Wild Holidays is the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s annual holiday celebration, and it transforms the Escondido park into a glowing winter wonderland on select evenings from late November through early January. The 2026-2027 season runs on select dates from November 27, 2026 through January 3, 2027.
Unlike a lot of holiday events around San Diego, Wild Holidays is included with regular Safari Park admission or membership. There’s no separate ticket required. The park stays open until 8 p.m. on event nights, with holiday festivities kicking off around 4 p.m. It’s a really nice way to experience the Safari Park after dark, which most visitors never get to do.
If you’re looking for info about the San Diego Zoo’s holiday event, that’s a separate celebration called Jungle Bells. I have a full guide to Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo covering everything you need to know. This post is all about Wild Holidays at the Safari Park.
Wild Holidays Dates & Hours
Wild Holidays 2026-2027 runs on select dates from November 27, 2026 through January 3, 2027. Specific event nights and hours haven’t been announced yet, but the Safari Park typically follows a similar pattern each year.
Based on the 2025-2026 season, you can expect Wild Holidays on these types of dates:
- Thanksgiving weekend (Friday through Sunday)
- Select weekends in early-to-mid December (daytime only, no extended hours)
- Nightly from around December 19 through December 23
- Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (shortened hours, typically 10 a.m.-3 p.m.)
- Nightly from December 26 through early January
On the main Wild Holidays evenings, the Safari Park stays open until 8 p.m. with festivities starting at 4 p.m. On the early December weekends, the park closes at its regular 5 p.m. time with holiday decorations up but no evening programming.
I’ll update this information with the exact 2026-2027 dates and hours once they’re announced, which is usually in the fall. Check the official Wild Holidays page for the latest schedule.
This guide focuses specifically on holiday events at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. For a bigger roundup of parades, light displays, markets, and events across the county, see our complete guide to Christmas in San Diego.
Tickets & How to Save
Wild Holidays activities and entertainment are included with any Safari Park admission ticket or membership. You don’t need a separate event ticket.
I have a full guide to San Diego Zoo Safari Park discount tickets with my promo code for savings on 1-Day tickets through aRes Travel, an authorized ticket seller.
If you’re thinking about doing both Wild Holidays at the Safari Park and Jungle Bells at the Zoo on separate nights, the 2-Visit Pass is a great option. It includes one visit to each park (or two visits to the same park) and is valid for a full year from purchase. Both holiday events are included with admission, so no extra cost beyond your pass.
What to See & Do
The entertainment and light display lineup can change from year to year, but Wild Holidays has followed a consistent format. Here’s what to expect based on the 2025-2026 season. We’ll update it with 2026-2027 information as soon as it’s available.
The event is spread across several areas of the park, so it’s less of a single show and more of an evening stroll through various light displays, entertainment, and food options.
Light Displays
The highlight for most visitors is the light displays scattered throughout the park. The Bridge of Lights is a walk-through tunnel of light set to music on the Safari Walk Bridge. It runs continuously from 5 to 8 p.m. and is a favorite photo spot.
In Safari Base Camp, the Light Up the Holidays choreographed light show runs multiple times per evening. The Carol of the Bells Medley plays at 5, 6, 7, and 8 p.m., with a Jingle Bells and More Medley at 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 p.m. The Wild Holidays Celebration Tree is also here, a giant Safari Park-themed tree with wildlife-inspired ornaments.
Over in Nairobi Village, the Nairobi Lantern Walk is an illuminated path with lanterns that dance to a musical soundtrack. Nearby, the Enchanted Lagoon at Mombasa Lagoon adds floating holiday lights and a lighted waterfall.
Further into the park, the Forest of Color along Arbor Walk illuminates Condor Valley in holiday lights. The Baja Garden in World Gardens glows with holiday cheer through the Southwest-style plantings. Several other locations are decorated with themed lighted trees as part of the Spirit of the Season displays, including Tiger Trail, Walkabout Australia, and Condor Ridge.
Entertainment
Safari Parker’s reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Wild Holidays is a fun one for families. It’s an interactive 20-minute storytelling session in Village Playground (Nairobi Village) at 4, 5, 6, and 7 p.m. that ends with a wintery finale.
Throughout the evening you’ll also find the Holiday Troubadour, an acoustic musician performing in Nairobi Village, and the Turtle Doves, a violin duo playing holiday favorites along Nairobi Walk. The Sweater Weather guitar duo roams through World Gardens and Walkabout Australia with their own spin on holiday classics.
