Mark your calendar for a free night of Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. From Friday, November 20, 2020 – Sunday, January 3, 2021, you can check out the Columbus Zoo Christmas lights and festivities featuring displays of millions of LED lights and holiday fun. Now in its 31st year, Wildlights just keeps getting better and better!
Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Get free admission to Wildlights on Friday, November 20, when you contribute to the Wildlights Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive in partnership with Kroger and Mid-Ohio Foodbank. Each guest bringing 5 non-perishable food items to the Zoo will enjoy one free admission for Columbus Zoo Wildlights. Show a can at the parking booth and receive free parking as well. This is only valid on Friday, November 20, 2020.
They’ll be doubling the donation locations this year to make the entry process even easier, but recommend guests arrive as early as possible. They’ll be collecting donations with free entry as early as 10 am, with Wildlights festivities starting at 5 pm, so you can come as early as you wish to explore the Zoo. Many animals aren’t viewable after 4 or 5 pm, so if you want to visit the animals, you’ll want to arrive earlier and stay through the evening for the Wildlights. No re-entry is required when Wildlights start for the evening.
There are quite a few indoor exhibits that you can check out all evening, including Asia Quest, Discovery Reef, Manatee Coast, Reptile Building, and Nocturnal Building in Australia and the Islands. Gorillas, Polar Bears, and Bonobos are not viewable after 4 pm as they settle in for sleeping.
In additional to the animated light shows at Conservation Lake, you’ll catch 2 light shows in Entry Village. Other fun features include Santa’s Holiday Home at Battelle Ice Bear Outpost, Musical Light Shows, Character Christmas with Character Ambassadors, and Polar Bear Express ($2), Camel rides ($7), and Carousel rides ($2), plus Rudolph and friends appearances!
*some activities have additional costs
Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
The Zoo is open until 9 pm on Sunday-Thursday, and 10 pm on Friday and Saturday.
If you’re a member of Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, you can check out Wildlights a day early at Member Preview Night!
Need more holiday fun in Columbus?
- Subscribe to Columbus on the Cheap's email list
- Free and cheap events this weekend in Columbus
- Your Guide to Christmas and Holiday Events in Columbus
- Over 40 Holiday Art and Craft Festivals
- Turkey Trots and Holiday Races
- Christmas Tree Farms and Lots in Columbus
- Christmas Theater and Concerts in Columbus
- Breakfasts with Santa
- Photos with Santa
- Locations of Mailboxes for Letters to Santa
- Community Tree Lightings and Holiday Celebrations in Columbus
- Holiday Train Rides in Ohio: Santa Trains and Polar Express
- Free and Cheap Activities for Winter Break in Columbus
- Columbus Happy Hours
Most events are free; prices vary depending on activity; please check the Zoo website for details (choose events calendar and then select Wildlights and click on the “attractions” tab). https://columbuszoo.org/home/visit/plan-your-visit/event-calendar
Here are the ones from the Zoo website, but other activities also have fees, such as photos with Santa
Skate Rink: $4-$5 for skate rental or bring your own
Camel rides: $7
Polar Express and Carousel: $1
How much does tge extra activitys cost
As the article and the link for the Columbus Zoo states, it is on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18.
The event is on NOVEMBER 18 after 5 pm as stated in the post and on the Zoo website (link in post). This is not valid for the 20th.
I’m not affliated with the Zoo, so I can’t answer that question. Please call them directly. I would avoid glass jars of any kind.
So of I come on the 20th with 20 cans of food me my husband and two children over the age of two get in free then my two year old gets in free any day right?
Can you bring baby food instead of can foods?
So is the stuff a truck good drive on the 18 th or 20 th for free admission?
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years. Bring 5 items per person (canned and boxed is fine). You just have to show a can at the parking booth for free parking – nothing extra required.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
Thank you! That’s correct. The 20th was from 2015 and some of the old comments from last year seemed to have confused people.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years. Wildlights are in the evening after 5 pm, so hopefully you can make it Friday evening for the free admission with food drive.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years. I’m not sure what receipt you are referring to. If you bring 5 items per person, you will receive free admission to Wildlights. If you show a can at the parking booth, you’ll receive free parking as well.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016 as mentioned in the post. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
The date for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive for Wildlights is Friday, November 18, 2016. Any other dates that you see in the comments are from prior years.
