11/13/2026 to 01/03/2027
Step into an evening of light, wonder, music, warmth, and mountain magic at the Big Bear Alpine Zoo.
This year’s Wild Lights experience invites you to wander through a series of festive worlds, each with its own personality, color, and sense of discovery.
From classic Christmas charm and playful storybook scenes to artisan shopping, glowing wildlife, cozy gathering spaces, and starry skies, there’s more to explore around every turn.
Location: Big Bear Alpine Zoo, 42801 Moonridge Rd.
A Journey Through Light, Story, and the Alpine Night Sky
The Great Pine
Where the Night Begins to Glow
Your Wild Lights adventure begins beneath the towering 100-foot Great Pine, wrapped in brilliant color and glowing against the mountain night.
A returning favorite, the Great Pine is the first wow moment of the evening — a beacon of light welcoming guests into a world of holiday wonder.
A Grand Holiday Welcome
Step Into the Magic
Pass beneath glowing garland and classic red-and-gold arches as the Alpine Zoo transforms into a festive mountain wonderland.
The beloved oversized Teddy Bear welcomes guests into the experience, creating a cheerful first photo stop and setting the stage for everything still to come.
Follow the glow , the night is just getting started.
Classic Christmas
Warmth, Music & Mountain Cheer
Settle into the cozy feeling of Christmas in the mountains.
Gather around glowing fire pits, toast a s’more, enjoy live entertainment and holiday music, and spend a little time alongside some of the Zoo’s nocturnal residents.
Surrounded by classic holiday color, music, and the warmth of the fire, this is a place to linger, laugh, and simply enjoy the moment together.
Rudolph’s Storybook Adventure
Follow the Glow Into a Holiday Tale
Step into a bright and playful world where holiday stories come to life.
Colorful lights, whimsical displays, animated characters, and a festive playground create an adventure filled with imagination and discovery.
Familiar favorites including Rudolph, Bumble, and the misfit toys add another layer of fun for families exploring the experience together.
Bright, energetic, and full of childhood wonder, this is a place where holiday storytelling comes alive.
Twinkle & Toast
Warm Up. Raise a Glass. Capture the Moment.
Follow the glow to one of the coziest gathering spots of the night.
Sip hot cocoa, enjoy festive cocktails, beer, and delicious bites, then wander among larger-than-life holiday photo moments made for capturing a little Wild Lights magic.
Climb into the sleigh. Step into a glowing ornament. Find the perfect holiday backdrop. Then settle in for a little warmth before continuing your adventure.
Twinkle & Toast is your place to pause, connect, celebrate the season, and take home a memory or two.
Moonridge Winter Market
A Little Village of Holiday Treasures
Just beyond Twinkle & Toast, wander into a glowing mountain marketplace filled with handcrafted finds and one-of-a-kind gifts.
The Moonridge Winter Market brings together a curated collection of artisans and craftspeople offering original art, jewelry, ornaments, seasonal décor, handcrafted goods, and special treasures you won’t find just anywhere.
Under twinkling lights and festive garland, slow down, browse, and discover something meaningful to bring home — or wrap up for someone you love.
Candy Cane Lane
Bright, Playful & Full of Holiday Cheer
Follow a cheerful pathway glowing in crisp white, cool winter tones, and classic candy-cane red.
Candy Cane Lane brings a playful burst of holiday color to the night, creating a bright and festive stretch of the experience made for exploring, smiling, and snapping a few photos along the way.
Stop beneath the illuminated wings, strike a pose, and keep following the lights.
Wild Under the Stars
Where Wildlife Meets the Night Sky
As the holiday colors soften, the experience takes on a quieter, more celestial glow.
Walk beneath a canopy of twinkling lights designed to mimic a mountain night sky while wildlife-inspired scenes shine in shades of blue and cool white around you.
Wild Under the Stars celebrates two things that make Big Bear extraordinary, its wildlife and its beautiful alpine night sky.
Look up. Slow down. Let the night surround you.