Safari Lights is the Oklahoma City Zoo’s annual holiday lantern and light event, held on the zoo grounds in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. For 2026 it runs nightly from Saturday, November 14, 2026 through Sunday, January 3, 2027, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. with last check-in at 10 p.m., including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. New this year is Holiday Hideaway, an adults-only lounge inside The Porch for guests 21 and older, open Thursday through Sunday nights plus Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, with specialty cocktails and seasonal food available for purchase.
The event suits families with young kids as well as couples looking for a low-key holiday outing, since the drive-thru portion lets guests stay in the car for part of the visit. A full visit, combining the drive-thru lantern course with the walk-thru light displays, typically takes 90 minutes to two hours. Reservations are required online in advance for a specific date, and the zoo says slots are limited, so it’s worth buying before your preferred night sells out.
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 from $10 (members) / $14 (nonmembers) per person; Drive-Thru Combo from $45 (members) / $60 (nonmembers) per vehicle, includes 4 walk-thru passes
- Timed entry: Yes, advance online reservations required and limited
- New for 2026: Holiday Hideaway, a 21-and-older lounge with cocktails and food available for purchase, open Thursday through Sunday nights
2026 dates and what we know
The Oklahoma City Zoo has confirmed Safari Lights for 2026, running 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 stays open on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This builds on last year’s run, which opened November 15, 2025 and closed January 4, 2026 on a similar nightly schedule, so the overall format and length are holding steady year to year. Reservations for 2026 are open now at okczoo.org/safarilights, and the zoo notes that dates and time slots are limited, so booking ahead matters more than showing up and hoping for a spot.
The lights and displays
Safari Lights pairs a drive-thru course of wildlife- and holiday-themed light sculptures and lanterns with a separate walk-thru portion inside the zoo, featuring a musical light show, interactive displays and photo stations. New for 2026 is Holiday Hideaway, an adults-only retreat inside The Porch for guests 21 and older, open Thursday through Sunday nights plus Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, where specialty cocktails and seasonal food are available for purchase. In past seasons the zoo has also added one-off special nights, such as an adults-only Mistletoe Mingle mixer and a sensory-friendly evening with reduced lights and sound; check the official event calendar to see which extra nights return for 2026.
Tickets, prices and member nights
Walk-Thru admission starts at $10 per person for ZOOfriends members and $14 for nonmembers. The Drive-Thru Combo, which covers one vehicle plus up to four walk-thru passes, starts at $45 for members and $60 for nonmembers. Premium add-ons include a guided Safari Sleigh Ride golf cart tour and a private igloo rental, both priced well above standard admission, with ZOOfriends members getting a discount on each. Listed prices start at those figures, so expect cost to rise on busier nights such as weekends and the days around Christmas and New Year’s. All tickets are sold online in advance through okczoo.org/safarilights; there is no walk-up or drive-up purchase at the gate.
Food, drinks and extras
The walk-thru route passes s’mores stations and photo opportunities, though the s’mores and other treats are sold separately rather than included with admission. The new Holiday Hideaway lounge, open Thursday through Sunday nights plus Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, gives guests 21 and older a place to warm up with specialty cocktails and seasonal food available for purchase. Guests who want a more private experience can pay extra for the Safari Sleigh Ride, a guided golf cart tour, or rent a private igloo for a small group, both priced well above standard admission.
Tips for your visit
Book your date as soon as you know your plans, since the zoo caps reservations and popular nights, especially weekends and the stretch around Christmas, sell out first. Arrive close to your scheduled entry time rather than early, since admission is timed. Dress in layers for the walk-thru portion, as Oklahoma winter evenings can be cold and windy, and keep an eye on the zoo’s site or social media for any weather-related schedule changes. If you’re doing the drive-thru, remember it requires the same advance online reservation as the walk-thru, so there’s no spontaneous drive-up option.
Explore more: every zoo and garden holiday light show for 2026, by state.
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Safari Lights 2026 at the Oklahoma City Zoo FAQs
When is Safari Lights 2026 at the Oklahoma City Zoo?
Safari Lights 2026 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.
How much are Safari Lights tickets in 2026?
Walk-Thru admission starts at $10 for ZOOfriends members and $14 for nonmembers per person. The Drive-Thru Combo, covering one vehicle and up to four walk-thru passes, starts at $45 for members and $60 for nonmembers, with higher prices on peak nights.
Do you need to buy Safari Lights tickets in advance?
Yes. All tickets are sold online in advance for a specific date through okczoo.org/safarilights, and the zoo says reservations are limited, so there is no ticket sales at the gate.
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Photo: Paul L. McCord Jr. from Oklahoma City, OK, United States / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.