RESERVE TICKETS FOR OKC ZOO’S ALL NEW SAFARI LIGHTS, PRESENTED BY OG&E, OPEN NIGHTLY SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026 THROUGH SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, 2027
The most wonderful time of the year is near, bringing the return of OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS. Presented by OG&E, Oklahoma City’s most-popular holiday attraction, OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS, shines on for its sixth season with all new lantern displays, themed photo stations, flavorful treats, and festive activities. OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS is a spectacular light display offering guests the opportunity to encounter larger-than-life illuminated sculptures on both drive-thru and walk-thru tours within the Zoo, and exclusive nighttime access in the park! Photos with Santa (there’s no purchase necessary to meet him!) will be available during SAFARI LIGHTS, Thursdays to Sundays, November 14 through December 24, in the Zoo’s Canopy Restaurant. Merrymakers can also take in the glow of SAFARI LIGHTS with private Safari Sleigh Ride tours and Private Igloo rentals. The brand-new “Holiday Hideaway” is the perfect spot where guests 21 and older can warm up and indulge in seasonal cocktails, specialty beverages, and festive food items during their visit. This exclusive retreat is open Friday through Sunday plus Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS begins November 14, 2026, and continues through January 3, 2027, open nightly from 5:30 to 11 p.m. with the last check-in at 9:30 p.m. OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS is also open on holiday nights including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Advance online reservations are required for OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS and are limited, so purchase early. Event pricing is based on ticket options and visit date, guests choose what works best with their schedule and budget. For reservations, visit www.okczoo.org/safarilights.
Check out the OKC Zoo’s biggest and brightest volunteer opportunity with SAFARI LIGHTS! Those interested in helping must be 14 or older and volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers receive a general admission pass to the OKC Zoo as well as a 40 percent discounts on event-only treats and merchandise. Visit our Sign-Up Genius page to learn more.
OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS is presented by OG&E and produced by the Oklahoma City Zoo and Tianyu Arts & Culture.
SHOP THE BEST GIFT GIVING IDEA, OKC ZOO’S ZOOFRIENDS MEMBERSHIPS!
A ZOOfriends membership to the Oklahoma City Zoo is the perfect gift for anyone on your list! These incredible memberships provide recipients with unlimited access to the OKC Zoo for 12 months combined with countless discounts and perks. ZOOfriends enjoy savings on Zoo attractions, dining and retail, special event tickets like SAFARI LIGHTS, and more. Exclusive monthly Passport Perks such as free in-park offers and giveaways are also great benefits to having a membership. That’s not all, OKC Zoo members can save big on admission to hundreds of other Association of Zoos and Aquariums member facilities across the county! ZOOfriends Passports range in price from $60 for a single membership up to $299 for a membership for 10. Visit okczoo.org/membership to purchase.
OKC ZOO’S DINOSAUR EXPEDITION, PRESENTED BY MATHIS HOME, ENDS ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Come see the dinosaurs before they go extinct (again!). Oklahoma City Zoo’s Dinosaur Expedition, presented by Mathis Home, officially closes on Sunday, November 1, 2026. This popular exhibit transports fans to the age of dinosaurs as they encounter more than 60 animatronic dinosaurs along with dinosaur skeletons, fossil digs, educational graphics, and photo ops. Located near the Zoo’s Jungle Gym Playground, Dinosaur Expedition is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. through November 1. Exhibit sponsors include Mathis Home, Continental Resources, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Mike Ura, Primrose Schools, Michael Melott, and Red Dirt Orthodontics. Purchase Zoo and Dinosaur Expedition admission at www.okczoo.org/dinosaurs.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 / 5:30 P.M.: OKC ZOO VOLUNTEER PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSION
The Oklahoma City Zoo is recruiting volunteers and could have a role for you! If you are looking for a unique outlet for sharing your time, talents, and passion for wildlife and wild places, then attend the Zoo’s next Volunteer Information Session on Tuesday, November 3, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Rosser Conservation Education Center. This event is open to the public, giving new and returning volunteers a chance to learn more about volunteering here at the Zoo. Our volunteers play a vital role in supporting our staff as well as engaging and educating guests about conserving wildlife and wild places. Sign up today and join the crew! Reserve a spot for the session at https://bit.ly/3KWfp57.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 THROUGH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20: MILITARY APPRECIATION CELEBRATION AT THE OKC ZOO
From Saturday, November 7 through Friday, November 20, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden will be honoring Oklahoma’s military men and women with free general Zoo admission during its annual Military Appreciation Celebration. During this celebration, all active duty, retired, and veteran members of the military, National Guard and Reserves will receive free general Zoo admission, and special discounts while visiting the Zoo. Plus, military members will receive $10 general Zoo admission for up to four immediate family members on date of visit. Valid military ID is required to receive complimentary general admission. Qualifying guests can show their military ID at any Zoo ticket window to receive discounts. Military members will also enjoy the following discounts while visiting the Zoo during November with proof of valid ID:
- 10% off merchandise at the Zoo’s Safari Gift Shop.
