The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s 42nd annual PNC Festival of Lights open last weekend and runs through January 5, 2025. Bring your family and friends to Cincinnati’s favorite holiday tradition and see why it’s consistently voted the #1 Zoo Lights display in the country.
“We’re excited to add the new Elephant Trek to the footprint of PNC Festival of Lights this year,” said Sydney Boudreaux, special events manager at the Cincinnati Zoo. “The path to the elephant barn and the Asian Waterfall Garden are lit and ready to welcome visitors.”
In addition to having more room to roam, the Zoo has added dozens more lifelike animal lanterns, more photo opps, and a completely new light show on Swan Lake.
Download the Zoo’s new mobile app to plan your visit and navigate the park. Turn on notifications to be alerted when the Madcap Puppets Show, sponsored by Cintas, and other activities are about to start.
The four million LED lights are the main attraction during PNC Festival of Lights. Zoo animals usually head indoors around 5pm, so visitors coming to see animals should arrive earlier in the day or visit indoor habitats such as World of the Insect, Night Hunters, Manatee Springs, Reptile House, Gorilla World, Dragons, Jungle Trails West, and Discovery Forest.
Santa will be available for visits and photos in the spectacular Santa’s Village, starting at 4 p.m daily. New this year – reservations for Santa visits (including a digital photo package) can be made in advance. As part of the Zoo’s Access for All program, Sensory-Friendly Santa visits, sponsored by Macy’s, are being offered and social narratives are available. The popular, all electric, North Polar Express Train, sponsored by Huntington Bank, will start running at 2:30 p.m. daily. It will chug through a longer-than-ever light tunnel to make your ride extra bright!
Save time and money by purchasing tickets online before you visit. Prices for traditionally lower traffic nights, such as Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, will be as much as half less than those purchased for the most popular nights. Prices will go up based on demand for certain nights, so buy early to get the best rate. Memberships are on sale now and are a great value if you want to enjoy the Zoo year-round or visit PNC Festival of Lights more than once.
A variety of holiday treats are available, including loaded funnel fries, s’mores, deep-fried Oreos, and the popular Hot Hippo Drink!
Zoo Hours November 21, 2024 – January 5, 2025
- Sunday – Thursday: 10am – 9pm
- Friday – Saturday – 10am – 10pm
- December 20-31: 10am-10pm
Schedule at a Glance:
- Zoo opens daily at 10am
- Come early to see animals outside, weather permitting
- North Polar Express train ride begins at 2:30pm
- Activities, including visits with Santa, begin daily at 4pm (New this year – reserve your spot)
- Dec. 23rd is the last night to visit with Santa
- The Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas
PNC Festival of Lights is included in Zoo admission.