Zoo Lights Drive-Thru is the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s winter lights event in Highland Park, where guests tour the zoo grounds from inside their own vehicle to see illuminated animal displays, yuletide scenes and Pittsburgh-themed light sculptures. The zoo has confirmed 2026 dates: select nights from November 27, 2026 through January 3, 2027, running 5 to 10 p.m. with last entry at 10 p.m. This is a change from recent winters, when the zoo’s main holiday lights event was Wild Illuminations: A Holiday Lantern Experience, a walk-through lantern display that ran through the 2025-2026 season. Wild Illuminations does not appear on the zoo’s 2026 events calendar, and Zoo Lights Drive-Thru is now the zoo’s only winter lights offering.
The drive-thru suits families with young kids, guests who would rather stay warm in the car, or anyone on a tight schedule, since the route takes about 30 minutes to drive. Tickets are sold for a specific date and arrival time rather than at the gate, so booking ahead through the zoo’s website is required; the zoo does not allow entry before or after the time printed on the ticket.
Stats at a Glance
- Venue: Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
- City: Pittsburgh
- State: Pennsylvania
- Dates: November 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027, select nights (closed Nov 30, Dec 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 24, 25, 31 and Jan 1)
- Hours: 5 to 10 p.m., last entry at 10 p.m.
- Tickets: $40 per member vehicle, $45 per non-member vehicle (flat rate per vehicle); a $65 Flex Ticket option is also offered
- Timed entry: yes
- New for 2026: Wild Illuminations’ walk-through lantern format is not returning; Zoo Lights Drive-Thru is the sole 2026 event, with a new hospitality area at the Admission Plaza
2026 dates and what we know
The Pittsburgh Zoo has confirmed Zoo Lights Drive-Thru runs select nights from November 27, 2026 through January 3, 2027, from 5 to 10 p.m. with last entry at 10 p.m. The event is closed on November 30, December 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 24, 25, 31 and January 1, so check the exact night before buying tickets. This year’s event replaces the zoo’s recent flagship lantern walk, Wild Illuminations: A Holiday Lantern Experience, which ran select nights through January 11, 2026 last season; that walk-through format is not listed anywhere on the zoo’s 2026-2027 events calendar, and the zoo’s holiday lights presence for 2026 is Zoo Lights Drive-Thru alone.
The lights and displays
Zoo Lights Drive-Thru fills the zoo’s grounds with thousands of eco-friendly LED lights, including twinkling illuminated animal figures, yuletide scenes, light displays themed to familiar Pittsburgh landmarks, and an area dedicated to the zoo’s recent animal babies. Because this is a drive-thru experience, the zoo’s live animals are not on view at night; the displays are all lights and light sculptures seen from the car. The route takes roughly 30 minutes to drive start to finish.
Tickets, prices and member nights
Tickets are $40 per member vehicle and $45 per non-member vehicle, a flat rate that covers everyone riding along, and are sold for a specific date and entry time through the zoo’s official ticketing site rather than at the gate. The zoo also offers a $65 Flex Ticket for guests who want more flexibility on which night they visit. Vehicles are limited to 20 feet in length and 6.5 feet in width (about the size of a crew-cab pickup); mini buses and passenger vans are not permitted, and the zoo recommends bringing the smallest vehicle available since the pathways are narrow.
Food, drinks and extras
A new hospitality area at the Admission Plaza offers seasonal food, drinks and holiday retail for guests to enjoy before or after their drive. During the drive itself, guests must stay inside the vehicle the entire time; doors, tailgates, hatchbacks and van doors must remain closed, and smoking, alcohol and pets (service animals excepted) are not allowed.
Tips for your visit
Arrive at the main parking lot at the day and time printed on your ticket, since tickets are not transferable and the zoo does not allow early or late entry. Bring the smallest vehicle you can fit everyone into, given the width and length limits on the route, and dress warmly even though you are driving, since many guests crack a window for photos. Avoid the closed dates listed above when planning a visit, and watch the zoo’s website and social media for any weather-related closures on snowy or icy 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.
Zoo Lights Drive-Thru at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium FAQs
When is Zoo Lights Drive-Thru 2026 at the Pittsburgh Zoo?
The Pittsburgh Zoo has confirmed Zoo Lights Drive-Thru runs select nights from November 27, 2026 through January 3, 2027, from 5 to 10 p.m., with last entry at 10 p.m. This event has replaced the zoo’s previous walk-through lantern event, Wild Illuminations, which is not on the 2026 calendar.
How much are Zoo Lights Drive-Thru tickets in 2026?
Tickets are $40 per member vehicle and $45 per non-member vehicle, a flat rate that covers all passengers in the car. A $65 Flex Ticket option is also available for guests who want more flexibility on timing.
Do you need to buy Zoo Lights Drive-Thru tickets in advance?
Yes. Tickets are sold for a specific date and arrival time through the zoo’s official ticketing site, and the zoo does not allow entry before or after the time on the ticket.
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Photo: daveynin / CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.