Lights! Polar Bears! Snow! Ok, I could do without the snow…but it’s time to turn up the Christmas Magic and head over to the St. Louis Zoo for it’s annual holiday light show: Wild Lights!
They’re stringing up a MILLION lights around the zoo, along with cute winter displays.
Big changes for 2020! You MUST get your tickets in advance online. (There’s a phone line, but really?) They’ve reduced the number of tickets they’re selling for each night to minimize crowds.
Tickets are also timed in two groups. However if you take the 5pm slot you can stay as long as you like. (I think they’re assuming most kids will get chilly and not last the entire night.)
Wild Lights will start up Nov. 27 and run to Jan. 2, 2020. Check with the Zoo’s website for exact times–they’re open most nights, but not all this year, which includes a LOT of weekdays for cheaper admission.
Hours are still 5:30pm to 8:30pm. And remember that 8:30 is when they shut down for the night, so give your family enough time to wander through the display!
Ticket Prices & FREE Parking
Speaking of tickets… tickets will cost more on the weekends. Prices are $9.95 for members and $10.95 for non-members Monday to Thursday. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday tickets are $2 more.
Kids under 2 are still free anytime. And don’t think you can sneak in during the day…they will shut the zoo down at 4pm each day Wild Lights is running and re-open at 5:30pm. But, you get free parking on Wild Lights nights, so that’s a big bonus.
Both the North and South parking lots will be open.
Lights…and more!
The Penguin & Puffin Coast will be the only animal area open during Wild Lights. (They’re letting everyone else get some sleep.) And you bet the gift shops will be open too, so plan on stopping by for cute animal ornaments and stocking stuffers!
You’ll be able to purchase S’Mores to roast over a toasty campfire and have some photo ops. There are no kid crafts this year for 2020.
FREEBIE
The carousel is INCLUDED with your admission to Wild Lights, and so is parking.