Big Bear Alpine Zoo is gearing up to glow again this winter, as its Wild Lights display returns for another season of illuminated pathways winding through one of the country's highest-elevation animal parks. The walk-through event is set to begin lighting up the zoo over several nights starting Nov. 13, 2026, according to NBC Los Angeles, with organizers promising two million lights strung across the grounds this year.
A Second Year of Shimmer in the San Bernardino Mountains
Wild Lights is organized by Visit Big Bear, the regional tourism group behind the event, and is produced in partnership with the zoo itself, according to sanbernardinonewsdaily.com. Exactly when the display wraps up is a bit murky this year: the zoo's own website lists Wild Lights running through Jan. 3, 2027, while the event's dedicated site, Alpine Zoo Wild Lights, lists an end date of Jan. 4, 2027, along with the same two-million-light figure. Visitors planning a trip may want to double-check dates directly before locking in plans.
Last year's inaugural run, which the San Bernardino Sun reported began Nov. 6, 2025, and continued through Jan. 4, stretched across 1.8 million lights, a noticeably smaller count than what is being advertised for this year's edition. That debut season ran Wednesdays through Sundays from 5 to 9 p.m., with extra Monday and Tuesday openings added during Thanksgiving and Christmas week, per the same report. The Big Bear Grizzly has since referred to the 2026 edition as the second annual Wild Lights, pointing to the event building on its first-year momentum.
Themed Zones and a Cause Behind the Glow
This year's walk includes themed areas such as Classic Christmas, Rudolph's Storybook Adventure, and The Alpine Night Sky, giving visitors distinct stops as they move through the display, according to NBC Los Angeles. The zoo has framed the event as more than a seasonal spectacle: proceeds benefit both the Big Bear Alpine Zoo and Care for Big Bear, with last year's ticket sales specifically funding the zoo's wildlife rehabilitation program and Care for Big Bear's conservation efforts, the Sun reported. Tickets for that first year ran $20, with free admission for zoo members and children under 5.
That rehabilitation mission is central to what the zoo does year-round. It operates as a mountain-top rehabilitation facility known for its conservation-minded work with local animals, according to NBC Los Angeles, giving injured, orphaned, and imprinted wild animals a second chance rather than a return to the wild they can no longer survive in. Among its permanent residents is Bowie, a raccoon with an unusual lighter mane who has become something of a local favorite, the outlet reported.
More Ways to Catch the Lights Around Town
Wild Lights isn't the only seasonal draw pulling visitors to the mountain this winter. Big Bear's Festival of Lights runs Dec. 1 through Dec. 31 and invites residents and visitors to vote on decorated homes, restaurants, and other local spots, with organizers providing a map of participating locations around town. Big Bear Mountain Resort separately hosts a torchlight parade on New Year's Eve, adding another after-dark tradition to the valley's holiday calendar.
For families looking to combine a zoo visit with other seasonal traditions, Big Bear also lists a separate holiday event offering a chance to meet Santa Claus, take photos with a winter wonderland backdrop, and see the zoo's animals in their snowy habitat, according to Big Bear's own events listing. Between the themed Wild Lights walk, the town-wide Festival of Lights, and the New Year's Eve parade, the mountain community is positioning itself as a multi-stop holiday destination this season, even as some of the finer scheduling details for Wild Lights remain unsettled between listings.
