LA Zoo Lights Review With Kids

Open annually since 2014, the LA Zoo Lights is a seasonal event running through the holidays.  It’s a fun stroll through a zoo decked out in holiday lights.  With even more lights and signature light animals than ever before.

See The Full Detailed Video Below

LA Zoo Lights Review Visiting Information

• Website:
  • https://www.lazoo.org/plan-your-visit/special-experiences/zoolights/
• Address:
  • 5333 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
• Phone:
  • 323-644-4200
• Email:
  • info@lazoo.org
• Date & Hours:
  • Nov 18, 2022 – Jan 22, 2023. Closed Nov 24 and Dec 24, 25. 
  • Dates and hours of operations may change. We recommend calling them or checking their website beforehand to confirm their business hours.
• Price/Cost:
  • Adults (Age 13+): $34-39
  • Children (Age 2-12): $27-32
  • Children Age 1 and under are FREE
• Discounts:
  • Goldstar ticket prices range between $26-31 plus fees. 
• Parking:
  • Free

Helpful Info:

• Activitites:
  • See beautifully lit sculptured animals like tigers, lions, macaws, monkeys, meerkats, frogs, flamingos and crocodiles. 
  • Walk through a disco ball forest, glittering snowflakes, and twinkling tunnels.
  • Carousel for the kids for a small fee. 
  • Great place to take photos. 
• Time spent:
  • 1 hour
• Clothing:
  • Check the weather before you go. The weather can be changeable; layered clothing and closed toe shoes is recommended. 
• What we packed:
  • Stroller, thick jackets, @Sud2go cap, water wipes, snacks, veggie, fruits, water, s’more kit, hot cocoa in a thermos, kids’ pjs, toothbrush, and floss. 
• Food:
  • There were lots of stands that sold hot chocolate and churros. 
  • We didn’t see other food options. We recommend having dinner before the event and having some extra food at the zoo.
• Pet allowed:
  • No
• Stroller friendly:
  • Yes
• Restrooms:
  • Yes, flushable toilets. 
• What we observed:
  • We went on a weekday and it wasn’t that crowded. 
  • The animals start to go in for the night at 4pm so you won’t be able to see any live animals during their holiday event. 
  • The lit animal sculptures are spread out throughout the park but we wish they had more on display. 
  • It can get cold in the area so we dressed in layers and a thicker jacket. 
  • Before we left, we changed our kids into pjs and brushed and flossed their teeth before heading home. 
• Ways to save money:
  • We recommend packing a dinner, snacks, drinks and light toys.
• Memberships:
  • Yes

What We Said In Our LA Zoo Lights Review Video

Walking the path theirs plenty of places to stop for Christmas-related photo ops and churros.  While the churros are good, the main attraction of LA Zoo Lights is the zoo’s light animals spread throughout the park.  Our favorites were the tigers you see in all the ads and the chameleon.  Once you see your first lit-up animal, it feels like a scavenger hunt looking for the next.  We wish there were a lot more.

Outside of those, A handful of the standout locations along the trail would be the holiday village where you can pose with a giant Christmas tree, the zoo’s giant carousel, a disco ball Forrest, and a winding light tunnel.

Our girls loved a backlit wall where they could dance their hearts out as we watched their silhouettes from the other side.  But outside of that, I couldn’t get them interested in the decorations.  Their muted reaction to the lights had them ready to leave before we saw the entire park.  They were really excited to see the zoo animals at night, but once they learned all the animals had gone to bed, they checked out.

Similar Options That Might Interest You

Here are some similar options you might enjoy.

Lightscape At The LA Arboretum (Arcadia, CA)

Wildlights At The Living Desert (Palm Desert, CA)

See you again with more around California with kids.