Tune your radio to Safari Park Radio 197.2 FM when you arrive for a mix of holiday music that plays throughout the park from 4 to 8 p.m.
Santa
Santa is available for photos at Safari Base Camp on select dates throughout the Wild Holidays season. In 2025, his schedule varied by date:
- Main Wild Holidays evenings: Noon to 8 p.m.
- Early December weekends: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
He takes scheduled breaks throughout the day (for things like “Zoom calls with elves” and “toy inventory”), so check the posted times when you arrive. Expect a similar schedule for 2026-2027.
Holiday Food & Drinks
There are seasonal food and drink offerings throughout the park during Wild Holidays. The menu changes from year to year, but here are some highlights from the 2025 season to give you an idea of what to expect.
Standouts included the Cookie Butter Cinnamon Roll and Wild Holiday Churro Fry Sundae at Thorntree Terrace, the Arctic Blast frozen treat at Kalahari Cupboard, peppermint bark at Macan Market, and a variety of gourmet hot chocolates.
For adults, the Cinnamon Apple Mule cocktail on tap at Oasis on the Rocks was a popular pick, along with other craft cocktails available at several locations.
Tips for Visiting Wild Holidays
Dress warmly
This is the tip that catches visitors off guard the most. The Safari Park is in Escondido, inland and at a slightly higher elevation than coastal San Diego. Temperatures drop noticeably after sunset, and since the whole event is outdoors with a lot of walking, layers are essential. Bring a jacket even if the daytime weather feels mild.
Arrive by 3-4 p.m. if you want to see animals
Wildlife viewing is limited after 4 p.m. during Wild Holidays, and the last Africa Tram departs at 4 p.m. If seeing animals is part of your plan, get there early enough to ride the tram and walk the habitats before the holiday festivities take over.
Aim for weeknights between Dec 26 and Jan 3
The nightly run after Christmas tends to be less crowded than the pre-Christmas event dates. If you can go on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening during that stretch, you’ll have more breathing room at the light displays and shorter waits for food.
Wear comfortable walking shoes
The park is 1,800 acres, and even though you won’t cover all of it during Wild Holidays, the event areas are spread out. You’ll be on your feet for a few hours on paths that include some hills.
Download the Safari Park app
Do this before you go, no matter when you visit. It has a Wild Holidays event map showing where all the displays, entertainment, and food options are located.
Parking is $20 per car
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance members get complimentary parking by registering their vehicle in advance through the member portal. Preferred parking closer to the entrance is available for an additional $25.
Wild Holidays vs. Jungle Bells at the Zoo
If you’re trying to decide between the two holiday events, or wondering if you should do both, here’s how they compare.
Wild Holidays at the Safari Park is more spread out and nature-focused. The light displays wind through gardens, walking paths, and open spaces, and the entertainment has a quieter, more acoustic feel. It’s a nice evening stroll with stops along the way.
Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo is more compact with a different vibe. The Zoo features a brass ensemble, the Painted Jungle and Rainbow Forest light trails, a laser trail, and other attractions packed into a smaller footprint.
Both are included with admission, and neither requires a separate event ticket. If you have a 2-Visit Pass, you can do Wild Holidays one evening and Jungle Bells on another. They’re different enough that doing both is worthwhile if you have the time. Check out my full Jungle Bells guide for details on the Zoo’s event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wild Holidays free with Safari Park admission?
Yes. All Wild Holidays activities, entertainment, and light displays are included with any valid Safari Park admission ticket or membership. There is no additional fee.
Is the Safari Park open on Christmas Day?
Yes. The Safari Park is open every day of the year, including Christmas. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, hours are typically shortened (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in 2025-2026) with limited Wild Holidays programming.
What time does Wild Holidays start?
Holiday festivities begin at 4 p.m. on Wild Holidays event nights. Light displays and most entertainment run from 5 to 8 p.m.
Can you see animals during Wild Holidays?
Wildlife viewing is limited after 4 p.m. The last Africa Tram departs at 4 p.m. If you want to see animals, plan to arrive earlier in the day.
Is Wild Holidays the same as Jungle Bells?
No. Wild Holidays takes place at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido. Jungle Bells is the separate holiday event at the San Diego Zoo near downtown San Diego.
They are run by the same organization (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) but feature different entertainment, light displays, and food offerings. run by the same organization (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) but feature different entertainment, light displays, and food offerings.