- 10% off concession purchases in the park.
- $10 off any membership level! Memberships must be purchased in-person at the Zoo and military members must be named on the membership.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12 / 6 P.M.: OKC ZOO, RED COYOTE HOST CONSERVATION RUN FEATURING SAFARI LIGHTS!
Register for the Oklahoma City Zoo and Red Coyote’s next Zoo Run Club event on Thursday, November 12, and get ready for a holly jolly run, jog, or walk through SAFARI LIGHTS! Participants enjoy the opportunity to preview the Zoo’s all new lantern displays of SAFARI LIGHTS, presented by OG&E, before its public debut. This fun run starts at 6 p.m. and covers a nearly 3-mile course through the Zoo that's ideal for runners of all paces and abilities. Proceeds from the run support the OKC Zoo's conservation efforts, helping to protect wildlife and wild places in Oklahoma and around the world. Capacity is limited so register early for the OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS Zoo Run Club event on Thursday, November 12 at 6 p.m. at Red Coyote Running and Fitness.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15 AND SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6: OKC ZOOFRIENDS PASSPORT PERKS
With the Oklahoma City Zoo’s next Passport Perk, ZOOfriends members will enjoy meeting and feeding the Zoo’s lorikeets for free on Sunday, November 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This exclusive offer is part of the OKC Zoo’s monthly Passport Perks for ZOOfriends members, providing special in-park deals and giveaways, throughout the year with a current membership. Then don’t miss December’s Passport Perk on Sunday, December 6, and take a complimentary ride on the Zoo’s Tram! One perk per person on Passport. Monthly Passport Perks are subject to availability, animal participation, and weather conditions. View the complete Passport Perks calendar for upcoming dates and offers.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17 / 10:30 A.M.: OKC ZOO HOSTS “I WANT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS” SING-ALONG, BOOK SIGNING WITH GAYLA PEEVEY
Oklahoma’s Queen of Christmas and the original singer of “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” Gayla Peevey, is coming to the OKC Zoo! The Oklahoma City Zoo is delighted to host Gayla for a special sing-along event and autograph session at the Love’s Pachyderm building in Expedition Africa on Tuesday, November 17. Gayla will be promoting her new memoir, I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas: A Life Story of Faith, the Hippo, and a Song that Endures, signing books for fans! The wild connection between the world’s beloved “hippo” song and the OKC Zoo began in 1953 when the song helped raise funds to purchase a Nile hippopotamus, Mathilda, who was a popular ambassador at the OKC Zoo for over three decades. Come sing in the holidays with the Zoo and Gayla Peevey on November 17th. The sing-along begins at 10:30 a.m. with the autograph session from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. with a 15 min break from 12:15-12:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be available while supplies last, activities are free with general Zoo admission. Commemorative hippo shirts, Gayla’s memoir, and more will be available for purchase at this event and in the Zoo’s Safari Gift Shop located in the entry plaza throughout the holiday season.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 / 1:30 to 2:30 P.M.: OKC ZOO PRESENTS FREE CONSERVATION TALK WITH DR. BRAD LOCK
The Oklahoma City Zoo presents a free conservation talk with Dr. Brad Lock, former Curator of Herpetology and current Adjunct Coordinator of Guatemalan Conservation Programs for OKC Zoo, and founder of the Foundation for Endangered Species of Guatemala (FUNDESGUA). Meet Dr. Lock and learn about FUNDESGUA’S unique conservation program that works with local communities to protect the Guatemalan beaded lizard and Campbell’s alligator lizard and their habitats, and what the OKC Zoo is doing to help, and how you can get involved. Plus, guests can participate in wildlife trivia for prizes. This talk is free to attend and will take place from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Zoo’s Rosser Conservation Education Center Auditorium. Seating is limited.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20 / SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21: “ANIMAL ARTISTS” OVERNIGHT PROGRAM AT THE OKC ZOO
