Portland’s brightest holiday tradition is switching back on. ZooLights returns to the Oregon Zoo from November 20, 2026, through January 3, 2027, transforming the zoo’s forested hillsides in Washington Park into a glowing wonderland of more than 1.5 million lights.
On select nights throughout the run, families can stroll illuminated pathways past colorful displays shaped like the animals that call the zoo home — and, on many evenings, spot real animals too, as several species stay active after dark during the event. The beloved zoo train also returns in its holiday dress, carrying passengers on a loop through the lights, while food carts serve up seasonal favorites like hot cocoa and elephant ears.
ZooLights has been a fixture of Portland winters for decades, and the Oregon Zoo — a service of Metro and Oregon’s largest paid attraction — uses the season to celebrate community while supporting its year-round work in animal care and conservation, from California condors to endangered Northwest turtles.
Tickets are sold with timed entry and the most popular December evenings tend to sell out, so planners recommend booking early through the zoo’s official website. Dress warmly, bring the whole crew, and let the lights do the rest: few Portland outings feel more like the holidays than an evening wandering a zoo that sparkles.
Photo: DJ Cane, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
