(Madison, WI): The Zoo Lights are returning to Henry Vilas Zoo again in 2025. Get ready for one of Madison’s most unique holiday traditions and this is slated to be the best Zoo Lights ever! The all-new Zoo Lights experience will be brighter than ever before with brand new animal light displays. Tickets are now on sale.
According to Henry Vilas Zoo, this year’s event is going to be the brightest event yet, with almost 1,000,000 bulbs being used to light up the zoo.
Guests will be able to enjoy Zoo Lights along a one-way path throughout the Zoo.
Time and Dates
November 22 – December 23 Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and select week nights.
- $12 per person | Children 3 and under are FREE
- Buy a 4-Pack of General Admission Tickets for $40!
It takes approximately one hour to walk through the whole zoo and see all the lights.
Specialty Nights:
Friday, November 14th – Brew Lights (Tickets priced from $25 – $100)
Join us for a special 21+ night of sampling the best beer, cider, wine, hard seltzer, and more from some of your favorite local and regional vendors! Tickets include unlimited beverage samples, a commemorative tasting glass, LED games like Connect-4 and Shuffleboard, and a photo booth in the Herpetarium.
Sunday, December 7th – Henry’s Holiday Pajama Party!
Join our mascot, Henry the Lion, for his first Holiday PJ Party! Enjoy an earlier look at the lights of Zoo Lights, unlimited carousel rides, and meet and greets with Santa like a usual. On top of the normal Zoo Lights fun, guests are encouraged to try our specialty menu at the Glacier Grille featuring toddler-friendly treats and smaller portions of some of our favorite Zoo Lights foods (Full Menu to Come). Additionally, guests can enjoy one of Henry the Lion’s favorite activities at Henry’s Sleepy Storytime Station! Henry and his pals will alternate between reading animal themed stories at special times and doing meet and greets with his friends before tucking himself into bed! Guests can participate in storytime at 5:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
Wednesday, December 10th – Sensory Friendly Night
Join us for a special, Sensory Friendly night of Zoo Lights! Our staff have revamped this night of Zoo Lights to create a lower sensory experience for all guests! Enjoy a quiet night of lights with no additional music in the park or in the carousel, deliberately smaller crowds, specially trained staff and volunteers who are excited to spend time with you and your family, access to our free KultureCity sensory bag rentals, and our digital social story linked here.
