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The Zoo's holiday lights season from late November into early January, the Powell winter tradition families return to every year despite the cold and the parking
Wildlights is the Columbus Zoo's holiday lights run, lighting the Powell grounds from November 20, 2026, through early January 2027. Evenings generally start at 5:00 p.m., with later Friday and Saturday closes than midweek nights. The Zoo is typically closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
It is one of Central Ohio's most reliable winter family traditions: millions of lights, seasonal food, and enough path length that you should dress for real cold. Memberships and timed tickets matter during peak December weekends. Traffic on Powell Road and Sawmill Parkway builds early.
Go on a weeknight if you can. Bring gloves, a charged phone for tickets, and a plan for which habitats you still want to see after dark. Confirm whether your ticket includes daytime Zoo access or is Wildlights-only before you leave home.
