Alpine Zoo Wild Lights
Welcome to Alpine Zoo Wild Lights, a journey through light, story, and wildlife. Presented by Visit Big Bear, benefitting Care for Big Bear and the Big Bear Alpine Zoo.
This winter, the Big Bear Alpine Zoo shines under the glow of two million sparkling lights. Alpine Zoo Wild Lights invites families, nature lovers, and holiday dreamers to come together in a spectacular celebration of light and wildlife! Stroll through a glowing forest filled with twinkling trees, shimmering snowmen, glittering ornaments, and radiant archways of color.
Event Date, Time & Place
Location:
Big Bear Alpine Zoo, 42801 Moonridge Rd.
Dates & Times:
Open Wednesday - Sunday, 5 PM - 9 PM, November 6 - January 4, 2026
Price:
$20/ticket, Children under 5 and Big Bear Alpine Zoo membership holders get in FREE!
A Journey Through Light, Story, and the Alpine Night Sky
Guests will explore four immersive light zones, each designed to tell a story — celebrating wildlife, community, and the mountain’s shared spirit.
The Great Pine & Wilderness Gateway
As guests approach the Zoo, they’ll be greeted by a towering 100-foot pine shimmering in colored lights and setting the stage for what's to come. Starting at the Wilderness Gateway, a glowing archway welcomes guests to the Alpine Wild Lights experience. Stop to say hello to the Black Bears before posing for a photo with the Golden Teddy Bear. Shining street lamps lead the way to the performance stage where local singers will croon the night away with holiday classics. Look closely, the raccoons, mountain lions and birds might just be swaying to the music!
The Village of Light & Moonridge Coffee Cafe
Follow the Dickensian street lamps past the snow leopards and Nocturnal House to arrive at the Village of Light, a community plaza and playground twinkling with presents, walk-through ornaments, and holiday trees. Pause for a pastry, hot cocoa or spiked cider at the Moonridge Coffee Cafe before continuing through the festive landscape.
The North Pole Path
Along The North Pole Path, stop for photos at the 20-foot ornament, the colossal gift boxes, and family of glowing snowmen. Then climb aboard Santa’s Sleigh for a selfie before the Jolly Ol' Man flies away with it on Christmas Eve!
Care for Big Bear's Dark Sky Grove
Take a moment at the Dark Sky Grove to ponder the wonder that is our night sky. The Grove is assembled with glowing starbursts, planets, moons and shooting stars stretched across the landscape, resembling the night sky above. Entirely solar-powered, the Dark Sky Grove invites you to admire our celestial landscape that is a unique quality of Big Bear. Away from bright city lights, Big Bear enjoys nightly views of meteors, constellations and the Milky Way Galaxy. Photographers and astronomers are drawn to Big Bear for its quality dark skies. However, like our Earthly environment, our night sky is subject to threat - light pollution. Each light in the Dark Sky Grove symbolizes Big Bear’s commitment to the Dark Sky Initiative, a sustainability campaign working to reduce light pollution and its impacts on our wildlife. The result is a peaceful, celestial-inspired space that honors both the beauty and fragility of Big Bear’s alpine wilderness.
This event is made possible through the support of valued partners, including Big Bear Valley Recreation and Parks District, Big Bear Alpine Zoo, Big Bear Chamber of Commerce, S. Porter Inc., Big Bear Disposal, Big Bear Valley Electric Service, BrightLife Designs, Moonridge Coffee Co., Sessions Retreat & Hotel, and Freedom Arts Studio. Together, these partners have helped create a new holiday tradition for Big Bear.
About Visit Big Bear
Visit Big Bear is the destination marketing organization (DMO) for Big Bear Lake, named “#1 Best Lake in the U.S.” by USA Today in 2025. The organization drives tourism, event production, marketing, and community stewardship for Southern California’s premier four-season mountain destination welcoming over 7.5 million visitors annually. Visit Big Bear leads the region’s hospitality and recreation strategy, connecting visitors and locals alike to the magic of the mountains.
About The Big Bear Alpine Zoo
The Big Bear Alpine Zoo is the highest-elevation zoo in the United States and one of two zoos in the US specializing in the rehabilitation and release of injured, orphaned, and imprinted wild animals. Managed by the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District, the Zoo is home to more than 100 animals across 40 species, including mountain lions, grizzly bears, eagles, owls, and wolves — all of which cannot be released back into the wild. The Zoo provides educational programs, guided tours, and conservation initiatives that inspire visitors to protect wildlife and the natural ecosystems of Southern California’s mountains. Learn more at www.bigbearzoo.org.
About Care For Big Bear
Care for Big Bear is the sustainable tourism and stewardship initiative powered by Visit Big Bear. Dedicated to preserving the natural environment that supports our tourism economy, this initiative connects our conservation experts, our volunteer programs, and our local businesses to preserve Big Bear's natural beauty, wildlife, and community character. Learn more about Care For Big Bear.