Over 70k attended Riverbanks Zoo holiday lights show. See it before it’s gone

Don’t want to say goodbye to Christmas just yet? Then consider catching the last weekend of Wild Lights, a massive walk-through holiday light show at Columbia’s Riverbanks Zoo.

This weekend is the last chance to see the holiday spectacle until it comes back at the end of 2026. More than 70,000 people have attended the Wild Lights show this year, said Amanda Scoria, the zoo’s events and marketing specialist. Including expected sales for the last weekend, that number should be slightly higher than last year’s numbers, Scoria said.

The last weekend of the show should be less busy than over the holidays, Scoria added, and also noted the zoo has a handful of open spots for rentable VIP igloos that have been sold out since December. A limited number of those spots are available today and Friday.

More than 60 oversized wildlife lanterns are spread throughout the zoo during the annual holiday lights show. This year, the zoo added even more lights, and Scoria said some attendees said it was the event’s best year. Riverbanks has been holding the Wild Lights event since 2023, and for 35 years before that it had been adorning the property in Christmas lights.

Here’s what you need to know if you want to see the show before it’s over:

When and where?

• The last weekend of Riverbanks Zoo’s holiday lights show begins Thursday night and runs nightly through Sunday, Jan. 11.
• The event runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night.
• Riverbanks Zoo is located at 500 Wildlife Parkway

What does it cost?

• Adults: $20.99 per person
• Children 2-12 years old: $15.99 per person
• Children under 2: Free

Tell me about the igloos

The VIP Igloo rentals cost $250 per night. Each rental includes:

• Wild Lights tickets (6)
• Special wristbands (6) for access to igloo from 5 to 8:30 p.m.
• Concierge service
• Private firepit
• S’mores kit
• Hot Chocolate (6)
• Outdoor games
• Bottled Water (6)

You can buy tickets, rent VIP igloos, and read more about the event at Riverbanks.org.

Morgan Hughes

The State

(803) 771-8330

Morgan Hughes covers Columbia news for The State. She previously reported on health, education and local governments in Wyoming. She has won awards in Wyoming and Wisconsin for feature writing and investigative journalism. Her work has also been recognized by the South Carolina Press Association.