Join the Oklahoma City Zoo for an unforgettable overnight safari with its next themed program, “Animal Artists”. Learn about the creative aspects of the animal kingdom through a unique educational program, hands-on activities, private evening and morning Zoo hikes plus the chance to see the OKC Zoo from a new perspective. And as a special present, this program includes entry and access to the Zoo’s annual holiday lantern festival, SAFARI LIGHTS, on Saturday, November 21. Program cost is $70 per person. Participants must be five and older and guests under 17 must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older to patriciate. The program starts at 6:45 p.m. on November 20. Spots are limited so register early at https://www.okczoo.org/private-overnights.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26: THANKSGIVING DAY, OKC ZOO IS CLOSED FOR THE DAY BUT OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS IS OPEN
Get the family and friends excited for a special Thanksgiving Day tradition with reservations for OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS! The Zoo’s popular holiday light event is a ideal for adults and kids, and will be open on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. with the last entry at 10 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made at okczoo.org/safarilights. The Zoo is closed to guests during the day on November 26.
NOVEMBER, DECEMBER: OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS PERFORMING ARTS EVENTS
The Oklahoma City Zoo is excited to bring a little extra sparkle to SAFARI LIGHTS with a schedule of community partners providing live performances at the Zoo. These performances will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. (with breaks) near the Zoo’s main entrance. Activities are free to attend with walk-thru admission to SAFARI LIGHTS. Scheduled performances include:
- Saturday, November 15 and Tuesday, December 1: Oklahoma City Ballet
- Saturday, November 21: Oklahoma Ballet Theatre in Edmond
NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, AND JANUARY: OKC ZOO OFFERS SCHOOLS OUT DAY CAMPS
During the school holidays, engage your students’ love for the natural world with the OKC Zoo’s Schools Out Day Camps! The Oklahoma City Zoo’s education team host themed day camps for kids in grades kindergarten through 5th during school breaks in November, December, and January that are educational experiences like no other. The cost is $60 per camper ($54/camper for ZOOfriends members) per day. Camps run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Zoo’s Rosser Conservation Education Center. Campers must bring their lunch and snacks. Space is limited and advance registration is required. Visit okczoo.org/schools-out to view the complete camp schedule and themes for November, December, and January.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 THROUGH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2027: OKC ZOO IMPLEMENTS ITS WINTER HOURS
The Oklahoma City Zoo shifts into its winter hours beginning Tuesday, December 1, 2026, and will be closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through Wednesday, February 3, 2027. Guests are invited to visit the Zoo Thursdays through Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last entry at 4 p.m. OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS will remain open nightly from 5:30 to 11 p.m. with the last entry no later than 9:30 p.m. through Sunday, January 3, 2026 including holidays. Find additional information about Zoo happenings and to purchase admission, visit www.okczoo.org.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5: OKC ZOO AND OETA HOST MEET AND GREET WITH DANIEL TIGER
Get ready for a tiger-sized adventure as Daniel Tiger comes to the OKC Zoo! The Oklahoma City Zoo, together with OETA, welcome Oklahoma families to a special event featuring everyone's favorite animated character, Daniel Tiger! Don’t miss this roaring good time to meet and take pictures with Daniel Tiger and enjoy family-friendly activities. This event will occur in the Love’s Pachyderm Building at Expedition Africa from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more at OETA Presents: Daniel Tiger at the Oklahoma City Zoo. All event activities including photos with Daniel Tiger are free with regular Zoo admission.
