Safari Lights is the Oklahoma City Zoo’s annual holiday light show, pairing a drive-thru cruise past illuminated wildlife sculptures with a walk-thru course of interactive lights, photo stops and seasonal treats. The 2026 season runs nightly from November 14, 2026 through January 3, 2027, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. with last check-in at 10 p.m., and the Zoo stays open for Safari Lights on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. A 21-and-older food and drink retreat called Holiday Hideaway, tucked inside The Porch, returns on select nights, along with other returning add-ons like private igloo rentals and a guided Safari Sleigh Ride.
The event suits families, date nights and anyone who wants a mostly low-walking option, since the drive-thru covers close to a mile of the route by car before guests park for the shorter walk-thru section. A full visit, drive and walk combined, typically takes one to two hours. The drive-thru must be booked online in advance for a specific night, with no drive-up sales at the gate. Walk-thru-only admission is different: advance reservations are strongly encouraged since popular nights sell out, but guests can also buy walk-thru wristbands at the Zoo’s entrance the night of, subject to availability.
Stats at a Glance
- Venue: Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden
- City: Oklahoma City
- State: Oklahoma
- Dates: November 14, 2026 to January 3, 2027
- Hours: 5:30 to 11 p.m. nightly, last check-in 10 p.m.
- Tickets: Walk-thru and drive-thru combo options, with dynamic pricing tiers that rise on higher-demand nights; check okczoo.org/safarilights for current prices
- Timed entry: Drive-thru: yes, advance online purchase required, no gate sales. Walk-thru only: strongly encouraged in advance, but gate purchase is available
- New for 2026: Holiday Hideaway, a 21-and-older drink and food retreat at The Porch on select nights
2026 dates and what we know
The Oklahoma City Zoo has confirmed Safari Lights for the 2026 holiday season, running nightly from November 14, 2026 through January 3, 2027, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. with the last check-in at 10 p.m. The event stays open on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the three nights the regular Zoo is sometimes closed. Reservations are sold through the Zoo’s official Safari Lights page at okczoo.org/safarilights, where guests pick a specific date before seeing that night’s pricing tier.
The lights and displays
Safari Lights splits into two parts. Guests first drive their own vehicle along a route of close to a mile past wildlife and holiday-themed light sculptures. After the drive, guests park in the Zoo’s lot and walk a second course with interactive light displays, photo stops and seasonal treats. Whether Santa makes scheduled appearances in 2026 has not been confirmed on the official page as of this writing, so check the event calendar closer to your visit date if that matters for your trip.
Tickets, prices and member nights
Safari Lights uses a multi-tier dynamic pricing calendar, labeled Merry Savings, Holiday Favorites and Peak Season, so the price depends on which night you pick rather than a flat season rate. ZOOfriends members get a discount across every ticket type compared to nonmembers. Drive-thru tickets must be bought online in advance for a specific night, and the Zoo does not sell drive-thru tickets at the gate. Walk-thru-only admission works differently: buying online ahead is strongly encouraged because popular nights can sell out, but guests can also purchase walk-thru wristbands at the Zoo’s entrance the night of, subject to availability. Because exact prices shift by tier and can change season to season, check the official calendar at okczoo.org/safarilights for the current rate on your chosen date before you buy.
Food, drinks and extras
Beyond general admission, the Zoo offers several paid add-ons for 2026. The Safari Sleigh Ride is a private, guided golf-cart style tour for a small group with front-of-line drive-thru access, hot cocoa and blankets, with two nightly timeslots and advance booking required. A Private Igloo rental gives a small group a heated space plus a drive-thru combo and walk-thru admissions on select nights. Holiday Hideaway, a 21-and-older retreat tucked inside The Porch with specialty cocktails and seasonal food, is available on select nights including Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Current pricing for these add-ons is posted on the official Safari Lights page, since rates can shift between seasons.
Tips for your visit
Because pricing is tiered by night, earlier-week dates in the Merry Savings tier generally cost less than weekend and late-December dates in the Peak Season tier, so check the online calendar before settling on a night. Dress warmly for the walk-thru portion since it is entirely outdoors, and remember the drive-thru requires your own working vehicle with a licensed driver who stays in the car for that segment. The Private Igloo and Safari Sleigh Ride both sell out on popular nights, so book those well ahead if you want them. If you are driving through, buy your ticket online before you arrive since there is no drive-up purchase; if you only want the walk-thru, you can buy a wristband at the gate, but booking ahead online is safer on busy nights.
Explore more: every zoo and garden holiday light show for 2026, by state.
Rub-on sunscreen that fits in a pocket — reapply in the queue without greasy hands on the lap bar.
Folds into its own pocket. Pop it on when the storm rolls in and the rides reopen to short lines.
Keeps your phone strapped to you, not in a loose-article bin. Zip it before the lift hill and walk straight off the exit ramp.
Safari Lights at the Oklahoma City Zoo FAQs
When is Safari Lights 2026 at the OKC Zoo?
Safari Lights runs nightly from November 14, 2026 through January 3, 2027, from 5:30 to 11 p.m., with last check-in at 10 p.m. The event is also open on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
How much are Safari Lights tickets in 2026?
Prices vary by night under a tiered calendar (Merry Savings, Holiday Favorites and Peak Season), with ZOOfriends members paying less than nonmembers across every ticket type. Check okczoo.org/safarilights for the current rate on your chosen date.
Do you need to buy Safari Lights tickets in advance?
Yes for the drive-thru experience, which must be purchased online in advance for a specific date; there is no drive-up purchase at the gate. For walk-thru-only admission, buying online ahead is strongly encouraged since popular nights sell out, but it is not strictly required: guests can also buy walk-thru wristbands at the Zoo’s entrance the night of, subject to availability.
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Photo: Wesley Fryer from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.