Oakland Zoo's glowing lantern festival Glowfari is coming back for its seventh year, and tickets for the Nov. 6 opening are moving fast. Members can already book their timed entries, while general admission tickets go on sale at noon today.
The zoo made the announcement in a post on Facebook Tuesday, writing, “✨ Glowfari tickets are on sale NOW for Members and at 12 pm for General Admission!” That initial release covers visit dates from Nov. 6 through Nov. 15. Oakland Zoo's own event page lists a different standing rule for the rest of the season, stating that tickets for other dates “go on sale online at 9:00 am, exactly 28 days before each visit date,” according to oaklandzoo.org.
This year's run stretches from Nov. 6, 2026, through Jan. 31, 2027, per 510families.com. The zoo describes the event as “wildly popular” and says it's returning for its seventh year, with hundreds of all-new animal lanterns lighting up the grounds this season.
New Themes Span California to Hawaii
Glowfari's 2026-27 edition swaps in a fresh set of regional themes, including California forests, San Francisco Bay, Montana, the Florida Everglades and Hawaii, according to the zoo's event listing. Those themes are meant to spotlight the biodiversity of each region and how different species interact with their habitats, the same source notes. It's a shift from last year's lineup, which, per KTVU, featured themed areas called A Bug's Life, Coral Reef, African Savannah and a Reptile Zone during the festival's sixth season.
Oakland Zoo has framed the annual refresh as part of the appeal, telling 510families.com that it takes pride in offering a new experience every year rather than repeating the same lantern displays. This year's version also brings a new VIP experience, with preferred entry, reserved indoor hospitality space, premium food service and Gondola Express Pass privileges built in. The zoo's calendar lists those VIP packages as going on sale Oct. 23.
Ticket Rules, Timing and Refund Policy
All visitors, including members, are required to book a timed ticket reservation for Glowfari, and entry windows run between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m., with every guest required to exit by 9 p.m., according to the zoo's FAQ page. Members receive a 10% discount on admission. The zoo's FAQ also states that parking is included with Glowfari tickets.
On refunds, the zoo's FAQ is specific: tickets are nonrefundable and cannot be transferred to another date, with refunds issued only if Glowfari closes because of inclement weather or another emergency.
Last Year's Tariff Squeeze
Pricing pressures shaped last year's festival in ways that could linger into this season. Tariffs on the illuminated displays, which are crafted in China, added roughly $100,000 to production costs for the prior Glowfari, KTVU reported. Rather than scaling back the event, the zoo said it chose to absorb most of that added expense, with ticket prices only slightly higher as a result.
