Zoo Lights

CyberMonday one-day sale will open online here December 2nd.

Zoo Lights is the Alaska Zoo’s annual festival of custom light displays which brightens the dark winter nights. We also have opportunities for companies and schools to book Private Night Zoo Lights. We thank sponsors ConocoPhillips Alaska and GCI for their generous sponsorship of Zoo Lights for the community during Alaska’s long, dark winter nights.

Zoo Lights:

Zoo Lights tickets purchased this season including those purchased during the CyberMonday Sale will be valid for one use on any of the following open dates (last entry is always 30 minutes before closing time).

  • All Zoo Lights openings listed below are 5-8pm

  • November 29th (Black Friday): OPENING NIGHT

  • Open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays from November 29th - January 5th

  • ASD Winter Break: Zoo Lights nightly from December 20th - January 5th

  • One exception over ASD Winter Break is December 25th - Zoo closed

  • Encore Opening: January 31st, February 1st, 2nd

  • Valentines Opening: February 14th, 15th, 16th

NEW! Dino Lights

Don’t miss the Alaska Zoo’s brand new event during ASD Spring Break - Dino Lights! Learn about Alaska’s dinosaurs through new custom light displays, fun fact signs, dinosaur artifacts to see and explore on loan from the UAF Museum of the North, a kid’s dinosaur dig in the greenhouse and more.

  • March 7th through March 16th, 6-9pm nightly

Rates for Zoo Lights and Dino Lights

Entry is paid at the gate or tickets may be purchased online. Daytime entry to the zoo is sold separately. Zoo Lights and Dino Lights tickets are separate purchases with different rates. Small service fees apply for online purchases. If you want to avoid the fees, pay at the gate. Tickets are non-refundable and are not applicable to membership purchases.

Regular Zoo Lights:

  • $15 per member age 3+

  • $20 per non-member age 3+

  • Watch for CyberMonday online December 2nd, our annual Zoo Lights sale!

Dino Lights:

  • $15 per member age 3+

  • $25 per member age 3+

Additional Info:

  • Ages 2 and under are FREE

  • Tickets are non-refundable.

  • Tickets are valid for one use within the date range specified.

Services: The Zoo Gift Shop and Kape Espresso Tayo Zoo Coffee Shop will be open for business during Zoo Lights. Shop, drink and eat to support the zoo's operations and animals.

Visitor Ratios: Visitors must be within the adult to youth ratio. Minimum of 1 adult per 5 youth (12 and under).

Private Zoo Lights

Perfect for businesses, holiday parties, schools, PTA events, reunions, etc. Here is our base package with larger offerings available upon request:

  • Base rate: $3,500 for a 3-hour Private Zoo Lights for 250 people. We have larger group options.

  • Contact Events Manager at rentalevents@alaskazoo.org for scheduling and options. We are happy to work with your group!

All images above are courtesy of Zoo Photographer John Gomes. See more of John’s work from the zoo and around Alaska, click here!