Big Bear’s wildlife is getting a glow-up this holiday season. Alpine Zoo Wild Lights is turning the Big Bear Alpine Zoo into a winter wonderland with two million sparkling lights, and it’s a great reason to bundle up and head for the mountains.

Presented by Visit Big Bear to benefit Care for Big Bear and the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, this family-friendly event is a journey through light and wildlife. Think glowing forests, oversized ornaments, and holiday music under the crisp alpine sky.

Follow the Lights Through Four Zones

The experience is split into four themed zones, each with its own story. You’ll start at The Great Pine & Wilderness Gateway, where a towering 100-foot pine shimmers in colored lights and a glowing archway welcomes you in.

Say hello to the Black Bears, snap a photo with the Golden Teddy Bear, and catch local performers singing holiday classics. Look closely, and you might even spot the raccoons, mountain lions, and birds swaying to the music.

Snap Photos at the North Pole Path

Along The North Pole Path, you’ll find a 20-foot ornament, colossal gift boxes, and a family of glowing snowmen. Then climb aboard Santa’s Sleigh for a selfie before Santa flies off with it on Christmas Eve.

It’s a perfect spot for a family holiday card photo, so bring everyone along. With so many oversized props to pose with, you’ll leave with a camera roll full of festive memories.

Warm Up in the Village of Light

Follow the Dickensian street lamps past the snow leopards and the Nocturnal House to the Village of Light, a community plaza and playground twinkling with presents, walk-through ornaments, and holiday trees.

Stop at the Moonridge Coffee Cafe for a pastry or hot cocoa before heading back out into the lights. It’s a great spot for the kids to burn off some energy while you warm up with a hot drink.

Gaze at the Stars in the Dark Sky Grove

Here’s where Wild Lights gets a uniquely Big Bear twist. The Dark Sky Grove is entirely solar-powered and filled with glowing starbursts, planets, moons, and shooting stars that mimic the sky above.

It connects the display to Care for Big Bear’s Dark Sky Initiative, which works to reduce light pollution and its impact on local wildlife. Each light in the grove symbolizes that commitment.

Make it a Mountain Getaway

Big Bear is just a road trip from Southern California’s major cities, so Wild Lights is an easy excuse to escape for a winter weekend.

Pair your evening with local dining and mountain-town charm. Soak in Big Bear’s winter atmosphere by day, then end the night under twinkling lights for a holiday getaway the whole family will love.

See you there!

Two million lights, a solar-powered sky grove, and plenty of photo ops make Alpine Zoo Wild Lights a holiday tradition in the making.

📆 Thursday, November 12, 2026 – Monday, January 4, 2027 | 5 PM – 8 PM
📍 42801 Moonridge Rd, Big Bear Lake
🎟️ Snag your tickets here
ℹ️ Check out more upcoming events here

See you there, San Diego!