Eat, Drink, Shop

Go Merrily Wild this Holiday Season

December 6, 2024*

It’s beginning to look, taste, and feel a lot like the holidays at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park. From spectacular lighting displays to jolly entertainment, the Zoo and the Safari Park are decked out in their seasonal finery and are ready to spread the spirit of the season—and the joy of celebrating wildlife conservation. As you enjoy the festive treats and attractions, you’ll also have the chance to find just the right gift for everyone on your list—including something special for you, too.

At the San Diego Zoo

Jungle Bells lights up the night select days in December (beginning the 13th) and January 1–5, 2025. And since the Zoo is dressed to the nines, you may want to do likewise! The gift shops at the Zoo (and ShopZoo.com) made their list and checked it twice, so you should check out the new Deck the Palms line of apparel. The comfy tees and spirit jerseys will look great in holiday photos—and even better with a fun, fuzzy ear-adorned Santa hat and colorful light-up bulb necklace. Once you’ve gifted yourself with a new holiday ’fit, get a head start on your gift list. With clothing, plushies, housewares, collectibles, and more dedicated to species of all kinds, you’re sure to find something for the whole family.

The San Diego Zoo's gift shops (and ShopZoo.com) have something wildly merry for everyone on your gift list.

The merriment begins just inside the Zoo entrance, where Jingle Brass sets the holiday mood with seasonal tunes on the Front Street Stage. The interactive fun of Reindeer Games also takes place at Front Street Stage for holiday activities and dances. Since all that fun works up an appetite, it’s a good thing the nearby Sandwich Company will feature the spiced gooeyness of Apple Maple Bourbon Cinnamon Rolls, and Safari Kitchen is cooking up Blitzen’s Chicken Sandwich to help quiet those rumbly tummies. Before you head for Wildlife Explorers Basecamp for more merriment, duck into the Kid’s Store and pick up an on-the-go delight like Holiday Cookies and Homemade Fudge from Sweets and Treats. Once you’re in Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, take the time to revel in gold, copper, turquoise, and green lighting throughout, oversized ornaments hanging in the trees, holiday wreaths near Busy Bee Café, and the appearance of a giant snowflake projected on the water globe. Watch for the prince of winter—our Jack Frost Juggler—as he shows off amazing skills juggling “snowballs and icicles,” bringing humor, fun, and a little magical winter chill. You’re also likely to cross paths with our strolling Holiday Troubadour, performing classic seasonal songs—and inviting you to sing along!

Jungle Bells includes treats for all the senses—from the high-flying acrobatics of Toy Shop Hop to sweet snacks like a Peppermint Chocolate Churro or Peppermint Shake.

More seasonal merriment awaits near Urban Jungle and Australian Outback, where light displays and festive décor offer the perfect backdrop for holiday photos. Sip on Rudolph’s Red Nose Special Cocktail at the Boardwalk Beer Garden or tuck into a Holiday Chili Bowl from Sydney’s Grill as you enjoy the Boardwalk Stage’s jolly entertainment including photo ops with Dr. Harry and His Holiday Friends, the a cappella tunes of The Tinseltones, and the exciting acrobatics of Toy Shop Hop behind Sydney’s Grill. After the show, bounce on over to Albert’s Restaurant, which is brimming with holiday spirits—such as The Reindeer, which mixes spicy vodka and espresso with gingerbread syrup and adds the bite-size deliciousness of bombolini. Another special sippable is Albert’s Mistletoe Martini, a combination of vodka citron, triple sec, and lemon juice—adorned with rosemary, fresh cranberries, and granulated sugar. Albert’s is also offering a three-course holiday prix fixe meal with wine pairings available.

And no holiday excursion would be complete without a visit to Santa’s Factory at the Price Education Center, where the jolly ol’ elf himself awaits to hear wishes and take photos. Time for a little festive fortification? Stop by Treetops Canteen for something sweet like a Chocolate Peppermint Churro, or a little more savory ala Treetops Bistro’s Candy Cane Caprese. What goes nicely with those treats? A Peppermint Hot Cocoa from Zoo Brew.

ver at Africa Rocks, the Africa Rocks Stage is the setting for Dr. Zoolittle’s One Wild Night Before Christmas (you’ve never heard the story quite like this!), and the nearby Rocks Box snackery will have yummy, Happy Holidays Stuffed Pretzels, complete with marinara for dipping. All the sipping and snacking will come in handy, since you’ll be needing extra fuel this yule for Jungle Bells’ brightest attraction—the all-new Holiday Light Trek. A stroll from Lost Forest to Tiger Trail takes you on a Holiday Light Discovery of sparkling lights, special effects and surprises through the Painted Jungle, Rainbow Forest, and Laser Trail. The Holiday Light Celebration, which starts at the bus depot and reaches Australian Outback, is a glimmering, colorful celebration of the season, complete with interactive surprises along the way. And a special holiday treat for the ears awaits in Africa Rocks, where the Holiday Light Symphony awaits with its orchestral beauty. Visit this interactive area full of sights and sounds, where you help conduct the colorful holiday lights and beautiful music.

