Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Zoolights

    3.6 (208 reviews)
    Open • 5:30 pm - 10:30 PM

    Zoolights Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Zoolights

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Anfeca A.

    This is our second year attending Zoolights, and it's quickly becoming a Thanksgiving tradition for us. I originally learned about it through SRP (my electric company) and have been lucky enough to use their BOGO offer each year -- such a great perk! This time we brought my boyfriend's family, who were visiting for Thanksgiving week. His sister has a 17-year-old and twin 12-year-olds... and honestly, keeping teens entertained these days is an Olympic sport, but they loved it. They were genuinely in awe of all the lights and displays. His parents, who are in their 70s, were equally impressed -- especially by the light show. You can tell how much effort goes into creating everything, and it really shows. The doors opened at 5:30pm, so you won't see many animals out at night, which is totally understandable. Just keep in mind this is truly a Zoolights event -- if you want to see the animals, plan for a daytime pass or a membership visit. Overall, it's a fantastic experience for locals and visitors. Just wear comfy shoes or plan a few sitting breaks -- the property is pretty big! We all left feeling festive, cozy, and definitely in the holiday spirit.

    Hoa N.

    A nice stroll through the doesn't area of the zoo with lights and animal lanterns throughout the zoo. They had good and drinks available for purchase. It took us more than 2 hours to get through and we still didn't see all the lights in the zoo. It was a fun experience and so nice to not have to wear heavy winter coats and freeze seeing the lights. If you have Sam's membership, they have discounted tickets available for the zoolights and regular zoo admissions

    Ele S.

    Great kid friendly event with awesome light displays! Parking was a little difficult, I would recommend coming a little early in order to avoid traffic and waiting in long lines to park.

    Lights
    Noelle J.

    We go to zoolights every year! It's better to go earlier in the season if crowds bother you like they do me, but otherwise it's a perfect nighttime outing. They make a lot of accommodations for parking too so even on busy nights when the zoo lot is full, they have free parking just down the road. They add new lights every year and I think each year gets better and better. There's also attractions you can pay additionally for, which I usually don't do, but they have stuff like bounce houses, camel rides, carousel, hot chocolate, etc.

    Kent L.

    Great way to enjoy the holiday lights. The zoo is covered in lights and illuminated animal decorations help to bring the excitement. Don't expect to see live animals, some are out on display but there are no lights inside the enclosures so spotting them can be difficult. Instead joy the festive environment and running into friends you haven't seen in a while. Great place for groups or a company nighttime event.

    Christmas light tree in middle of lake that turns into a musical light show!
    Marlene C.

    Always an amazing time year each year! This is my 3rd year going as my company will rent out the zoo for the night for our Christmas event! Right when we walk in they scan our private event tickets. There's a gift shop to the right and a place to rent wheelchairs or electric scooter. Once in we usually make our way to the carousel so the kids can use the ride tickets that the company provides. I was sad to see that we missed the reveal of the new carousel upgrade. There are plenty of places to get hot chocolate or other food items for sale. It's beautiful as you walk around and see the different Animal lights, but none of the animals are out at night. One year, we were lucky to see them feeding the elephants. It's a lot of walking and it can get a bit chilly at night. So you might wanna bring a jacket. We bring a wagon just in case the kids get tried from all the walking. This year they had lighted swings for the kids to swing on. The line was too long. They also didn't have the camels out to ride as the year before they did. It started to rain around 9:30 so we rushed out of there as soon as the thunder and lighting hit. Parking is free and there's plenty of it. They even have a EV charging station available. Look forward to next year!

    S'more lights
    Nicole G.

    Zoolights is such a wonderful event! The lights, the animals, the hot cocoa! Music is the background as you enjoy the show! The lights are so beautiful and the views are gorgeous! Beyond that, the hot chocolate is amazing! If you go at 540, it'll be early enough so you can see some of the animals! Near the camels. there is a whole section where you can sit at a fire and make s'mores with your family

    Kristen L.

