Glowfari Lights Up the Night at the Oakland Zoo
The Oakland Zoo is the place to be this holiday season for the return of Glowfari, a family-friendly outdoor experience that features hundreds of giant, glowing, LED-illuminated animal lanterns throughout the zoo. We had a chance to check out this year's Glowfari last weekend, and it was an amazing, magical, nighttime experience that everyone in the family will enjoy! It's also totally different than previous years' versions, with all-new lanterns depicting denizens of the Bayou, the arctic, the deep ocean, North America's forests, Madagascar, and more. Glowfari is open now and on view through January 28, 2024.
Enter the zoo and take a mile-long walk through an array of dazzling illuminated lanterns depicting plants and animals ranging from life-size alligators, sharks, and bison to larger-than-life birds, insects, and fish. Many of the lanterns are animated too, moving realistically and changing color as you watch.
Make sure you board one of the zoo's lighted gondolas to travel up the hill behind the zoo to visit the California Trail area, where you can explore the underwater world of the Arctic, with animals like polar bears and caribou. The nighttime ride up on the gondola is always a thrill, and the views of the lights of Oakland and the entire Bay Area are unforgettable, too.
Our favorite part of Glowfari was the Bayou section, which features a wide variety of swamp dwelling animals. Walk into the mouth of a huge, larger than life alligator, swing on lighted LED swings, play games and more. The glowing, moving "fireflies" are really amazing and create an incredible visible impression. Make sure you walk up the hill through the giant illuminated tunnel for amazing views of this magical glowing world.
On your way out, head to the Adventure Landing rides area, where you can board the zoo's Outback Express train and experience the wildlife of the island of Madagascar. Santa Claus himself will be there for visits during the month of November and December 1–23 from 6 to 9:30 pm.
Glowfari is really an incredible experience, and you'll find new and more wonderful surprises around every corner. We had a great time exploring the zoo at night and marveling at all the colorful and brilliant lanterns. It's a highly recommended holiday experience for everyone in the family! To learn more about Glowfari and the Oakland Zoo and to reserve your tickets, visit www.oaklandzoo.org.
If You Go
Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo is open now through January 28, 2024. Glowfari takes place in the evenings from 5–9 pm.
Timed and dated tickets are required and cost $26 for adults 15–64 and $22 for children 2–14 and seniors 65–75. Admission is free for children under 2 and seniors over 76 (tickets are still required). Oakland Zoo members receive a 10% discount. Parking is included. Tickets will go on sale on a rolling basis 28 days before the entry date. Advance tickets are required for all visitors. Order your tickets online.
Glowfari takes place entirely outside, so make sure you dress warmly and wear good walking shoes. Strollers, wheelchairs, and electric mobility scooters are available for rent. The zoo's restaurants, snack spots, and gift shop will be open during Glowfari. Zoo animals will not be on view during Glowfari.
The Oakland Zoo is located at 9777 Golf Links Road in Oakland 94605. To get there from Marin, take Highway 101 to Highway 580 in San Rafael and head east over the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge. Follow 580 through the MacArthur Maze to Oakland and follow the signs for 580 East Downtown Oakland/Hayward/Stockton. Continue on 580 until you reach the Golf Links Road exit (Exit 29A). Turn left onto Golf Links Road and then right into the Oakland Zoo and follow the road to the parking area.