Festive lighting displays throughout the Zoo will immerse you in the season's glow. New this year is the spectacular Holiday Light Trek, which features a trio of interactive, multimedia experiences.

The cheery Mistletoe Martini at Albert's Restaurant is holiday spirit in a glass.

AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK

Running on select dates in December, Wild Holidays brings festive, seasonal fun, culinary delights, and yes, a shopping bonanza to the Safari Park. Throughout Safari Base Camp, guests can get in the spirit via contemporary and classic holiday songs played by Safari Park Radio 197.2. This area is also home to the Wild Holidays Celebration Tree and its sparkling lights and wildlife-themed decorations. Multiple times each evening, the village comes to life with seasonal merriment, as lights dance to a choreographed holiday music soundtrack for Light Up the Holidays. Need a little sartorial celebration? Pop into a gift shop (or ShopZoo.com!) to pick up seasonal treasures like Safari Park spirit jerseys featuring red pandas and platypuses; or a festive tee or hoodie feting everyone’s favorite—the chubby unicorn. Fuzzy ear-adorned Santa hats and colorful light-up bulb necklaces are available to complete your festive look.

Fun, festive apparel and accessories are available at San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park gift shops and on ShopZoo.com.

Ready for a treat? The Congo Kitchen has what is perhaps the pinnacle of seasonal sweets—a Holiday Churro with whipped cream, strawberry drizzle, and festive sprinkles. Not to be outdone, Safari Coffee Outpost is ready to go nosh-to-nosh with any eatery, serving Peppermint Bark, Festive Fresh Fudge, and a variety of Gourmet Hot Chocolates in a souvenir mug, including salted caramel, s’mores, peppermint, and gingerbread varieties. Of course, no holiday extravaganza would be complete without the man in red—Santa will have his spot in Safari Base Camp for photos up through December 25, then it’s back to the North Pole for another year!

Nairobi Village is brimming with holiday cheer, beginning with the Safari Park’s own Safari Parker, who will share his “‘Twas the Night Before Wild Holidays” with guests in the Village Playground. In the mood for a festive sing-along? Our Holiday Troubadour and their acoustic guitar, also at the Playground, will add to the holiday feel. At Flightline Plaza, our violin duo—the Turtle Doves—will wrap seasonal music up with a “bow.” The Enchanted Lagoon lives up to its name nightly, as Mombasa Lagoon comes to life with sparkling, flickering, floating holiday lights adding seasonal ambience to the beauty of the lighted waterfall.

Holiday merrymaking is thirsty—and hungry—work, and there are plenty of delicious treats to enjoy around Safari Base Camp. Tuck into a decadent Wild Holiday Apple Pie Cinnamon Roll, accompanied by Gourmet Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate at Thorntree Terrace. Or, savor Crispy Chicken and Green Bean Casserole, a tangy Wild Holiday Chipotle-Cranberry Burger, Roasted Cauliflower Salad, and Gourmet Hot Chocolate at Mombasa Cooker. And for the ultimate holiday spirit in a glass, Oasis on the Rocks and other select spots are pouring Specialty Cocktails, ranging from a Cinnamon Apple Mule and Ginger Cranberry Sour to “Wild” Hot Chocolate and an Espresso Martini. Want something a little tamer but just as tasty? The Wild Holiday Sundae is a creamy, sweet treat.

The entertainment at Wild Holidays—including the Holiday Troubadour—is music to the ears. Tastebuds are in for a treat, too—like the Chipotle Cranberry Burger and Wild Holidays Sundae.

Spanning Safari Walk Bridge, the Bridge of Lights is a spectacular immersion of holiday glow and music that leads you into The Spirit of the Season, an immersive experience of lighted trees, holiday décor, and magical touches at Tiger Trail, Sambutan Longhouse, Walkabout Australia, Zuest Woolshed, World Gardens, and Condor Ridge offering spots for that perfect photo. At nearby Macan Market, you’ll forget all about sugarplums as you nibble delicious Peppermint Bark and Festive Fresh Fudge,complemented by a cup of Gourmet Peppermint Hot Chocolate in a souvenir mug. Arbor Walk’s Forest of Color is another merry adventure, with its glistening lights, music, and amazing view of Condor Valley. More scenic photo spots await in the World Gardens’ Baja Gardens, where the Southwest Garden is aglow with lights and holiday cheer. Guests strolling Walkabout Australia and World Gardens can catch a performance by Sweater Weather, a touring guitar-and-percussion duo playing fun, imaginative renditions of holiday favorites. Want to sip in between songs? Walkabout Australia’s Sheared Sheep is ready to serve you festive Specialty Cocktails.

Besides having a flair for celebrating the holidays, the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park have a lot in common, including a dedication to making every season special for the wildlife we care for. And you, our guests, are making this a wonderful time of year, as your every purchase helps support the Alliance’s efforts toward a world where all live thrives.

The Bridge of Lights at Wild Holidays is a spectacular immersion of holiday glow and music.

Treat yourself to a Wild Holidays Gourmet Hot Chocolate, available in gingerbread, peppermint, S'mores, and caramel flavors.

*As seen on San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's Story Hub.