If you are one of the many Washingtonians who think of zoos as unethical, believing that the animals aren’t well taken care of or given a high quality of life, well, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo couldn’t be a better representation of how vital zoos can be to the conservation and well-being of animals from all across the world!
That being said, if you are on the fence about checking out the National Zoo, now is the best time to go! The annual ZooLights holiday display creates a festive atmosphere while paying homage to the zoo’s mission to save species and protect habitats worldwide!
When does ZooLights start?
It already has!
The 2025-26 ZooLights display was unveiled to the public on November 21st and will remain open until January 3rd, 2026!
You can visit the zoo to see the holiday display lit up from 5 pm to 9:30 pm, Monday through Saturday, and from 5 pm to 8:30 pm on Sunday.
The festive display isn’t just a fancy light show; it also features dozens of hand-painted lanterns depicting animals in their natural habitats, live entertainment, seasonal treats like hot cocoa, train rides on the National Zoo Choo Choo, an incredible new ‘Adventure Maze’, and more!
When is the ZooLights Adults-Only Date Night?
The 21+ ‘Adults-Only Date Night‘ event this year is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, December 17th!
The particularly romantic event will take place from 5 pm to 9:30 pm, and the price of admission ($19) will even include one complimentary alcoholic beverage.
Will animals be on display during ZooLights?
As the well-being and safety of the animals are the top priority of the National Zoo staff, the animals will not be on display during the ZooLights event.
Aside from the cold winter conditions that many species are not accustomed to, during the off-season, most animals are brought indoors to provide them with more controlled living conditions.
Of course, this does not mean that all animals are locked inside throughout the winter, but just that they will be in for the night during the ZooLights event.