We love Hogle Zoo, and our favorite time to visit is after dark. This is usually because the animals are so active, but now there is a new reason to visit the zoo after dark. ZooLuminate at Hogle Zoo is a collection of lights that feature glowing animals, plants, and other items. This amazing display runs through the end of May 2025. Come check out ZooLumiate “where the wild things glow.”
The Lights At ZooLuminate
First, we were amazed at the scope of the ZooLuminate lights. There aren’t just a few light up animals, but the entire zoo seems to be aglow with massive animals, butterflies, and flowers. As you walk in, you are met with a towering, brightly lit waterfall with all kinds of animals. It reminded us a little of the display at Cabela’s, but in light up form. From there, we turned left toward the bridge that crosses into the Utah area. This area had hundreds of brilliant butterfly lights, but there were plenty of other things to see as well. This area alone was better than most Christmas light displays!
The entire Hogle Zoo was like this area. Every section is full of light. The animals almost look lifelike, too. There were monkeys and lions and a massive spider outside the reptile house. We saw mosquitos and tigers, and another bridge was decked out with massive sunflowers. As we rounded every corner, we continued to comment on how awesome ZooLumiate is!
There was nice music playing while you walk through the lights. This definitely added to the atmosphere. Some of the lights move, too. We liked watching an owl pop up in a cactus, or the butterflies flapping their wings. The animal lights were all exciting for our boys.
The Animals
ZooLuminate opens at 6:45 pm, and if you go right as it opens, you will be able to see more animals and go inside the buildings. But if you wait until it is darker, the buildings close (around 8:00 pm) and many of the animals go to bed. We did see lions, cougars, and a bobcat up and about, as well as a few other small animals. We had planned to go around sunset because we wanted to see the lights against the dark night sky. But if you want to see more animals, you’ll want to go earlier.
Carousel and Train
Both the carousel and train were running during ZooLuminate at Hogle Zoo. We took a ride on the train and it runs around the African Savannah area and the Utah area. We spotted zebras and mountain lions, as well as enjoyed the lights. The carousel is right next to a large peacock and chameleon light. Our boys always love the carousel since they can choose which animal they ride on.
Interactive Exhibits
We really enjoyed all of the interactive aspects of the light display, too. First of all, there were lots of photo opportunities. We took so many pictures! There were also games and other fun activities. We had fun with the singing cacti and also walking through the light bulb trailer. Make sure to keep an eye out for these type of activities. They really add to the fun of ZooLuminate at Hogle Zoo.
More Information
ZooLuminate runs from March 28 through May 26, 2025. It opens at 6:30 pm on select nights and closes at 10:00 pm (mostly weekends). Make sure to check their calendar for the days it is open. Tickets are $25/adult and $20/child. Members do receive a discount. This is a separate event from regular Hogle Zoo admission. Wheels can access every areas of ZooLuminate. We spent about an hour and a half enjoying the lights. This included walking through, looking at animals, and riding the train. You could easily spend longer! It is amazing and worth it.