    Atmosphere - It was quite festive despite being early in the season. I liked that it wasn't too crowded early in the night. After a while it did get more crowded and we bumped into more people standing in the middle of the lane, taking photos, or just the kids generally roaming around. There were restrooms available here and there, but I didn't visit any of them. Near the lake you can see the light show on the tree in the lake with lights in time with the music. Food: I didn't buy anything there, but it looked like they had a hot chocolate station, a s'mores station, and other food shops open for people to purchase food. Service - There were many employees. The service to get into the event was quick and friendly. They scanned our QR code and we were ready to go. There are employees along the trail to make sure people don't go into unauthorized areas and don't come out of any too. Parking - Was crowded. No signage or landmarks in the parking lot to help you find your car again later. No parking meters or parking structures. No shaded spots available. If during a summer day, your car will be HOT in the summer. Future - May come back. Have been to this event before. Saw some photos on Yelp of lights I didn't see this time around or previously. Didn't know they sometimes change a few of the lights. Some of the lights I did recognize from prior years. I don't like seeing the Halloween lights during the later holiday season after October. They don't give off the right vibe for December. Didn't get to see the elephant in prior years. Great for some evening walking. It was nice to see.

    Jessica S.

    Zoolights are so lovely. This has been our 5th visit since it's existence. Our nephew's amazing girlfriend volunteers here and invited us this year for a little Zoolight adventure with our girls. It was their last night of the season. Parking was a breeze. Walking up and downhill was a treat. Very accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooter. Wide blacktop walking path throughout. Colorful lights are always fun to walk and see, plus bonus exercise. Great family or date night. For those with food allergies, you're best off to bring your own food and drink if needed. It is allowed. They are not set up to accommodate allergies, nor have knowledge of ingredients. I was told by one of 4 areas you can grab a snack, that the kettle corn was cooked in soy oil, so that is all I could find out. No biggie for us. We don't expect anyone to, and we always come prepared. Staff is nice. It was a treat having a guided tour of someone who works there so we didn't miss anything including animal sightings at night. And interesting tidbits. Our girls enjoyed the carousel, and camel ride. They are so good to the animals here and put a lot into their zoo. Definitely will be coming back to see the animals during the day. Never mind splurging a bit as the money goes to a good cause in the shop. You can see the plane land at the airport, yet not hear them. A lovely night out with family. We thought we would be in and out in 2 hours. We were there just over 3 and could have stayed longer, but had school and work early the following day.

    Zoo lights
    Brittany H.

    Had a great time. Just know you will not see any animals but the lights are nice. Is it worth the money probably not for $35 per person. That's probably hard for a family of four. Kids around us seemed entertained so that's all that mattered.

    Greeshma R.

    This is our second time to the Phoenix zoo lights, and we've always enjoyed walking in the night around the zoo. We went during the holiday season, and it was packed. Every year the zoo is lit up with the festive decorations and light, complimenting the zoo. This year they had beautiful light fixtures of animals. We love the arch way with coordinated music and lights. The whole atmosphere is festive and a perfect activity with family and kids. Definitely recommend stroller for young kids. They have a nice carousel at the end which is a highlight. The ticket is a little pricey given there's not much other than the lights. Otherwise a great activity for all

    Travis T.

    This was my first time visiting ZooLights during the holidays in quite some time. It was a holiday tradition for my family to go here for many years. I had taken a break to try some other holiday attractions in the Valley. I was quite impressed with how much ZooLIghts has evolved since my last visit. There are more lights and displays. There is also more space to walk around which is a good thing because this place can get packed! The Phoenix Zoo started doing ZooLights in 1992 with a few hundred thousand lights. It starts around the week of Thanksgiving and runs through mid-January in the evenings. Today they have grown to over 4 millions lights. They have displays, a floating tree that does a synchronized light show with music, a play area for kids, a s'mores station, and concession stands with food and hot cocoa. Some new things I saw this year was this cool 200-foot-long light tunnel and a glow garden. One thing about ZooLIghts is that you don't actually see any real animals because most of them are asleep. But most of the light displays are in the shape of animals and they have lanterns in the shape of various wildlife that light up. The Phoenix Zoo is still open during the day while ZooLights is going on. I personally have been visiting this zoo since I was a kid. The Phoenix Zoo is a non-profit zoo and was established in 1962 in Papago Park. They have over 3,000 animals that include tigers, lions, elephants, Komodo dragons, monkeys and giraffes. I had a nice time visiting ZooLights this year and enjoyed many of the new additions. Overflow parking is at Phoenix Municipal Stadium if you can't find a spot. It is about a 5-10 minute walk to the Zoo from there.

