San Diego Zoo Jungle Bells: Dates, Tips & What to Expect This Holiday Season

Jungle Bells is the San Diego Zoo’s annual holiday celebration, running from December 18, 2026 through January 3, 2027. Every evening during the event, the Zoo stays open until 8 p.m. with holiday lights, live entertainment, seasonal food, and visits with Santa, all included with regular admission or membership. Specific details for 2026 haven’t been announced yet, so this guide is based on what the Zoo offered in 2025.

I’m a San Diego local, a longtime Zoo member, and I’ve been attending Jungle Bells for years. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your visit.

If you’re looking for the Safari Park’s holiday event, that’s a separate celebration called Wild Holidays. I have a full guide to Wild Holidays at the Safari Park with all the details.

Jungle Bells 2026-2027 Dates & Hours

Jungle Bells 2026-2027 runs from December 18, 2026 through January 3, 2027. The San Diego Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on event dates, with holiday lights and entertainment running from approximately 5 to 8 p.m.

The full event schedule hasn’t been released yet, but the Zoo follows a similar pattern each year. Based on the 2025-2026 season:

• Santa’s Factory opens in late November on select dates before the main event starts (noon to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving weekend, noon to 4 p.m. on the first two weekends of December, noon to 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve)
• The full Jungle Bells lineup with lights, shows, and all entertainment runs nightly from about December 19 through January 4
• The San Diego Zoo is open on Christmas Day with Jungle Bells running as usual

I’ll update this post with the full 2026-2027 schedule once it’s announced in the fall. Check the official Jungle Bells page for the latest.

Jungle Bells Tickets & How to Save

Jungle Bells is included with any San Diego Zoo admission ticket or membership. You don’t need a separate event ticket.

I have a full guide to San Diego Zoo discount tickets with current ways to save on admission through authorized ticket sellers.

What to See & Do at Jungle Bells

Jungle Bells features three holiday light experiences, live entertainment across several areas of the San Diego Zoo, Santa photos, and seasonal food and drinks.

Most of the festivities are in the lower part of the Zoo near Front Street. The entertainment lineup can change slightly from year to year, but here’s what to expect based on the last season.

Holiday Light Treks

Jungle Bells features three immersive light display areas that run continuously from 5 to 8 p.m. These are the main reasons to stay after dark.

Holiday Light Discovery takes you through Tiger Trail in the Lost Forest, where you’ll find the Painted Jungle, Rainbow Forest, and Laser Trail. These are paths with special effects, colorful lights, and seasonal surprises. This area tends to be a favorite with kids.

Holiday Light Celebration stretches from the Bus Tour unloading area all the way to the Outback along Front Street. It’s an interactive lighted pathway lined with glowing “treats,” oversized presents, and shimmering displays. Great photo ops all along this stretch.

Holiday Light Symphony is in the Cactus Garden near Upper Africa Rocks. This one is interactive, and you can set the lights and music in motion. It’s a fun, hands-on experience that kids and adults enjoy.

You want to stay past sunset to get the full effect. The light displays are the highlight of the evening and the main reason Jungle Bells is worth visiting after dark.

Live Entertainment

Jungle Bells includes a full lineup of live entertainment across several areas of the San Diego Zoo, starting in the late afternoon. These show times and locations are from the 2025-2026 season. The lineup is usually similar year to year, but check the San Diego Zoo app or website for the confirmed 2026 schedule.

Jingle Brass is a holiday brass ensemble that plays jazzy takes on seasonal favorites at the Front Street Stage. They perform four times per evening (4:30, 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 p.m.) with 25-minute sets. This is usually the first thing you hear when you arrive and sets the mood right away.

Reindeer Games is an interactive family show at Front Street Stage with holiday games and dances. Performances are at 5, 6, and 7 p.m. (25 minutes each). It’s a good time for kids to burn off some energy.

Jack Frost Juggler roams through Wildlife Explorers Basecamp with an impressive juggling act. Shows run at 4, 5, 6, and 7 p.m. for about 30 minutes.

Holiday Troubadour is a strolling acoustic guitarist who performs holiday sing-alongs through Wildlife Explorers Basecamp at 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30 p.m.

Toy Shop Hop is an acrobatic show starring Santa’s high-flying elves at Sydney’s Grill in the Urban Jungle area. It’s a short but impressive display of flips and bouncing, running at 3, 4, 5, and 6 p.m. (15 minutes each). You can plan your dinner around it since Sydney’s Grill has burgers, BBQ, and seating right there.

Dr. Harry & His Holiday Friends brings out costumed Zoo characters including Dr. Harry Lion, Churchill Polar Bear, and Sydney Koala at the Boardwalk Beer Garden. They’re available for photos at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. This is a popular photo spot for families with young kids.

