California Zoos Holiday Festivals, Lights

Zoos are already entertaining and magical places to visit. Come the holidays, however, the darkness turns to light with the beautiful zoo lights holiday celebrations. Other festivals and events include special zoo feeds with Christmas gifts and foods that humans can relate to. If you can go, you're attendance helps support zoos.

ALPINE: Alpine: Lions Tigers and Bears Holiday Christmas with the Animals
Lions Tigers & Bears
24402 Martin Way
Alpine, California 91901
$,  lionstigersandbears.org
Watch the animals open their Christmas presents, and enjoy an afternoon at the sanctuary celebrating the holiday season. Food trucks, festive music, an opportunity drawing and an appearance by Santa Claus wrap up a perfect day at this Christmas Fundraiser for the animals.

ATASCADERO: Atascadero Charles Paddock Zoo Holiday Magic December 16, 2023, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Zoo is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
9100 Morro Road
Atascadero, CA 93422
$, charlespaddockzoo.org
Experience the magic of the holiday season as the zookeepers step in as Santa's Elves to prepare gifts for the animals.

 BAKERSFIELD: Holiday Lightasmic! November 25-December 30, 2023, evenings at CALM Zoo. Location: 10500 Alfred Harrell Highway Bakersfield, CA $, calmzoo.org

FOLSOM: Folsom Zoo Wild Nights, Holiday Lights  December 1, 2, 8, 9  & 15-22, 2023, 5-8:30 p.m. at Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, 403 Stafford Street

FRESNO: IllumiNature November 24-December 30, 2023 at Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a special holiday event featuring lighted lantern displays and a visit from a real reindeer! $, fresnochaffeezoo.org

LOS ANGELES: LA Zoo Lights, Animals Aglow November 17, 2023-January 7, 2024 at LA Zoo. Special holiday display seen only at night. Location: 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA, $, lazoo.org

OAKLAND: Oakland Zoo Glowfari, Wildly Illuminating Lantern Festival  November 10, 2023-January 28, 2024, 5-9 p.m. $26 adults, advanced ticket purchase is required: oaklandzoo.org

PALM DESERT: WildLights at The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens November 22-December 30, 2023 includes light exhibits and lighted animal-shaped lanterns in themed displays. $, livingdesert.org

SACRAMENTO: Sacramento Zoo Unextinct
December 26, 2023-March 9, 2024

SAN DIEGO: SeaWorld Christmas Celebration November 17, 2023-January 7, 2024 is all fun with rides, sea life, Santa, reindeer and a sizzling musical show with America's Got Talent star Bryan Cheatham. SeaWorld is open Christmas Day & New Year's Day!

SAN DIEGO: Jungle Bells Aurora at San Diego Zoo December 9, 2023 -January 1, 2024 includes an incredible light show, reindeer games, brass band music, jugglers and acrobats, and forest pathway through holiday decor and lighted trees to visit polar bears, arctic foxes and reindeer. $65, sandiegozoo.org

SAN DIEGO: San Diego Safari Park Wild Holidays November 24-December 31, 2023 includes the same, great wild animal park experience with magical holiday lights, Santa and musicians playing holiday tunes at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, $, sdzsafaripark.org

SAN DIEGO: Jungle Bells Aurora  December 9, 2023 -January 1, 2024 The Zoo lights up the night until 8 p.m.
San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park
2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego, CA
$65 approx., sandiegozoo.org/junglebells
Jungle Bells activities are free with Zoo admission 

SAN DIEGO: SeaWorld San Diego Christmas Celebration
500 Sea World Drive
San Diego, CA 92109
(800) 257-4268
SeaWorldSanDiego.com
Discount Tickets

SAN MATEO: IlluminOdyssey November 10, 2023-January 28, 2024 at CuriOdyssey, a zoo and learning center containing native, non-releasable animals such as river otter, bobcat, gray fox, snakes, birds, bugs and more. Location: 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo, CA. $26.64 approx., curiodyssey.org

SAN PEDRO: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Holiday Open House and Gift Market December 1, 2019, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
3720 Stephen M. White Drive
San Pedro, CA 90731
cabrillomarineaquarium.org
Don't miss this exciting holiday shopping extravaganza! This holiday season, give a gift with meaning.

SANTA ANA: Santa Ana Zoo Snow Days with Critters December 17, 2023, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. both days
 1801 E. Chestnut Ave.
Santa Ana, CA 92701
santaanazoo.org
All Zoo celebration featuring stations focusing on winter and snow. Watch animals receive icy treats, listen to festive music, enjoy the winter decorations, play educational games, create cool crafts and listen to delightful winter stories. Also shop for the holiday season with an extra discount during the "White Elephant Sale" at the Treetop Toys Gift Ship both days. 

SANTA BARBARA: ZooLights November 15, 2023-January 14, 2024 features vibrant, lighted lantern displays of elephants and other zoo animals at Santa Barbara Zoo, 500 Niņos Drive. $, sbzoo.org
Open December 24, 2019, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Santa Barbara Zoo
500 Ninos Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
sbzoo.org

VALLEJO: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Vallejo Holidays in the Park November 29, 2019-January 5, 2020
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
1001 Fairgrounds Dr.
Vallejo, CA 94589
sixflags.com
Christmas is mostly celebrated in the theme park with rides, food, and attractions, but there aquarium / zoo does have some holiday themed events, too.

Events

LA JOLLA: Seas 'n' Greetings Holiday at Birch Aquarium December 1-31, 2021. Scuba Santa, crafts, activities, holiday music and more. Deck the Hall and get into the festive spirit with photo opportunities throughout the aquarium, plus holiday music and an interactive scavenger hunt with prizes for the littlest guests. All the great holiday activities are included with admission.

LONG BEACH: Aquarium of the Pacific Aquarium Holidays December 2021
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, CA
$30-35, aquariumofpacific.org

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.