Bronx Zoo’s Holiday Lights is Back with Six Lantern Trails and New “Freeze Zone” Fun
Bronx, N.Y. — Families looking for a nighttime holiday outing can head to the Bronx Zoo’s Holiday Lights, a ticketed festival that runs on select dates from late November through early January.
The Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates the zoo, says reservations are required in advance. WCS members get three preview nights (Nov. 18–20), and public dates begin Nov. 21 and continue on select evenings through Jan. 4, with a Sensory Friendly Night planned for Dec. 4.
The event centers on “Lantern Safaris,” featuring millions of lights and hundreds of illuminated animal and plant lanterns across six themed trails, designed to connect visitors to wildlife and conservation work.
Beyond the lanterns, the zoo is adding new interactive experiences for 2025, including a “Freeze Zone” with a snow-tube slide and photo moments, plus hands-on light and projection activities and an expanded undersea-themed area called Enchanted Sea.
For families trying to maximize the visit, the zoo notes that some animal exhibits close at 4 p.m., and recommends arriving earlier; the lights come on around 4:30 p.m.
Parents may want to plan for cold-weather walking, charge phones for photos, and book a time that matches their child’s comfort level—especially on the Sensory Friendly Night, when some experiences are modified.
The schedule can shift and some dates may be limited, so families should check the Bronx Zoo’s Holiday Lights tickets and schedule pages for the latest availability before heading out. For more information please check out the Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights.
