Christmas for the Animals + Zoo Lights
Sunday, December 21st, 2025
Event activities from 10am-5pm, Zoo Lights from 5-8pm
Christmas for the Animals is our longest-running Alaska Zoo tradition, dating back to the 1970’s. We gather to enjoy a bonfire, photos with Santa, holiday activities, and most important - visitors bring food donations to stuff large stockings at all of the animal habitats. Bring a sled, load it up with food items from our animal donation list and stuff stockings to support the animals.
Partner: Best Beginnings will be hosting a candy cane scavenger hunt with prizes and Storytime with Santa.
Admissions
Regular Admission at the gate from 10-5pm, Zoo Lights ticket prices from 5-8pm. Members get in free all day, including Zoo Lights.
This event is truly a Christmas for the Animals celebration as we ask visitors to bring frozen fish, frozen meat, produce and other items from our donation list. Bring your donations on a sled, then take them to the large stockings hung with care at the animal habitats. Stuff their stockings and wish them a happy holiday. Large or heavy donation items can be dropped off in a cart near the admissions entrance. Volunteers will stop picking up donations and stockings will come down at 5pm. Please bring your donations by 5pm
Timeline
10am-5pm: Trendy Eats food truck behind Greenhouse, with seating and warm ups for guests in the Greenhouse.
1-3pm: Petting Zoo
1-5pm: Photos with Santa in the Discovery Center
2pm & 4pm: Santa Storytime in the Discovery Center
10am-8pm: Bonfire by old admissions with caroling from Noon-1pm by O’Malley Elementary School
10am-5pm: Visitors stuff the stockings for animals at their habitats
1-5pm: Candy Cane Scavenger Hunt hosted by Best Beginnings
5-8pm: Zoo Lights (members receive FREE Zoo Lights, join our zoo family here)