ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo is one of our favorite family holiday pastimes. Since moving to Oregon, it’s a new family tradition to see the ZooLights each year.
The annual winter festival ZooLights returned this year with a new train route taking visitors through a never-before-seen light experience. Last year was our first year attending and the train was being repaired, so we had no idea what we were missing! The train is a really fun way to see parts of the zoo you don’t normally get to see and a fun display of lights that you don’t see walking the zoo.
Because it’s at night, so animals can’t be seen, but many can. Mountain goats, sea otters, sea lions, leopards, tigers, penguins, 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 is worth the admission. They are lively in a fun in a way you can only imagine if you’ve seen them at the zoo during the day.
We love ZooLights, but make sure to bundle up! These Oregon winter nights get chilly and the vast majority of ZooLights is outdoors.
ZooLights runs until January 4, 2015
If you go to ZooLights:
ZooLights Admission
Members: Free
Adults (12–64): $10
Seniors (65 and up): $9
Children (3–11): $7
2 and under: Free
General train admission: $4
ZooLights Schedule
Sunday–Thursday: gates open 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday–Saturday: gates open 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Grounds remain open an hour after gates close.
ZooLights is closed December 10, 24, and 25.
Enter to win a 4-Pack of Tickets to ZooLights!
Use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win a 4-Pack of Tickets to ZooLights, including train rides tickets. Portland-Metro area residents only, please.
I received admission to attend ZooLights and ride the train. All opinions are my own.
I think it is great the Junior Explorer Box comes with so many activities! It is something that keeps the kiddos busy for hours..not just a few minutes:)
My 2 girls and I are so excited about seeing the ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo…being from the “Eastside” of the mountains this is a rare opportunity! Your pictures have gotten us even more excited!
Thank you for sharing!