San Diego Zoo Jungle Bells keeps the Zoo open after dark, with holiday lights, live music and entertainers, seasonal treats, and Santa photos on select days. It’s included with regular admission, so if you’re already planning a Zoo day over the holidays, staying for the lights costs nothing extra.
This season runs from December 18, 2026, through January 3, 2027, except Christmas Eve.
I’m a San Diego local, a longtime Zoo member, and I’ve been attending Jungle Bells for years. My advice is to see the animals in the afternoon and still be there at sunset, when the lights come on.
Jungle Bells Quick Facts
- Dates: Dec. 18, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, except Dec. 24
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (lights from 5 p.m. last season)
- Cost: Included with Zoo admission or membership
- Arrive: Early to mid-afternoon, to see animals in daylight
- Santa: Last day was Christmas Day in 2024 and 2025
- Where: 2920 Zoo Drive, Balboa Park
- Parking: $16; $8 for registered City of San Diego residents; free for registered members
Jungle Bells 2026-2027 Dates & Hours
The first Jungle Bells night is December 18, and the last is January 3, 2027. Each one ends at 8 p.m., Christmas Day included. On Christmas Eve, the Zoo closes at 4 p.m. and the evening event does not run.
Show times and Santa’s Factory dates for 2026 will be on the Zoo’s official Jungle Bells page.
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.
The exception is the San Diego Resident and Wildlife Protector memberships, which have blockout dates (their Premium versions do not). In 2026, only December 18, 21, and 22 of the Jungle Bells nights are open to those two levels, and the January dates aren’t posted yet. Check the Zoo’s blockout calendar before you pick a night.
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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.
Holiday Light Treks
The lights come on at sunset, and last season all three areas ran continuously until closing, with no set times to plan around.
Holiday Light Discovery takes you through Tiger Trail in the Lost Forest, where the Painted Jungle, Rainbow Forest, and Laser Trail are paths of colorful lights and special effects. 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, with good photo spots from one end to the other.
Holiday Light Symphony is in the Cactus Garden near Upper Africa Rocks, where you can set the lights and music in motion yourself. It’s a fun, hands-on experience that kids and adults enjoy.
Live Entertainment
The shows below are last season’s lineup, and all but one also ran in 2024. The first show started in the mid-afternoon and most repeated several times before closing, so check the San Diego Zoo app or the Zoo’s Jungle Bells page for the 2026 show times.
- Jingle Brass is a holiday brass ensemble that plays jazzy takes on seasonal favorites at the Front Street Stage. It’s usually the first thing you hear when you arrive, and it sets the mood right away.
- Reindeer Games is an interactive family show at the Front Street Stage with holiday games and dances. 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.
- Holiday Troubadour is a strolling acoustic guitarist who performs holiday sing-alongs through Wildlife Explorers Basecamp.
- Toy Shop Hop is an acrobatic show starring Santa’s high-flying elves at Sydney’s Grill. It’s a short but impressive display of flips and bouncing, and you can plan 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, for photos at the Boardwalk Beer Garden. Last season they came out only twice a day, both times in the late afternoon, so put this one first if your kids want the photo.
- Holiday Harmonies is a talented a cappella quartet at the Boardwalk Beer Garden. 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. 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 the last two seasons, Santa’s schedule followed the same pattern:
- Santa’s Factory opened the day after Thanksgiving and stayed open through that weekend.
- It reopened on select weekends in December, before the evening event began.
- Once Jungle Bells started, Santa was there every day through Christmas Day, with evening hours on event nights and a shorter day on Christmas Eve.
In both seasons, a visit after Christmas meant the lights and shows without him.
Jungle Bells Food & Drinks
Jungle Bells features seasonal food and drinks, 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
Get there in the early-to-mid afternoon so you can see the animals while it’s still light out, then move on to the holiday activities as the sun goes down. In 2024, the Zoo’s Jungle Bells page noted that wildlife viewing was limited once the lights came on and that the last Guided Bus Tour left in the late afternoon. The San Diego Zoo app lists each day’s last departure.
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 are often less packed than the holiday week.
Download the San Diego Zoo app
The San Diego Zoo app includes the Jungle Bells schedule, show times, a GPS-enabled map, and dining locations. You can plan your route between the shows you want to see.
Know the parking situation
Since January 2026, the San Diego Zoo has charged for parking in its lot, with a lower rate for City of San Diego residents who register in advance and free parking for Wildlife Alliance members who register their vehicle online. Parking there used to be free for everyone, so plan for the fee if you last visited before 2026.
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, and grab a holiday drink.
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, and Wild Holidays is about 35 miles northeast of it, at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido.
Jungle Bells is more of an urban holiday experience. It’s compact, the shows are close together, and the focus is on lights and entertainment. 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 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.
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
What is Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo?
Jungle Bells is the San Diego Zoo’s annual holiday event featuring light displays, live entertainment, seasonal food and drinks, and Santa visits. It takes place in the evenings from mid-December through early January, and all activities are included with Zoo admission or membership.
When is Jungle Bells 2026?
The 2026 season starts Friday, December 18, and ends Sunday, January 3, 2027, with no Jungle Bells on Christmas Eve. Santa’s Factory opened weeks earlier in each of the past two seasons, on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Is Jungle Bells free with San Diego Zoo admission?
Yes. All Jungle Bells activities, entertainment, and light displays are included with any San Diego Zoo admission ticket or membership. There is no additional cost. The San Diego Resident and Wildlife Protector memberships (not their Premium versions) are the exception on their blockout dates, which in 2026 cover most Jungle Bells nights.
Is the San Diego Zoo open on Christmas Day?
Yes. The Zoo opens every day of the year, holidays included, and Jungle Bells runs on December 25. December 24 is a short day in 2026, with a 4 p.m. close and no Jungle Bells that night. Santa’s Factory also kept shorter hours on December 24 in each of the past two seasons.
What time does Jungle Bells start?
Last season the light treks came on at 5 p.m. and ran until the 8 p.m. close, and the first show started at 3 p.m. Gates open at 9 a.m., which leaves time for the animals before dark.
Can I see the San Diego Zoo pandas during Jungle Bells?
Panda viewing may have limited availability during evening hours. I think the best plan is to see the San Diego Zoo pandas earlier in the day and then stay for Jungle Bells after dark.
This post will be updated with the 2026-2027 entertainment lineup, Santa’s Factory dates, and holiday menu once the San Diego Zoo announces them.
Jungle Bells photos are courtesy of San Diego Zoo.
