Wild Lights - A Wild Experience

Enchanting Extras

Enjoy these enchanting extras — and don’t forget to share your photos on Instagram using #WildLightsMKEZoo.

Enjoy the 28-foot Tree of Wildlife, a fully animated, musical tree featuring the Wild Lights animals.

Don’t miss our colossal 12-foot Light Wall! It’s not an ordinary canvas, but rather, a massive, glowing masterpiece just waiting for your creative spark. Grab a handful of colorful acrylic pegs and let your imagination run wild to create pictures, patterns, and designs (maybe even a favorite Zoo animal!) on the enormous backlit panel.

Animal Buildings

Animal buildings will be open on select nights from 5:30-8:45 p.m.

Elephant Care Center: December 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 23, 27
Aquatic & Reptile Center: December 5, 12, 14, 19, 22, 26, 27, 28, 30
Big Cat Country: November 30, December 6, 13, 21, 28, 29
Elf Power VR Experience

Elf Power VR Experience: Join Santa’s Team!
Get ready for a magical adventure with our Elf Power VR Experience! Step into the cheerful world of Santa’s workshop and become one of Santa’s special helpers. This unique experience features platform seating to take your adventure to the next level of virtual reality!

$6 admission (show your Zoo Pass for discount)
Live Entertainment

Listen to the sounds of the season with live entertainment in the U.S. Bank Gathering Place.
Rides

North Shore Bank Safari Train (operates until 8:15 p.m. — weather-dependent) – Enjoy a crisp, winter woodland ride.
$4 plus tax

Penzeys Carousel (operates until 8:30 p.m. — weather-dependent) – Ride atop your favorite animal on this old-fashioned fan favorite.
$3 plus tax

Sky Safari (operates until 8:15 p.m. — weather-dependent) – Experience Wild Lights from above!
$4 plus tax
Santa Visits

Meet Jolly ‘ole St. Nick himself and receive a FREE gift when Santa visits Wild Lights!

Dec. 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23.
Sensory Sensitivities

To accommodate guests with sensory sensitivities, a special Wild Lights Guide is available to join in this sparkly event.
Wild Connections

Wild Connections Tours — To make your sparkly night an even more memorable experience, “Go Wild” with an up-close animal encounter with the Humboldt penguins in their newly-renovated habitat, Penguins of the Pacific! SOLD OUT!
Wild Lights for Wildlife

Wild Lights for Wildlife: Drop off working and non-working lights for recycling to help wildlife! Recycling lights keeps them out of landfills — less space for landfills means more space for wildlife!