Zoolumination, the nation’s largest lantern festival and my favorite winter holiday event, is back at the Nashville Zoo. My family attends every year, and it’s truly a magical experience. Here’s your guide.
🎟️ The Basics
- When: Nightly from 5-9 p.m. through Jan. 4, then Thursday through Sunday from Jan. 8 to Feb. 8.
- Cost: $25 for adults and teens, $21 for kids 2-12. If you have a membership, tickets are $5 off. Platinum Pass tickets — $39 for adults and teens and $29 for kids — get you unlimited visits.
- Parking: Parking is free for members and Platinum Pass ticket holders. Otherwise, it’s $10.
🏮 The Lanterns
Zoolumination debuted at the Nashville Zoo in 2019. Zigong Lantern Group provides more than 1,000 custom-made silk lanterns set up across the zoo, featuring dragons, the Chinese zodiac, animal scenes, and holiday displays. It’s so magical to walk the familiar zoo paths at night, illuminated by the beautiful lanterns. Many are absolutely giant!
My daughter trying to peek inside this gingerbread house at the North Pole Village. (Margaret Kingsbury / City Cast Nashville)
⛸️ Zoolumination Activities
- Visit the North Pole Village and take photos with Santa from Nov. 28 to Dec. 24. This is over by the Grassmere historic home. You'll also find a Polar Express train, though it isn't functional.
- Check out special performers at the Ajax Turner Amphitheater by the reptile house nightly at 6, 7, and 8 p.m. Last year they had Chinese acrobatic dancers, and they were amazing!
- Purchase 45-minute sessions at The Smashville Ice Rink tickets separately for $12. The ice rink closes if temperatures reach 50 degrees or warmer, but the zoo will refund you if that happens.
- The carousel is up and running, but not the zipline.
- While most of the animals are asleep, the Sumatran tigers, flamingos, and Andean bears will be up and awake. The Unseen New World reptile and insect house will be open most nights, too.
The hot chocolate is delish. (Margaret Kingsbury / City Cast Nashville)
☕ Zoolumination Tips
- Don’t sleep on the hot chocolate! It’s delicious. Adults can get it spiked, and it comes in reusable Zoolumination cups.
- Quills Café & Grill and Screaming Gibbon Pizza Kitchen will be open with seasonal meals and pizza. There are gluten-free options.
- Check the temperatures before you leave and bundle up if it’s cold.
- While advance tickets are encouraged, I recommend waiting until the last minute to buy your tickets. There are no refunds, so if someone gets sick or it starts hailing and you decide not to go, you’re out of luck.
- Zoolumination is open on all the winter holidays. We went on Christmas Eve one year, and it was a really neat way to spend the night.
🎄 Gaylord Opryland's Christmas Festivities
