Wildlights At the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Due to the mild weather, attendance was quite high this year. I spent money for a VIP Tour and it was well worth it. The tour guides mentioned some weekends had over 25k people and there was a 2-​hour wait to turn into the parking lot.
First off, the VIP Tour was about two hours in length and if the zoo is still open, you can walk around in your own to continue the exploration. Each section of the zoo had a specific color scheme for the lights.
It was a very cool evening. My group was treated to hot chocolate in light-​up souvenir mugs. We spent time waiting for the rest of our party to arrive. We were treated to cookies and was able to decorate sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles.
One of the highlights was meeting Chovy. She’s a penguin raised at the zoo who is very comfortable with people and is one of the animal ambassadors. We had individual pictures taken with her and got to pet her. How many people do you know who have petted a penguin? She was very sweet.
We then set out on our tour. It’s on one of the open trams and we had plenty of blankets to keep us warm. First stop was the brown bear brothers and learning how they came to be at the zoo. They were asleep around 7:30ish and upon first look they appeared to be very mossy boulders. The Bears have been trained to have their claws filed down. Wild story!
Second stop was the aquarium to warm up. Learned about feeding schedules. Third stop was to see the baby Langur. Birth of a second baby Langur was imminent.
Final stop was the lake for a light show set to music. The zoo had a second light show with a Disney theme for the kids.
Overall a great experience.

I love the zoo lights but I didn’t realize that they shut all the animal exhibits down. We came at 4 thinking that we would see some animals. We really only saw snakes and fish. I didn’t realize they shut down so much and it was above 50 degrees. The lights are cool but would be cooler if I could make it worth my while. If I didn’t have a year member ship, then I would have felt a little cheated with my visit.

My boyfriend and I had a great time at the Wild Lights at the Columbus Zoo. We bought Starbucks coffee to keep warm and listened to Christmas music on the drive out to Powell. The Christmas lights powered by AEP were absolutely beautiful, but I will say that traffic is HORRIBLE; like ridiculously horrible. We sat in traffic «to» and «from» for a little over an hour and there is no exit system for multiple cars leaving. The actual lighting was beautiful, but this will be my last time until I have kids. Overall, if you’ve never been to the Zoo Lights it’s a great experience for first-​timers, adults with kids, and young couples.

This was our very first visit and we were very disappointed. The lights were beautiful, but it was so crowded that you couldn’t even see hardly any of them. The crowd was so large and at a stand still. We only saw the front proportion and gave up. We won’t ever go back on a weekend night in the future. Traffic was terrible as well.

So beautiful! My family and I had a blast at Wildlights. A few things though, get here early, like around 3pm and then just stick around until it starts. There’s no special ticket price for this, it’s included in the price of general admission. Beware of the strollers/​wagons and the parents that stand all in the way and also cannot control their children… they’re everywhere! Other than that it’s a lot of fun for a little bit of money.

Wow what a fun night! Weather didn’t cooperate but still a great night. Got to see some cool animals and great lights. The selection of animals available to visit is limited but they were interesting. The nocturnal exhibit was exceptional. The musical light shows were awesome. Just an overall delightful night for a couple to stroll through sipping some hot chocolate enjoying the scenery. Children not required for a fun night. Hot chocolate and a big warm pretzel can’t go wrong. This was our first time but won’t be our last. You should check it out! And no kidding you don’t need children it’s a fun grown up date night event.

If you haven’t been to the zoo around this time of the year to see the lights, I would highly recommend going. We went with a group of friends and wished we could of stayed longer. So many lights and great music, you cant miss out on coming here.

