Effective December 6, the Zoo will be closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the day until February 8, 2023. OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS continues nightly through January 1, 2023.
Winter is here and the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden will be temporarily adjusting its park hours for the season. Beginning Tuesday, December 6 and continuing through Wednesday, February 8, 2023, the OKC Zoo will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the day with no public access to the park. The Zoo will continue to be open to the public Thursdays through Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry no later than 4 p.m. OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS will remain open nightly from 5:30 to 11 p.m. through New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1, 2023, including holidays, with the last entry no later than 10 p.m.
Discover a wild winter wonderland at the OKC Zoo with incredible wildlife to see and ample experiences to enjoy. The OKC Zoo’s animal family has grown this year because of multiple exciting births and guests will have an opportunity to view these youngsters including Asian elephant calf, Rama, critically endangered Sumatran tiger cubs, Luna and Bob and okapi calf, Nzadi, weather permitting, at their habitats. All of the Zoo’s new arrivals are thriving and we will continue to share updates on our social channels about these little ones. Fill your Zoo day with memorable moments when you participate in some of the Zoo’s unique experiences including free elephant presentations at 2 p.m. Friday through Sunday, lorikeet and giraffe feedings plus, Caretaker Chats, engaging talks with our experts that are included with admission. Wild Encounters, the Zoo’s behind-the-scenes experiences, are available during the winter season offering wildlife fans an up-close look at bison, Asian elephants, Galapagos tortoises, Indian rhinos and now, Komodo dragons.
This adjusted schedule helps the OKC Zoo reduce expenses during this time by closing guest facing operations on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, historically the Zoo’s least attended days during these months, and does not impact the daily care and wellbeing the Zoo provides its animals.
Light up your holiday nights with OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS, the Oklahoma City Zoo’s celebration of illuminated lanterns, presented by OG&E. Revelers of all ages will enjoy the opportunity to discover larger-than-life lights highlighting wildlife of the world, prehistoric animals and seasonal scenes while on a driving tour through the OKC Zoo. After the driving tour, guests park and re-enter the Zoo for an additional walking experience through the Zoo’s Children’s Zoo and along the Lakeside pathway where guests will enjoy interactive light displays and picture-perfect photo ops. Savor the evening with sweet treats such as s’mores and tasty beverages available for purchase in the park. Then pop in the Zoo’s Safari Gift Shop to check out a wide selection of one-of-a-kind toys and gift ideas including the event’s exclusive souvenir Glow Packages featuring light-up wristbands, necklaces, sabers and various zoovenirs. Amp up the fun with this season’s new and returning special activities including Dinner with Santa family-friendly series, the OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS Lounge private event space, photo opportunities with Santa and more. Make your online reservations for OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS at www.okczoo.org/safari-lights. Drive-up purchases will not be accepted. Tickets are limited to ensure optimal guest experience. Admission for the drive-thru experience is $65/vehicle and includes up to 4 walk-thru admission tickets. Admission for the walk-thru only is $15/guest ages 3 and older. Supporting OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS sponsors include Devon and MidFirst Bank.
The Oklahoma City Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry no later than 4 p.m. The Zoo will be closed to the public during the daytime on Christmas and Tuesdays and Wednesdays between December 6 and February 8, 2023. Purchase advance Zoo admission tickets at okczoo.org/tickets and avoid the entry lines. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, Oklahoma City’s Adventure District and an Adventure Road partner. Regular daytime admission is $12 for adults and $9 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free. ‘Tis the giving season and ZOOfriends memberships to the Oklahoma City Zoo are a gift worth wild! As a ZOOfriends member of the OKC Zoo, enjoy free admission all year-long, plus many additional benefits and discounts. You will also be supporting the Zoo’s animal family, education programming and conservation initiatives both locally and globally. Join or renew today at www.okczoo.org/membership.
Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. To learn more about Zoo happenings, call (405) 424-3344 or visit okczoo.org.
-okczoo-