Christmas at the Zoo, presented by Indiana Members Credit Union, lights up the Indianapolis Zoo each evening. Families can stroll through twinkling lights with hot cocoa and visit red pandas, penguins, the walrus and the arctic fox.
At Santa’s Magic Cottage, kids discover the magic key to the North Pole, share wishes with Santa and take a photo; the line closes one hour before the zoo closes. Santa’s Village and Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen add to the fun, and Festive Favorites food from Red Gold includes a Cup of Cheer hot chocolate in a refillable souvenir cup. Families can bring old holiday lights to the recycling bins at the entrance.
Sensory-friendly evenings on Dec. 2 and 16 offer lower sound, smell and lighting, free sensory bags and quiet rooms. Christmas at the Zoo is included with zoo admission, which is priced by date online, and parking is $10. The zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.