It’s a magical tradition like no other: WildLanterns is back at Woodland Park Zoo. 

The lanterns change every year, and the light display’s sixth year is a winter wonderland filled with gorgeous botanical blooms and amazing animals. WildLanterns opens Nov. 14, 2025, and runs through Jan. 18, 2026. 

It’s one of my family’s favorite winter traditions, and I was so excited to take my daughter back this year to see what’s new. 

The excitement built as we walked through the west entrance, down a trail lined with large, illuminated flowers and woodland animals. My daughter looked closely at the wolves and mountain goats towering over her. 

Once we entered the zoo, we were drawn to a giant moose, with birds perched on its antlers and twinkling lights hanging below. 

From there, we had a “choose your own adventure” moment as we decided between going right or left. The path is a huge loop around the zoo; we ended up taking the path down the center and walking a figure-eight pattern to see all the lanterns. There are several hundred lanterns, with shapes ranging from familiar local animals to more exotic wildlife. 

We walked past squirrels, owls, goats and eagles, stopping to admire the incredible detail of each one. Some of them even move, from flicking tails to flapping wings. There were so many lanterns to spot, with clever ones hidden in between the trees and even overhead. 

We even caught a sneak peek of the new Forest Trailhead exhibit opening in 2026, where red pandas and tree kangaroos will make their home. Red pandas are one of my daughter’s favorite animals, and one adorable lantern waved its paw at her when she stopped to admire it. 

We took a slow walk along the zoo’s Discovery Loop, which has transformed into a stunning display of illuminated butterflies and flowers.

There were several interactive lanterns and exhibits along the path, which made for some truly memorable moments. From banging on drums that change the lights on a tree, to taking a turn on a color-changing see-saw, to stepping on a circle that prompted puffs of smoke out of a flower lantern, my family stayed engaged throughout our entire visit. 

While I don’t want to spoil all the surprises — part of the magic is discovering the lanterns as you go — there are a few new things to look forward to this year. 

Kids (and kids at heart) will have a ton of fun in the brand-new Interactive Zone, which has engaging activities, light displays, games and lanterns. Don’t be surprised if you hear yelling as you walk down the central path toward it — one of the stations encourages extra-loud shouting to activate inflatable animals. We were glad we made this one of our first stops, when my daughter had plenty of early-evening energy to burn. 

WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo happens rain or shine. It is an outdoor event in Seattle that lasts through winter, after all! 

As I zipped my daughter’s raincoat and tucked her mittens and hat into my bag, I worried about spending a couple of hours walking around outside in the rain. We caught a break between rain showers, but from the moment we walked through the flower-lined entrance path, to our final stop at the gift shop, we barely noticed the weather. The lanterns were so enchanting, and the wet path reflected the beautiful lights throughout the zoo. 

We stopped halfway through for hot cocoa and doughnuts, which warmed us up and gave an extra energy boost. I noticed several spots along our route ideal for getting out of the rain for a bit. There’s even a virtual reality experience! 

While the rest of the animal exhibits are closed during WildLanterns, families can walk through the Reptile Realm during their visit. Spot turtles, pythons and Komodo dragons — you’ll have to look closely for the smaller reptiles, but the huge Komodo dragons were impossible to miss. It’s a break from the rain and a chance to learn more about these incredible creatures and the zoo’s conservation efforts. And who doesn’t want to see animals on a trip to the zoo? 

Also open during WildLanterns: The Zoomazium. This indoor play area is always a favorite of ours on zoo visits, and it becomes Zoomazium Nightlights during WildLanterns. The space welcomes all ages and offers different themed activities for kids to enjoy. It was hard to pull my daughter away from the glowing magnetic tiles, drawing station and play area. But we had more to see! 

Near the historic carousel, we noticed lighted igloos with cozy seating arrangements outside The Frosted Glass — WildLanterns’ bar for the 21-and-older crowd. The igloos, however, are family-friendly and available for rent (though it’s definitely a splurge). After we peeked at the igloos, we admired the majestic mountain landscape with more animal lanterns across the path.

We made our way to the carousel, which is open during WildLanterns (carousel tickets cost $3). My daughter happily picked a horse for her carousel ride, naming her Flower and waving enthusiastically as we circled around. 

Our final stop, of course, was the gift shop. There is always something in it that catches my eye, and I loved seeing the holiday decorations. My daughter picked a souvenir and we headed home, just a little past bedtime. 

Keep in mind that WildLanterns tickets do not get you into the zoo to see the animals during the day, and vice versa: Daytime zoo admission does not mean you can stay to see the lanterns after dark. Two separate admissions are required.

If you’re planning a daytime visit to the zoo, you’ll still see the magical, colorful lanterns; they just won’t be illuminated. And at night, though most of the animals are sleeping and the exhibits are closed, Reptile Realm is open. (We also spotted — and heard — an owl during our visit!)

Once you enter WildLanterns, you can stay as long as you like before closing time, but plan for around two hours to see everything.

The event goes on rain or shine, so dress for the weather. You might also want to consider bright or reflective gear for the darker parts of the trail.

Food kiosks are open for snacks, and indoor seating is available at 1899 Grove (formerly the Rainforest Pavilion). 

The zoo has added a few special nights this year to ensure that everyone is able to enjoy WildLanterns. 

WildLanterns is a special fundraising event, and the money goes toward the care and enrichment of the animals. While it can be a pricey outing for families, it is well worth experiencing if you can splurge this season. These super-sized animal lanterns are truly special — you won’t see anything like them at other local light shows.

Editor’s note: JiaYing Grygiel originally reported on WildLanterns for ParentMap in 2020, WildLanterns’ debut year, and contributed to this article. The article is updated each year and was most recently updated on Nov. 14, 2025, after ParentMap’s family fun editor, Meredith Charaba, visited with her family to include all new attractions and details for the 2025–26 season.