Lions, tigers, and lights, oh my!
Well I lied a little bit there. There are no lions out in a season counter to their habitat, which is this events only drag, but there are white tigers to see, and bear. And oh the bears! Oh My!
This central Ohio winter mainstay has not lost its attraction through the years. It is still a visual feast of electric holiday wonder. It never gets old. The paths through the zoo are lit only by the holiday lights and nothing else. The lights are strapped, hung, or strung everywhere. In all kinds and types they loop over trees, swirl on post, and run the lines above. Some are configured in shapes of animals: yellow giraffes, teal alligators, violet peacocks, others. The million bulbs in greens and reds, sharp shinny whites, in electric pinks and blazing oranges, in cosmic blues and wine bright purples collide in your eyes near and deep to give a sensation much like fireworks. You feel like you’re in a magic world, in Oz, on the yellow brick road.
And of course it’s the zoo. A bummer though is that some good areas are close. Understandably, the African, Congo, and Australian exhibits are close do to those animals liking heat which is so lacking in a Columbus December. (You can get easily chilled so bring warm clothing.) Some animals are asleep after sundown. But there are still impressive beast to see. Black bears in near hibernation with their giant heads, white tigers are active, frolicking in their area, and huge polar bears, their paws bigger than your head. Reindeer and bald eagles are a sight to see in the darkness.
There is a bonus thrill. It is very subtle but in the darkness among exotic and dangerous animal there is a slight aura of apprehension. So much so that sneaking up to a friend and giving a sudden growl will get then to jump. This is deep in the psyche, but introspection may validate that it is part of the allure.
It does get crowded so be prepared to wait in lines. There are many places to stop for snacks, hot chocolate or coffee. There is plenty of light to move but it is dark enough to lose your way, even for myself who knows that zoo like the contours of my tong.
There is still a few weeks to experience this event.

I highly recommend going after Christmas because the crowds are not bad. Make sure that you bring your hat, gloves, and a warm coat to keep warm. The lights are beautiful and the kids will love checking out the Light Show to Disney music. A definite «Must Do» during Holiday Break!

I still can’t believe it when I talk to adults who have never been to this. I have gone almost every year since I was a kid, sometimes twice in a year. Even as an adult, wild lights is still charming and so pretty. I think it is impossible to go and not get a good shot of the lights on the lake. That can not be always said for the animals, so that is worth it alone. I think it is a good way to get exercise and enjoy the festive lights, unless of course it is crowded. Then you are mulling around at a zombie pace…
Fyi, if you go on a weekend and it is 30 – 50 degrees outside… HOLY CROWDS BATMAN. The wait from riverside to the entrance is easily an hour or two. Bumper to bumper cars stopped waiting to get in. The best time to go is actually after the holidays, or on a really cold night.

I really enjoyed the lights and it was the perfect temperature for them. I would try to go on a night that isn’t too cold because you’ll be walking around for more than an hour. However there are many indoor areas to stop in and warm up at along the way. Also, you should go in knowing that most of the animals will be asleep or not on view because of the time of year!

We had been to several of these over the years and this one was pretty good. Be sure to pick up tickets at Kroger in advance to save a few bucks on admission.
The zoo had created the various light zones, but it was a bit confusing on where to go and what to do. We ended up wandering around a bit aimlessly, unsure of whether we had hit each section.
They had lots of animals out and even some that the kiddos could interact with. To see some of these animals in the winter was a real treat.
The hot chocolate is good and a value. Highly recommended especially in the cold weather!
Generally speaking, we didn’t get a sense that this was really a holiday theme per se, it was just lights. The Cincinnati version plays a lot more Xmas music and has a much more romantic feel. This was fine, but it didn’t have any special feelings conveyed.
All in all good experience, but if you find yourself in Cincinnati, do their version.

This is probably my inner Californian grumbling, but I don’t see the appeal. I brought my sister to see Wildlights since she was visiting just before Christmas, and we both left feeling a little bewildered.
1 — It’s cold. We went on the warmest possible day of her visit, when the high was about 45, but by the time the sun set and the light shows started, the temperature started dropping rapidly and it wasn’t terribly pleasant.
2 — KITSCHY CHRISTMAS EVERYTHING. Music, lights, expensive refreshments.
3 — Are the animals bothered at all by the flashing lights? Do they get strobe light seizures?
4 — The light show. Yes, I grew up on the Disneyland Main Street Electrical Parade, and I’m sure the Wildlights show was impressive when they first started hosting this event, but have you seen what people are doing with choreographed Christmas lights on their houses these days?
5 — You can’t really see anything except the animals in the indoor exhibits (where of course it’s also warm).
6 — As Emily L. mentioned, it’s expensive. If you plan on visiting the zoo again within a year, you might as well buy a membership.
7 — NO I DON’T WANT MY PICTURE TAKEN AS I ENTER THE ZOO.
8 — Ugh crowds.
So… yes… bah humbug. Next time I’ll just go on half-​price Franklin County residents day and bypass the Wildlights altogether.