    Lourdes V.

    This was my first time attending ZooLights, I always imagined it was for little kids. It's totally appropriate for all ages. So many cool things to see all over the zoo, there are lots of flashing and twinkly lights everywhere. The zoo was appropriately lit for a night walk on uneven surfaces. The colors and holiday music made this a magical experience. Lots of walking, decent crowd for a Friday night. Parking was packed. Definitely bring your patience and enjoy the experience. There was a good mix of families, couples on dates, friend groups in all ages.

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kent L.
    0
    157
    72

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jessica S.
    436
    1128
    14409

    2 years ago

    Helpful 36
    Thanks 9
    Love this 31
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 3
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brad W.
    314
    3445
    10473

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cindy L.
    220
    1486
    16024

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J C.
    6
    81
    23

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kim L.
    0
    21
    2

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dave C.
    0
    17
    40

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phoenix Z.

    Phoenix Z.

    Thank you for visiting! Happy holidays!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phoenix Z.

    Phoenix Z.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Zoolights

    Are we allowed to bring our dog for zoo lights?

    No you can't.

    Do they have food during zoo lights?

    Yes concessions are open

    How much is the ticket to enter?

    13.95 on value night and 18.95 on any night

    Is Zoolights very crowded on New Year's Eve?

    Hi Maria, great question! Holidays can be some of ZooLights busiest nights. The least crowded nights to attend are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the first two weeks of December and the first week of January. The majority of people arrive when the… 

    How long does it take to walk zoo lights?

    45 minutes, unless you have small children, then it's a bit longer.

    This is a separate ticket event right? You can't get in with daily admission?

    Yes. It's $20 to go to Zoo Lights. If you are a member, it's less ... maybe $14. If you go to their website you might be able to get a discount.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Zoolights

    “I've lived in Phoenix for almost 10 years and always received gasps when admitting I'd never seen Zoo Lights.”

    Mentioned in 23 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Zoos 485 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park - Lory

    Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park

    3.7(1.1k reviews)
    27.5 mi

    We stopped by the zoo a few months ago and wanted to give a review of all the amazing animals and…read morethe fantastic staff! We have been here a few time over the years. We love the conservation efforts Wildlife World zoo does and does consistently. They are always trying to improve living quarters for the animals. They always have many toys for the birds, which is so great to see, since exotic birds need lots of metal stimulation. We fed the lorikeets this time around and that was so fun and beautiful. We can't wait until we stop in again for a fun day trip to The Wildlife World Zoo.

    It's a giant zoo & the aquarium has some really cool features. However, I just don't think it's…read moreworth the cost. I purchased the annual membership and it costs more than the family plan at the Phoenix Zoo. As a stay at home mom, I was looking for things to entertain my daughter during the week. Most of the restaurants and exhibits were closed the days I came by. I purchased a membership so of course I want to come on a day other than Saturday to avoid the huge crowds, but I felt like I couldn't use my membership to its full advantage because it was practically deserted during the week staff/amenity wise. Could only buy a drink/food at one of the food courts at the front of the zoo which was frustrating considering how huge this place is and when it's hot, the rides were closed most of the time (plus they cost extra, even for members), and the giraffe feedings weren't ever available either. I tried multiple days during the week as well and had the same experience. I'm not sure if the little snack shacks & places are open on Saturdays or if they are closed permanently, but there were a ton of unused/unopened spaces that look like they'd be cool... if they were operable. $261.59 felt like a lot to just walk around in dirt to look at animals in an outdated space. Plus only I could take my daughter alone or else we would need to spend an additional $262 for my husband to have a membership. If you have kids 3+, it would be an additional $133 per child! Greeeeeedy if you ask me considering the Phoenix zoo prices. We didn't renew and will make the drive to the Phoenix zoo. The gas money will be worth the much lower membership price over there.

