Christmas Lights Festival at the Montgomery Zoo

The Montgomery Zoo’s Christmas Lights Festival is a long-running holiday tradition. After the zoo closes for the day, it reopens in the evening so families can walk the pathways lined with thousands of lights and themed displays. Santa visits on many nights, and the Overlook Cafe serves hot chocolate and cookies, with live entertainment on select evenings.

The zoo reopens at 5 p.m., and the last tickets are sold around 9 p.m. Members get in free. Weekends close to Christmas are the busiest, so a weeknight early in December is calmer. Dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes. The zoo is closed during the day on Christmas but opens that evening for the lights.