Glowfari is Oakland Zoo’s winter lantern festival, where walking paths and exhibits across the zoo fill with illuminated animal sculptures after dark. The seventh edition runs November 6, 2026 through January 31, 2027 in Oakland, California, with timed entry between 4:30pm and 6:30pm and all guests required to exit by 9:00pm. For 2026 the zoo has added new themed zones covering California forests, San Francisco Bay, Montana plains, the Florida Everglades and Hawaii rainforests, plus hundreds of newly built animal lanterns and a new VIP upgrade with reserved indoor hospitality space and a Gondola Express Pass.
Glowfari suits families with young kids as well as couples looking for a low-key date night, and most visitors spend one and a half to two hours walking the route and riding the gondola over the hillside, with the train and other Rides Area attractions available for an extra fee. Entry is timed and must be booked online in advance for a specific date and arrival window; there is no walk-up or at-the-gate ticketing, and the zoo sells tickets 28 days ahead of each visit date under a plan-ahead pricing system where booking earlier tends to cost less.
Stats at a Glance
- Venue: Oakland Zoo
- City: Oakland
- State: California
- Dates: November 6, 2026 – January 31, 2027 (closed Nov 9, 10, 16, 17, 26; Dec 24-25; Jan 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26)
- Hours: Entry window 4:30pm-6:30pm, entrances close 7:30pm, all guests exit by 9:00pm
- Tickets: General tickets go on sale October 20, 2026 with plan-ahead dynamic pricing; exact 2026-2027 dollar amounts had not been posted as of this writing, members save 10%
- Timed entry: yes
- New for 2026: New themed zones (California forests, San Francisco Bay, Montana plains, Florida Everglades, Hawaii rainforests), hundreds of new animal lanterns, and a new VIP experience with Gondola Express Pass
What’s new for 2026
This season’s headline addition is a set of new themed zones that move beyond past years’ Africa and ocean displays to spotlight California forests, San Francisco Bay, Montana plains, the Florida Everglades and Hawaii rainforests, alongside hundreds of newly built animal lanterns. Oakland Zoo has also introduced a new VIP experience for 2026 that bundles preferred entry, a reserved indoor hospitality space, premium food service and a Gondola Express Pass so guests can skip the gondola line.
The lights and displays
Glowfari’s route winds through the zoo’s hillside paths, where oversized lantern sculptures depict wildlife from the new regional zones as well as returning favorites like African savanna animals, coral reef creatures and insects. Guests can also ride the gondola above Oakland’s night skyline for an elevated view of the display, a ride that is included with admission year-round at the zoo. A separate Rides Area stays open until 9:00pm with a train ride that requires its own ticket purchased on top of Glowfari admission, with the line for train tickets cutting off at 8:00pm.
Tickets, prices and member nights
General admission tickets for the 2026-2027 season go on sale October 20, 2026, and Oakland Zoo uses a plan-ahead pricing model in which tickets are released roughly 28 days before each visit date and tend to cost less the earlier they’re booked. As of this writing, the zoo’s official Glowfari pages had not yet posted specific 2026-2027 dollar prices, so check the event calendar closer to your visit date for current rates. Members get a 10% discount on Glowfari admission but still need a timed reservation, and parking is included with admission.
Food, drinks and extras
Concession stands around the route sell churros, popcorn and other snacks, and photo booths are set up at several points for keepsake photos. The Rides Area requires separate tickets for the train and other attractions there, light-up toys and souvenirs are sold on site, and visitors can also meet Santa in the Rides Area on Friday through Sunday nights from November 6-15 and then every night from November 20 through December 23.
Tips for your visit
Weeknights and the earliest entry windows tend to be less crowded than weekend evenings, and arriving close to the start of your timed entry window gives the most time before the 9:00pm exit deadline. Evenings get cold, so dress in layers and wear comfortable walking shoes for the hillside paths; strollers are permitted on the main route. If you want to ride the train, budget extra time and a few extra dollars for a separate Rides Area ticket, since the train line closes at 8:00pm. Book online in advance since there is no at-the-gate ticket sales, and keep an eye on the zoo’s site for weather-related closures or schedule changes on any of the listed closed nights.
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Glowfari 2026 at Oakland Zoo FAQs
When is Glowfari 2026 at Oakland Zoo?
Glowfari runs November 6, 2026 through January 31, 2027, with entry between 4:30pm and 6:30pm nightly and all guests required to exit by 9:00pm. The event is closed on select nights including November 9, 10, 16, 17 and 26, December 24-25, and several January dates, so check the calendar before booking.
How much are Glowfari tickets in 2026?
Oakland Zoo uses plan-ahead dynamic pricing, with tickets going on sale October 20, 2026 and sold in 28-day windows ahead of each visit date, generally cheaper the earlier you book. Specific 2026-2027 dollar prices were not yet posted on the official site as of this writing, so check the event calendar for current rates. Zoo members save 10% on admission.
Do you need to buy Glowfari tickets in advance?
Yes. Glowfari requires a timed-entry ticket booked online for a specific date and arrival window, and there is no ticket sales at the gate, so plan to purchase ahead of your visit. The train ride also requires a separate Rides Area ticket beyond general admission.
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Photo: Todd Dailey / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.