    Photos
    Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park - Feeding the Lorys. 11am, 1pm, and at 3pm

    Feeding the Lorys. 11am, 1pm, and at 3pm

    Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park
    Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park

    See all

    Butterfly Wonderland

    Butterfly Wonderland

    4.1(689 reviews)
    8.3 mi

    As a butterfly fanatic, I was in heaven!! There are so many beautiful species in the garden, there…read moreis no bad direction to look in. The staff were so knowledgeable and truly cared about all the animals in their care. Highly recommend, especially as a break from the heat!

    This experience starts with a 3D movie about the migration of monarch butterflies, then a stop in…read morethe Emergence Gallery, where you can see caterpillars and chrysalis (aka cocoons). From there, visitors can access the Conservatory through the doors. Though a bit humid, it is such a magical environment with concrete pathways, a few seats, a koi pond, and lots of greenery. Various plants creating a beautiful setting, including flamingo flower, panama rose, purple heart, and sandpiper vine. And informative signs are posted throughout, educating visitors about the conservatory and butterfly care. Visitors are given a butterfly guide in the beginning, but some of the butterflies fluttered their wings so quickly nonstop, it was sometimes hard to identify. The big blue one (blue morpho, I believe) looked like a bird as it soared in and out of the plants and overhead. There were so many butterflies in the air, on the leaves and flowers, they even had signs noting how you could get them to land on you as well. The random music in the background wasn't too loud. At some point, the Harry Potter theme song came on, and what an enchanting vibe in the conservatory! They had bees in there too (behind glass). Once you exit the butterfly conservatory, there was much more to see. The Rainforest reptile gallery included awesome turtles (like the mata mata turtle camouflaged with the rocks), snakes, and even amazing axolotls on display. And the Tropical Waters room was delightful to view, with fish, stingrays, and more. There was also a gift shop, cafe, and vending machine selling edible bugs. Butterfly Wonderland is great for all ages, and I had such a memorable time here this past weekend.

    Photos
    Butterfly Wonderland
    Butterfly Wonderland
    Butterfly Wonderland

    See all

    Desert Botanical Garden - Desert Pulse exhibit

    Desert Botanical Garden

    4.5(2k reviews)
    0.8 mi

    I've been to the garden a number of times specifically for the night lights exhibit this summer…read more They did such a great job! This is always such a peaceful place to walk around and enjoy the plants and seasonal exhibits. While I'm sad to see the garden lights exhibit go, I'm excited to see what's next, and for nice weather activities! They've re-opened the garden cafe with Mark Tarbell in charge so looking forward to trying that out, and added a Cantina with cocktails, beer, wine, and a mocktail. And have a gelato and coffee shop coming soon. I love seeing the changes and always done so well.

    This one's a bit iffy for me. The scenery was genuinely beautiful, but I don't think appreciating…read moreArizona's nature should cost so much. Without the coupon I got from my local library, I would've paid $60 just to walk around and view the wonders of AZ. I get that it's a non-profit and that's not really an "issue," but if this is supposed to be for the community, there should be some kind of discount for AZ natives or ID holders. I took my bestie here for her birthday and we still had a good time -- the views are lovely, there are restaurants on site, and happy hour drinks are $6. The frozen prickly pear margs are especially enjoyable while you're strolling around. Just a heads up, there's construction happening right now. Parking is plentiful though, so that's not a concern.

