WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo

WildLanterns turns Woodland Park Zoo into a lantern trail from November 13, 2026 through January 17, 2027. Evenings run 4 to 9 p.m. (last entry 8:30). The zoo also goes dark some nights, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and several Mondays listed on the organizer page, so check your date before you buy.

Daytime zoo tickets do not carry into the lantern evenings. Timed WildLanterns tickets are required, members get 20% off, and the carousel runs until 8:30. Low Sensory nights are November 15 and December 1; Zoomazium Nightlights is the indoor warm-up from 4:30 to 8:30 if little kids need a break from the cold.

Budget about two hours outdoors and dress for rain. Parking after 3:30 p.m. is $15 in the Otter and Lion lots and $10 elsewhere. If you want string lights and Thomas Dambo trolls instead of lantern animals, Point Defiance Zoolights opens November 27 in Tacoma.