I love Christmas lights and it’s one of those things I look forward to every year. I’ve been to holiday light displays at various zoos already, and I would say that Wildlights ranks somewhere in the middle of the pack. It’s not the best but not the worst, and it’s worth seeing at least once if you’re in Columbus. It’s a little disorganized but you can see the effort and the view over the lake especially is pretty cool. Don’t come here if you’re expecting to see animals because they put many of them away in the evening, and the animals that are left out have crowds so you wouldn’t see much.

This is one of my favorite holiday events to go to every year. My boyfriend and I went tonight and once again, it did not disappoint. The only reason I’m not giving this 5 stars is because of the price. I know that the lights probably equal an EXPENSIVE electric bill for the zoo, but $ 15 per person is a little high, and that’s not taking into account the $ 8 parking fee (so for date night, you’re looking at $ 38 just on admission alone, not even hot chocolate or snacks or dinner thrown in… kinda steep).
BUT, the zoo lights do only come once a year and they are pretty spectacular. There is a reason I pay to come every year and that’s because in central Ohio, there aren’t many other light displays that live up to the zoo. This year is the 25^th anniversary of Wildlights and they have over 3 million LED lights throughout the zoo. You won’t see all of the animals out and about, but you will see a big majority (best bets are the elephants, tigers, manatees, brown bears, and anything else inside). It’s a very romantic date night idea and something unique to the Columbus area. I highly recommend it, so go see it while you can!

It’s strange, I seem to get in the mood to write reviews completely out of season sometimes. It’s strange also that said reviews often relate to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and its waterpark Zoombezi Bay. Wildlights at The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a Holiday Tradition and one of my favorite wintertime activities in Columbus. I go several times a season with family, friends, and guests from out of town. Here are my pro tips:
1) Go early. The sun goes down just after lunch in Columbus in December. Get to the zoo as early as possible to avoid traffic and crowds. It gets really ugly trying to get in there after 6:30−7pm.
2) Go on Sunday. You want to see the polar bears chase each other and jump in the water and rip trees out of the ground? Go on Sunday. For whatever reason, the animals are more active on Sunday. It’s the best day to go.
3) Go in the aquarium. It’s really nice to escape the cold and look at some neat tropical fish. They also have a guy that looks like Santa Claus swimming around with the fish sometimes.
4) Ride the carousel. There’s a nominal charge and the horses are beautifully restored, good old fashioned holiday fun.
5) Go to Culvers afterwards.
You know why.
Wildlights at The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is freaking sweet, grab up some coffee and wow at some lights on urvrything.

Gotta love the WildLights! This is a gorgeous lights show, spanning the entire area of the Columbus Zoo. I love that they use LED lights too — saves energy and they look better in my opinion. There’s an actual lights show at the pond that’s scheduled every half hour or so, which is fun to watch. I’ve gone to this event every winter, always bringing the significant other on an annual date here. It’s romantic, fun, and not too costly. Only drawback, besides the drive, is the parking. Parking fees were at $ 10 if I remember correct. Way too much. Overall, great though.