    Photos
    Desert Botanical Garden - Cactus blooms

    Cactus blooms

    Desert Botanical Garden - Roadrunner

    Roadrunner

    Desert Botanical Garden - Butterfly house

    See all

    Butterfly house

    Carl's Damaged Pet Warehouse - Making funny faces

    Carl's Damaged Pet Warehouse

    4.8(65 reviews)
    14.2 mi

    How could anyone not love this place? Yes, Carl's Damaged Pet Warehouse is the actual name and no,…read morethis is not an outlet store where the pets have minor cosmetic imperfections and are 40% off. It's actually a little animal rescue tucked into the backyard of a private property, where you can visit rescued Highland cows, pigs, goats, donkeys, tortoises, ducks, sheep and assorted other members of the Island of Misfit Pets. It's completely free to visit. You stay outside the fence for safety, but you can still pet and feed the animals (and it's okay to get emotionally attached to them!) Sometimes Carl leaves food outside for visitors to hand out to the "damaged pets" or you can bring your own approved snacks like apples, zucchini, carrots and cucumber. Basically a very wholesome BYOS situation. I posted a photo of the full approved-food list so you too can trick some furballs into becoming your new best friends. You can also leave a monetary donation to help with the cost of caring for the animals. You can visit at any time, but remember this IS someone's private property, so obviously be respectful of the home and neighbors.

    Finally decided to stop by and feed these cute animals! It was pretty busy when I stopped yesterday…read moreafternoon and many people were there also feeding them. I saw two turkeys, a rooster, ducks, goats, donkeys, a piggy, and a bull. *Free, just follow the posted rules

    Photos
    Carl's Damaged Pet Warehouse
    Carl's Damaged Pet Warehouse
    Carl's Damaged Pet Warehouse - Super sweet cow

    See all

    Super sweet cow

    Arizona Boardwalk

    Arizona Boardwalk

    3.9(55 reviews)
    8.4 mi

    1 Star - Dangerous and disappointing experience on the Big Wheel…read more I rode the Boardwalk Big Wheel at Arizona Boardwalk today with my two young boys, ages 2 and 4. The experience was honestly terrible and, more importantly, felt unsafe. It was 105°F outside, and we were placed in the orange #15 gondola. The gondolas are primarily enclosed by glass and have no effective air conditioning. The AC in ours was clearly broken and was blowing hot air instead of cooling the cabin. Within minutes, all three of us were drenched in sweat and the heat inside was becoming extremely uncomfortable. The biggest issue was that the attendant locked us inside the gondola despite the extreme heat. We waved at her to let us out, but she didn't. We went around the entire wheel and, when we came back around, we waved again. She saw us, but still didn't open the door. I ultimately had to yell and knock on the glass to get her attention before she finally let us out after the second trip around. When we got off, I explained what had happened to the attendant. Her response was essentially an unenthusiastic, unapologetic "sorry." There was no concern about whether my children or I were okay, no offer to move us to a functioning gondola, and no refund or other attempt to make the situation right. I paid $22.71 for the ride, but the money isn't really the issue. What concerns me is putting young children into an enclosed, extremely hot gondola with a malfunctioning cooling system and then failing to respond when the passengers are clearly asking to get out. I would strongly recommend that Arizona Boardwalk inspect and properly maintain these gondolas and, more importantly, make sure attendants respond immediately when passengers are signaling that they need to exit. I would not recommend riding the Boardwalk Big Wheel, particularly with young children in extreme heat.

    Such a fun place to visit! There are so many restaurants and activities all in one area, plus…read moreparking is easy. Not too fun during the summer though because it's open parking! It's also a great spot to entertain and tire out the kids! Lol There's even a Ferris wheel, but it was way too hot for us to ride. We also found a photo booth near the restrooms ($8), which was a fun little bonus. It's conveniently located near OdySea, Topgolf, and Talking Stick, and it's super easy to get to from the freeway. If you're visiting during the summer, I'd recommend saving the outdoor walking for the cooler months and spending the hotter afternoons indoors at OdySea.

    Photos
    Arizona Boardwalk
    Arizona Boardwalk
    Arizona Boardwalk

    See all

    Zoolights - zoos - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...