Dark, cold, millions of lights and a lot of families. Here is the quiet way through it, in the zoo's own words, plus the other Denver light shows with a sensory night.
Zoo Lights at Denver Zoo
2300 Steele St, Denver 80205 · Nov 23 to Jan 3, select nights. Sun to Thu 4:30 to 9:00 pm, Fri and Sat 4:30 to 10:00 pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Sensory-Friendly Night, Dec 31: “Reduced crowds,” no strobing effects and increased light, low-volume music, quiet rooms, sensory kits on request.
“Please prepare extra time to park for this popular event!” A second east entrance and the Pink Entrance open “on busier nights.”
Our note The zoo prices some nights lower (value nights: Nov 29 to Dec 2, Dec 6, 8, 9, 13 to 16, Jan 2 and 3). It doesn't say why; we'd read lower price as lower demand. Standard-price nights include all of Dec 17 to 24 and 26 to 30.
Our note Two other Denver light shows run a sensory night: Blossoms of Light (Dec 1) and Hudson Holidays (Dec 2). Both are in the dates below. For a stay-in-the-car option, Christmas in Color's 2026 ticket page is for Red Rocks; dates not posted yet.
Parking is free, first come first served: the four-level garage and the lot east of the Main Entrance. Attendants direct traffic on busy nights.
Timed ticket required for everyone, including infants. Have the QR code ready on your phone. No refunds or exchanges, including for weather.
Most animals are asleep. The zoo says to visit the Elephant House, Village Hall, Pahali Ya Simba and Tropical Discovery for animal viewing (all indoor; the zoo's sensory guide says Tropical Discovery is kept warmer).
More: prices, the sensory night, restrooms
By the zoo's own pages; the carousel rating is from its sensory guide, 1 to 5
Louder or blinking
Conservation Carousel (music; turned down on the sensory night)
Blinking light effects (reduced on the sensory night)not stated
Crowds (the zoo opens extra entrances on busier nights)not stated
Quieter or indoor
Wellness Room, Primate Panorama restroomsquiet zone
Family restrooms, Main Entrance and Kamala Caféquiet zone
Tropical Discovery (indoor, kept warmer)quiet zone
Standard nights adults and seniors $29.95, youth $22.95; value nights $25.95 / $18.95. Members save 10%. Dec 7, Dec 31 and Jan 1 are not in either price list; Dec 31 is the sensory night. Tickets on sale Nov 5 (members Nov 2).
Everything on the Denver Zoo page still applies at night: free sensory kit at the Concierge booth inside the Main Entrance (first come first served on the sensory night), quiet rooms, family restrooms at the Main Entrance and Kamala Café.
The Carousel runs on the sensory night with music “significantly lowered.” The Railroad: the zoo's two pages disagree (one says closed that night, the event page lists it under low-volume music). Ask at the gate.
Pre-purchase hot cocoa souvenir cups are offered.
It is outdoors in Denver in December. Dress for it.
Timed tickets on your phone, free parking with attendants on busy nights, over three million lights, music, and most animals asleep. The zoo names four indoor animal houses to visit and its quiet rooms stay open. On the Sensory-Friendly Night the crowd is capped, strobes are off and the music is low. Change anything.
One tip from a dad who's been there
Eat first, dress warmer than you think, and pick up the sensory kit at the Concierge booth before the first light. If the Dec 31 sensory night fits your calendar, it is the version with the fewest surprises. Leaving early still counts as Zoo Lights.
Common questions
What if my child won't look at the schedule or story?
That is common at first. Leave it where the moment happens, point to one picture at a time, and keep it low-pressure. Many kids warm up to it after a few calm tries, in their own time.
Can I make this in Spanish?
Yes. Every tool and this page exist in Spanish, and the printed page comes out in the language you choose. Use the language switch at the top.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no signup, and we don’t keep what you type; anything you save stays on your device. Make it, print it, done.
