The Maryland Zoo celebrates the season the animal way: Holly-Days, its series of festive themed weekends, returns to Druid Hill Park on weekends in late November and December 2026. Each weekend brings a different holiday theme — festive kick-offs, costumed characters, crafts for kids, carolers and photos with Santa — while the zoo’s winter-active animals enjoy the spotlight in the daytime, when visitors can actually watch them play.
The zoo designed Holly-Days as a daylight celebration (it replaced the old after-dark ZooLights), so families get the best of both: holiday sparkle plus penguins porpoising, polar bears prowling and otters doing their winter best. Holiday treats and hot drinks round out the days.
Holly-Days activities are included with zoo admission at 1 Safari Place. The 2026 weekend themes and dates post at marylandzoo.org in the fall — dress warmly and give the animals your holiday best.
