27 NIGHTS OF ELECTRIC SAFARI START ON FRI., DEC. 5 – AND TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is preparing the mountainside with millions of lights for the 35th year of Electric Safari. Twenty-seven nights of mountainside lights starts on Fri., Dec. 5, and tickets are available now at cmzoo.org/electric.
Electric Safari is nominated for ‘Best Zoo Lights in North America’ – and Zoo fans can vote daily through Mon., Dec. 1 at cmzoo.org/lights. Electric Safari was ranked in the top-three Best Zoo Lights in North America for the last six years by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
Fans of the Zoo can vote once a day at cmzoo.org/lights until the contest ends, at 10 a.m. MT on Mon., Dec. 1. Top-ten national rankings should be announced the following week!
This year at Electric Safari, attendees can expect more than 50 acres of twinkling lights, 90+ hand-made light sculptures, giant illuminated animal inflatables, a holiday-safari drone show, plus breathtaking nighttime city views from the side of the mountain.
Electric Safari opens on Fri., Dec. 5 and runs through Thurs., Jan.1, 2026 – except Christmas Eve. Zoo members can get early entry from 4 to 5 p.m. General admission is from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Electric Safari ends at 8:30 p.m.
Electric Safari is free for CMZoo members, and members can attend as often as they’d like! To manage on-site parking throughout the popular event, advance timed tickets are required for Individual Plus, Family, Grandparent, and Family Plus member guests (including age 2 and under). Capacity is limited and some nights will sell out. Get tickets and more details at cmzoo.org/electric. Guests can save $5 per ticket by visiting on a non-peak day, detailed on the pricing calendar at cmzoo.org/electric.
Attendees will enjoy lit trees, structures and sculptures, installed by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s grounds and events team. Larger-than-life illuminated animal inflatables and a nightly holiday-safari themed drone light show will light up the Zoo, making the perfect setting for extra-special holiday memories. If all of those beautiful lights don’t un-Scrooge even the Grinchiest of holiday grumps, a cup of hot cocoa and a visit with Santa ought to do the trick.
Kris Kringle will be in Safari Lodge through Dec. 23 to hear holiday wishes, collect lists and pose for free photos. Take a spin on the historic carousel for $2 per ride, or hop on the Mountaineer Sky Ride for incredible once-a-year views of the holiday nighttime glow of Colorado Springs from the mountainside (both are weather permitting).
Electric Safari wouldn’t be complete without scheduled animal demonstrations and keeper talks! Guests can also visit select animal exhibits. Electric Safari offers paid feeding opportunities with CMZoo’s famous giraffe herd and budgie flock. See an animal schedule, feeding prices and open animal exhibits at cmzoo.org/electric.
Grizzly Grill, Cozy Goat, Pizza with a View and Elson’s Café will be open to serve food and beverages.
Electric Safari is supported by our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Sturgeon Electric, U.S. Bank and Toyota. For more information, visit: cmzoo.org/electric.
ELECTRIC SAFARI FAST FACTS
• Electric Safari is from 5 to 8:30 p.m. nightly from Fri., Dec. 5 through Thurs., Jan. 1, 2026 – except on Christmas Eve.
• Early entry for members and their paying guests starts at 4 p.m.
• Advance timed tickets are required for members and the general public.
• Tickets are limited and some nights will sell out in advance.
• Electric Safari is free for Zoo members. Members must reserve timed tickets, and can attend as often as they please.
• Santa will greet Electric Safari guests nightly through Tues., Dec. 23. Bring letters and take photos!
Electric Safari features:
– more than 50 acres of twinkling lights
– more than 90 hand-made light sculptures
– giant illuminated animal inflatables
– a nightly holiday-safari themed drone show
– access to the Mountaineer Sky Ride (weather permitting; $4 for members; $5 for general public)
– access to the historic carousel (weather permitting; $2 per person)
– access to most of the Zoo’s animal exhibits, including paid giraffe and budgie feedings
– nightly scheduled animal keeper talks and demonstrations
– get more information and tickets in advance at cmzoo.org/electric
Vote for Electric Safari, nominated in USA TODAY’s Best Zoo Lights in North America, daily at cmzoo.org/lights through Mon., Dec. 1.