Plan excursion the entire family will enjoy and attend the Oklahoma City Zoo’s “Wildlife in a Changing Winter” overnight safari, December 11-12, 2026. Winter may feel chilly to us, but for some animals, it's the perfect season. Discover which species are specially adapted to life in the cold and how you can support wildlife in your backyard during the colder months. Everyone will enjoy engaging activities and finish the evening with a guided tour through the Zoo to experience the wonders of winter after dark. Overnight admission also includes entry and access to the Zoo’s annual holiday lantern festival, SAFARI LIGHTS, on the evening of Saturday, December 12. Program cost is $65 per person. Participants must be five and older and guests under 17 must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older to patriciate. The overnight begins at 6:45 p.m. on December 11. Spots are limited so register early at www.okczoo.org/private-overnights.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12: OUR BLOOD INSTITUTE BLOOD DRIVE AT THE OKC ZOO
Support your fellow Oklahomans with the gift of a blood donation this holiday season. The Oklahoma City Zoo and Our Blood Institute (OBI) are hosting a community blood drive on Saturday, December 12, from 9 a.m. to noon. Register in advance to schedule your time or show up when you can and help increase OBI’s blood supply throughout Oklahoma. Donors that participate in the drive will receive a general admission voucher to the OKC Zoo, which may be used through the end of the year. The Zoo will be hosting this blood drive at its Education Center located at the east end of the parking lot. Sign up for an appointment at www.obi.org.
CHRISTMAS DAY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25: OKC ZOO IS CLOSED FOR THE DAY BUT OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS IS OPEN
Enjoy a merry outing as OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS, presented by OG&E, will be open the night of Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. with the last entry at 10 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made at okczoo.org/safarilights. The Zoo is closed to guests during the day on December 25.
ONGOING OKC ZOO PROGRAMS
ORDER AN OKC ZOO “ELEPHANT” LICENSE PLATE, SUPPORT WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
Do you have tons of love for the Oklahoma City Zoo? Then proudly display it with a new specialty “elephant” license plate! These stunning plates are the perfect way to celebrate the OKC Zoo and its dedication to Asian elephant care and conservation. $10 from each plate goes directly back to the OKC Zoo to support its conservation initiatives, education programs, and operations. OKC Zoo plates are available at www.ozsgiving.org/platecontest, click “order plate”.
OKC ZOO FREE, DAILY CARETAKER CHATS
The Oklahoma City Zoo’s experts are excited to share with you about their roles in animal care and conservation and the Zoo’s amazing animal family during these informative chats. The daily chat schedule features several animal habitats and is posted on Zoo’s digital map at map.okczoo.org/home.
OKC ZOO ATTRACTIONS OFER YEAR-ROUND ADVENTURE
Enhance your Oklahoma City Zoo visit with unforgettable experiences! From up-close feedings with giraffes, flamingos, and other animals to wild rides on the Zoo Tram, Endangered Species Carousel, or Scooter Pals, these exciting extras are sure to make your Zoo trip more memorable. Plus, Wild Encounters offer guests the chance to go behind the scenes to meet the Zoo’s animals and experts in a memorable way! Additional costs apply for most attractions and activities are dependent on weather and animal participation. Plan your Zoo visit today at www.okczoo.org/experiences.
Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. Zoo admission can be purchased at the park or online at www.okczoo.org/tickets. Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, Instagram, Linktree, TikTok, LinkedIn, and by visiting our blog stories. Zoo more with a ZOOfriends membership! Members enjoy free admission to the Zoo for 12 months, plus exclusive benefits and discounts while supporting the Zoo’s animal care and conservation efforts locally and globally. Join ZOOfriends today at www.okczoo.org/membership.