under: Free
General train admission: $4
There’s also a list of nights on the Oregon Zoo website where you can get discounted admission and there is a discount if you arrive by TriMet.
- SEND HELP is a Campy, Wild, Dark Ride - January 29, 2026
- Mental Health Treatment Is Getting More Personal and That Is a Good Thing - January 29, 2026
- The New Language of Addiction Care, Where Design, Dignity, and Depth Matter - January 24, 2026
[…] winner a pack of tickets to see Zoolights this year in Portland at the Oregon Zoo. Check out a review of last year’s Zoolights here. Zoolights runs through January 1, 2017, closed December 24 […]