Holiday Harmonies is a talented a cappella quartet at the Boardwalk Beer Garden performing at 5:30, 6, 6:30, and 7 p.m. (20 minutes). Their finale includes a dusting of winter “snow,” which is a fun surprise.

Dr. Zoolittle’s One Wild Night Before Christmas is a zany, interactive retelling of the classic holiday story at the Africa Rocks Stage. Performances at 4, 5, 6, and 7 p.m. (20 minutes). Kids love the silly humor and audience participation.

Santa at Jungle Bells

Santa is available for photos at Santa’s Factory in the Price Education Center (Lost Forest area of the San Diego Zoo). In 2025, Santa’s schedule at Jungle Bells was:

• November 28-30 (Thanksgiving weekend): Noon to 6 p.m.
• December 6-7 and December 13-14: Noon to 4 p.m.
• December 19-23 and December 25: Noon to 8 p.m.
• December 24: Noon to 4 p.m.

Santa arrives weeks before the main Jungle Bells event starts, so you don’t have to wait until mid-December for a visit. Expect a similar schedule for 2026.

Jungle Bells Food & Drinks

Jungle Bells features seasonal food and drinks available only during the event, including holiday churros, specialty hot chocolates, and cocktails at Albert’s Restaurant. The menu changes from year to year, but here’s what the 2025-2026 season looked like.

Sweets & Hot Drinks

• Spiral Churro Sundae at Sandwich Company
• Caramel Toffee Pretzel at Treetops Canteen
• Gingerbread Latte at Sweets and Treats
• Toasted Marshmallow Hot Chocolate at Java Cart
• Cajeta Hot Chocolate at Zoo Brew
• Cold Foam Sodas at Busy Bee Cocktails

Cocktails & Mocktails at Albert’s Restaurant

• Blizzard Lizard (mocktail)
• Mistle Toad
• Snowman-atee
• Jungle Bears

The holiday-exclusive items are typically only available during Jungle Bells dates, so they’re worth trying if something catches your eye. Prices run a bit higher than the regular Zoo menu.

Tips for Visiting Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo

Arrive by 3-4 p.m. to see animals first
Wildlife viewing at the San Diego Zoo is limited after 5 p.m. during Jungle Bells, and the last Guided Bus Tour departs at 4 p.m. Get there in the early-to-mid afternoon so you can see animals while it’s still light out, then transition into the holiday activities as the sun goes down.

Stay after dark
The light displays are the highlight of Jungle Bells, and they don’t come to life until sunset (around 4:45-5 p.m. in December). If you leave at dusk, you’ll miss the best parts of the event.

Dress in layers
San Diego weather in December can feel mild during the day, but temperatures drop quickly after sunset, especially in Balboa Park. A warm jacket and comfortable shoes are essential since you’ll be walking outdoors for several hours.

Go on a weeknight if possible
The week between Christmas and New Year’s is busy, but weeknights like a Tuesday or Wednesday tend to be less crowded than weekends. The first few nights of the event (around December 19-20) are often less packed than the holiday week.

Download the San Diego Zoo app
It includes the Jungle Bells schedule, show times, a GPS-enabled map, and dining locations. You can plan your route between shows so you don’t miss anything.

Know the parking situation
As of January 2026, the San Diego Zoo charges for parking: $16 per vehicle for non-residents, $8 for City of San Diego residents, and free for Wildlife Alliance members who register their vehicle online. This is a change from previous years when parking was free for everyone.

Don’t try to see everything
There’s a lot happening at Jungle Bells across different areas of the Zoo. Rather than rushing between every show, pick a few performances that interest you, enjoy the light treks at a relaxed pace, grab a holiday drink, and soak up the atmosphere.

Jungle Bells vs. Wild Holidays at the Safari Park

Jungle Bells and Wild Holidays are separate holiday events at two different San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance parks. Jungle Bells is at the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park. Wild Holidays is at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, about 35 miles northeast.

Jungle Bells is more of an urban holiday experience. It’s compact, the shows are close together, and the focus is more on lights and entertainment. It’s in Balboa Park, so it’s an easy add-on if you’re already in the city, and you can combine it with other holiday events in San Diego.

Wild Holidays at the Safari Park is more spread out and quieter. The focus is more on walking paths of lights through the park’s natural setting. It gets noticeably colder there at night since the Safari Park is inland, but the atmosphere is more immersive.

Both events are included with admission and run on a similar schedule. If you can only do one, Jungle Bells offers a wider variety of entertainment and is more convenient for visitors staying in central San Diego. If you prefer a more relaxed, nature-focused experience and don’t mind the drive, Wild Holidays is a beautiful evening out.

FAQ About Jungle Bells

This post will be updated with the confirmed 2026-2027 schedule, entertainment lineup, and food menus once they’re announced by the San Diego Zoo, typically in the fall.

Jungle Bells photos are courtesy of San Diego Zoo.