Detroit Zoo Wild Lights tickets start at $17

Wild Lights returns to the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak on Saturday, Nov. 21, with a new adults-only lounge and illuminated animal sculptures.

Online tickets range from $17 to $25, depending on date, time and demand, according to the Detroit Zoo’s Wild Lights page. Gate prices run $27. Zoo members save 10% on admission and park free.

The event runs on select nights through Jan. 3, 2027. Gates open at 5 p.m. Closing time is 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 9 p.m. on other nights, except both January dates close at 9 p.m. Wild Lights is not scheduled Dec. 24, Dec. 25 or Jan. 1.

New this year

The headline addition is The Igloo, a 21-and-over lounge sponsored by KeyBank. The lounge features outdoor fire pits, passed appetizers, two drinks and live music on Fridays and Saturdays, according to the zoo’s event page. ID is required, and nightly capacity is limited. Igloo access costs $23 in addition to Wild Lights admission.

The eastern section of the Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails is newly illuminated this season. The zoo notes the section may not be suitable for guests with light sensitivity or epilepsy.

New illuminated sculptures include a snow leopard, an Asian elephant, an orangutan, red pandas and a Bengal tiger. A Color, Fly, Butterfly art exhibition at the Ford Education Center lets visitors color a butterfly and watch it come alive in an immersive display.

Tickets and packages

Every guest age 2 and older needs a ticket. The Total Experience package costs $60 online or $65 at the gate and bundles admission with a carousel ride, a 4D Theater fast pass, a Wild Explorer VR ride, a souvenir cup with unlimited cocoa, a food voucher and parking.

Add-ons sold separately include a Glow with the Show lanyard for $14, a souvenir cocoa cup with refills for $15, Wild Explorer VR for $8, the 4D Theater for $6 and the carousel for $3. Parking is $8 per vehicle and free for members.

Santa meets guests on each event night through Wednesday, Dec. 23.

Wild Lights takes place in the front half of the zoo, according to the zoo’s event page. The back half and its habitats close in the evening to protect the animals. The event is presented by Michigan First Credit Union, and proceeds support the zoo’s mission.

Upcoming Wild Lights dates