Detroit’s brightest holiday tradition is getting a grown-ups-only twist. Polar Beers returns to the Detroit Zoo on Thursday, December 3, 2026, from 6:30 to 10 p.m., opening the front half of the Zoo for a 21-and-over evening inside Wild Lights, the beloved walk-through display of millions of twinkling lights. VIP guests get a head start at 6 p.m., and everyone is encouraged to wear a favorite ugly sweater for the occasion.
General admission includes 10 tastings from nearly 100 seasonal options poured throughout the grounds, from craft beer, wine and cider to canned cocktails and festive non-alcoholic drinks. Between sips, visitors can wander the illuminated Wild Lights trail, snap photos at holiday backdrops, warm up at cozy fire pits and warming stations, enjoy classic holiday tunes and hop on the carousel, which spins free of charge until 9:30 p.m. A Connection Station and chats with zookeepers add a dose of animal wonder to the night.
New this year, the celebration expands into the newly illuminated eastern portion of the Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails, with the stingray cove open until 8 p.m. and a virtual-reality wildlife experience available as an add-on. Guests can also color a butterfly and watch it come to life in an immersive art activity at the Ford Education Center. General admission is $55, with Detroit Zoo members saving 10 percent, and VIP and designated-driver options are also available. Every ticket supports the Detroit Zoological Society and its mission of creating meaningful connections between people, animals and the natural world. The Detroit Zoo is at 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak.
Photo: Detroit Zoo