Wildlights is a beautiful event, and the Columbus Zoo does an excellent job with it. There are thousands of beautiful lights of a variety of colors and shapes. It really turns the zoo into a wonderland at night. Staff members walk around, sharing information about animals, handing out candy canes, and offering assistance. Dozens of little booths offer warm beverages and snacks, and there are some extra little activities available for an additional fee, like the carousel and the train. A light exhibit that runs to music goes every 30 minutes around Conservation Lake near where you enter the zoo and makes for a fun and festive view. This year’s theme was Global Celebrations.
A few thing to be aware of — if you just go to the zoo after dark exclusively for Wildlights, keep in mind that you are going to get an opposite animal experience than what you get during the day. Animals you are used to seeing in the daylight are sleeping. That said, there is the excellent trade-​off of seeing the nocturnal animals awake and active. The zoo staff were wonderful at suggestions of which animals would likely be awake and visible, so if you have any questions, just ask them.
Wildlights is held during mid-​November through the end of December. For anyone unfamiliar with Columbus weather, this means it is often cold. There is occasionally a refreshing warm day, but it is usually cold. So while there are indoor exhibits like the reptile house and the aquarium to offer a warm respite, it is a good idea to treat this as you would any other cold-​weather activity and dress in layers and remember your scarf, hat, gloves, etc. The Columbus Zoo has a lot of space, so if you’re aiming to see as much of the zoo as you can, good walking shoes would also be a great idea.
This zoo is organized by region, so you’ll find a lot of the animals grouped by: Australia & the Islands, African Forest/​Congo, Asia Quest, and North America. There is also a Shores area that contains the reptile house, the aquarium and Manatee Coast, and the penguin exhibit.
Wonderful annual event; well worth a visit whether as a family, bringing out-​of-​town guests, or even as a date.

One of the best holiday events in Columbus is the annual Wildlights, and every year the staff at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium do their best to improve the experience.
With the full zoo open, there are two ways to do this:
1) Arrive before dark and try to hit as many exhibits /​environments that take advantage of daytime, then complete the experience by going around through the lights as much as possible.
2) Arrive after dark and enjoy the lights, make periodic stops for hot chocolate or indoor exhibits like the aquariums and reptile houses to stay warm, and accept that you’ll see less animals as a result.
Either way, it’s a great time, and easily works for multiple trips if you want to make sure you capture the «complete» zoo experience with the beautiful holiday flair.

I am not a cold weather girl. I cringe as the mercury plummets each year. I cannot layer enough. I hibernate. So you can imagine there are few winter weather activities that can lure me out from in front of the fireplace. I can, however, think of three off the top of my head: sledding, snowman building and Wildlights.
It was, in fact, my idea to venture out to the Columbus Zoo on a particularly damp, chilly night, because A) You don’t go to Wildlights on a weekend unless you either have no choice or you get sick pleasure out of standing in long lines while your toes go numb (in that case, have at it), and B) I figured the imperfect weather conditions were do-​able but would keep the crowds down as well.
Fortunately, I was right. The park was fairly empty, so we had the run of the place. They’ve made the transition from incandescent to LCD bulbs and the change is STUNNING. The lights are much more intense, the colors more varied and the atmosphere whimsical. While it’s appropriate for a spectrum of demographics, Wildlights is ideal for two types of visitors: small children and couples. The kids find it fascinating, and parents can rest assured there are plenty of indoor stops for warming up. And, of course, there are pics with Santa, decorating cookies with Mrs. Claus, ice skating for the older kiddos and a carousel.
Then there’s me. I’m 27, and I dig it as much (if not more) than the giggling toddler in the stroller next to me. I took my boyfriend as part of his Christmas gift, and the two of us strolled through the park (often completely alone), skated on the ice that had formed on some of the paths, spent some serene moments with the manatees (you should note there won’t be a lot of animals involved in this zoo trip — they’re mostly asleep and inside at this point) and eventually discovered the hot chocolate at the end of our trip. (It’s located at the front end of the park, so if you’re jonesing for something toasty to drink during your walk, hit this up first).
Warming our hands over a barrel fire and sipping marshmallow froth off the top of our cocoa while watching the animated light show that erupts around the pond every half hour = Priceless
Granted, we’re not exactly old, but Wildlights made us feel like at least a decade younger. Just be prepared to wear every clothing item you own at once. Accept the cold as part of the experience. Prepare for it, and you’ll avoid misery AND get to appreciate everything that Wildlights is.
Bring cash for extra activities throughout the park.
Leave all seriousness at home.