There seems to be some confusion about the date due to comments from previous years. The date for 2016 is November 18. The other comments mentioning other dates are from prior years, as the posts are updated each year. I will make a note in the post to clear up any future confusion. Thanks!
Why does everyone keep saying the 20th, the description above says it’s only valid in the 18th.. Am I missing something??
The post says Nov. 18th for the free admission day and comments say the 20th which is it?!?
Why is everyone saying the 20th? When the post says the 18th? And do we need to show our receipt
So if we don’t have a membership what day would be free for us ? The 18th of November or any day other then the 19th?
Why does it say free admission and free parking with donation of food is only on Nov 18th and people are talking about Nov 20th. People work can’t do zoo unless weekend?????
So It says free admission is on the 18th but some comments say it is on the 20th???So what day is it on and free to non members with can goods?
OK is the free admission to the wildlights with the food drive the 18th or the 20th? At the top of the page says the 18th but in these comments people are saying the 20th.
The article i am seeing says free admission on Friday Nov 18th after 5pm. With 5 cans of food for the food drive. I see a couple people commented it’s Nov 20th. Im not seeing that.
You guys keep saying the 20th but, the article clearly says the food drive to get in free is on Friday Nov. 18th 5pm-close. Just thought you should clarify for everyone.
Am I missing something? Why do ppl in the comments keep saying Nov 20th, when the article says free admission on Nov 18th w/ food donation? Don’t want to show up on the wrong day! lol….
The article says it us valid on 11/18 only but the comments are saying 11/20. Which is the correct date for the free admission?
The article states the date for free admission with donation is the 18th but in the comments, the 20th is referred to multiple times……. Clarification please?
Why does it say that the free admission (with cans) is 5pm and after November 18th.. I have a long haul to get to Columbus so I’d rather not show up on the wrong day.
You keep saying the 20th but in the article up above it’s says that can food day is Friday November 18 th only….so I’m confused
The article says the 19th for free admission were r u guys geting the 20th
It says up top that it is only valid on the 18th? I keep seeing the 20?
why is everybody talking about the 20th when this article says the 18th
The article states free admission day with can goods is November 18th but your keep saying November 20th, which one is it?
Why in the commenrs keel saying Nov 20th is free admission after five but in the information at the top it says Friday the 18th if free admission?? I’d love to go but need to actual date of the food drive admission day..
Thank you.
If it is on the 20th wholly does the post above say Nov 18th…so which day is it
So is it friday the 18th like the article says or is it the 20th like your comments says i am confused?
i’m seeing the article says free administration is only on Friday November 18? but in the comments i am seeing free administration for the 20th? is the food drive for the 18th or the 20th?
I just noticed that all the comments are dated 2015.
The article above says the free admission with canned food, is only on November 18th. In the comments, the 19th and 20th are mentioned. What is the correct date?
So the stuff a truck food drive is November 20th that Sunday right after 5pm? And we bring 5 items per person and what all does non perishable include? Canned and boxed food? And do we donate extra to get free parking??
Many different answers…Is the Free Load the Truck on the 20th for non members?????After 5pm…right??
So the article says 18th comments say 20th. Wixh day is free for the food drive.
Is the free admission the 18th or the 20th? The add says the 18th but a post in here says the 20th. Just need it clarified. Thanks
You keep saying Nov 20th but the article says Nov 18th, which night is it?
The paragraph talking about free admission says November 18th not the 20th. So which day is free for cans of food?
The article says free admission is November 18th with donated food; however everyone, including zoo admin. are commenting that it is Nov. 20th. Which date is it?
The ad says the 18th is the free night with presentation of canned goods, but some are saying the 20th so which day is free with canned food?
that is awesome to help others for the food drive Thank you for doing this.
The 19th is a members only event, just an FYI.
During this free admission to the wildlights on the 20th, what are the hours of operation?
FYI, you have to have a Zoo membership to see the Wildlights on Nov. 19th.