1M-plus lights: ZooTampa brings back Christmas in the Wild

Larger-than-life lighted animal sculptures, 17 holiday-themed areas and a 30-foot Christmas tree that performs four light shows an hour will all greet guests inside ZooTampa at Lowry Park’s annual nighttime holiday festivities, the zoo announced.  

The park’s Christmas in the Wild event returns to ZooTampa at Lowry Park Nov. 27 for a 19-night run through Dec. 30. The Geico-sponsored event, known for its signature, one million plus Christmas light displays, has been nominated by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards since 2024 for Best Zoo Lights, the park says. 

Christmas in the Wild is free for ZooTampa members and Zoo Fun ticket holders, according to the announcement. General admission tickets for the event, which starts after 4 p.m., cost $34.95 before service fees. 

Guests can expect some new surprises at this year’s event, the park says. The magical town of Evergreen Falls will greet visitors with picture-perfect decorated home fronts, a Christmas tree lot and holiday decor that seems ripped from your favorite yuletide films, the park says. Snow Angel Overlook will turn sunny Florida into a frozen blue wonderland filled with sparkling lights and special effects where guests can meet “the majestic ice angel princess,” the release says. 

The festivities all center on an expanded Jingle Bell Circle in the heart of the park, where a 30-foot tall Christmas tree decorated with thousands of brilliantly-colored lights choreographed to seasonal music will dazzle visitors with four continuous shows every hour. Be on the lookout for a rare Tampa snowfall, the zoo says, as well as special appearances by the Snow Queen.

Returning attractions include Santa visits, cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus on North Pole Lane and a dance party based on Tchaikovsky's “The Nutcracker.” Encounters with an African penguin or a greater one-horned rhino cost extra, the release says. 

The holiday event also gives guests a chance to experience the ongoing expansion at the nonprofit zoo, which draws more than 1.2 million visitors annually, the park says. In March, ZooTampa debuted Florida Waters, its largest exhibit expansion to date, offering underwater views of rescued manatees and other native species. In October, Hillsborough County commissioners approved $75 million in Community Investment Tax funding for a 15-year renovation and expansion plan. The zoo says it will match county funding for the project.