A Guide to Wild Nights & Holiday Lights at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary 2025
When it comes to one of the best holiday events in Sacramento for kids, Wild Nights & Holiday Lights at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary tops the list. This event is perfect for kids of all ages who will love the holiday lights, spotting animals, and festive magic in Folsom.
Our family loves this event so much that we’ve made it one of our yearly holiday traditions. It’s easily one of the top holiday activities in Sacramento for families. I’ve got many tips to help make this festive Folsom outing a wonderful holiday experience for families.
What to Expect at Wild Nights & Holiday Lights
Each December, the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary transforms into a holiday wonderland. Think of it as more of a holiday lights event versus a zoo outing. Volunteers decorate the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary with thousands of twinkling lights for visitors to enjoy while strolling through the decked-out grounds on December evenings.
This is a yearly event at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, and each year, the lights get better and better! As of 2025, the Sacramento Zoo does not do a holiday zoo lights event. Therefore, the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary is the only Sacramento area zoo that has a holiday zoo lights event for Sacramento families.
You’ll also be helping to support the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary when attending this event, as all proceeds benefit the animals.
Will you see animals at the Folsom Zoo Lights?
Some animals will be out at Wild Nights & Holiday Lights, but others will be sleeping or hiding. The mountain lion is shy, but will occasionally pop out. The wolf hybrids are typically very active during this event.
Don’t be disappointed if you don’t see the bears, as they are usually not out during this event. Peek at them on the monitors, which gives an inside look at their indoor habitat. That said, the Eurasian bear, which has its own habitat, was out and active at this event in 2025.
How long does the event take?
The event can take as long or as little as you like. For our family, it took about an hour to stroll through the zoo, admiring the lights and spotting animals.
There are many other fantastic holiday activities in Folsom! It’s easy to combine several holiday activities with an outing to Wild Nights & Holiday Lights. There’s even a separate train ride on the adjacent Starlight Express (more on that, later in the article!).
2025 Wild Nights & Holiday Lights Event Details
Wild Nights & Holiday Lights occurs on December 5-7, 11-14, and 18-22, 2025, from 5pm to 8:30pm. The last entry is at 8pm. This event is weather-dependent and could be cancelled in poor weather conditions.
Event tickets have to be purchased online. Tickets are $12.99 person for the first hour, and then reduce to $11.99 for the last two hours of the event. Children under age 2 receive free admission.
Various time slots for each event night are available for entrance tickets. I personally recommend going early. Earlier times are usually when the event is least busy, and allow for more time to combine this Folsom event with other things to do in Folsom during the holiday season.
Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary is located within Folsom City Lions Park.
The Starlight Express Holiday Train Details
There are more holiday train rides in Sacramento than you might realize. It’s also not a secret that they can be expensive. At $8 in 2025, the Starlight Express is actually the most affordable holiday train ride in the Sacramento Area.
The Folsom Valley Railway is a miniature train ride that runs in Folsom City Lions Park. It’s easy to combine it with an outing to the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary. During Wild Nights & Holiday Lights, the train gets a holiday makeover and operates on the same evenings and times as the event (5-8pm).
Purchase tickets to the train ride online. Tickets are $8 per person. Children under age two ride free.
The train ride is about a five-minute ride (and it goes faster than you’d expect!). It will transport families through holiday lights, and there were quite a few inflatable dinosaurs along the ride that were an unexpected pleasant surprise.
Where to Park
Park in the lot next to the Folsom Public Library. The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary parking lot will take you right there. This is a free parking area and is easily walkable to the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary and miniature train ride. Parking can fill up quickly, so this is another reason to get an earlier timed ticket.
My Top Tips for Visiting Wild Nights & Holiday Lights
✨ Tip 1: Buy the light-up Christmas trees
In 2025, flashing Christmas trees were available for purchase inside the barn of the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary. Small ones are $10. Large ones are available, too. These were a huge hit with kids who loved holding and walking around with them in the dark amid all the holiday lights.
If you plan to see neighborhood Christmas lights in Sacramento, these make the perfect lights to take along so passing cars can better see you in the evenings.
✨ Tip 2: Bring a hot chocolate along
Fisher’s Beastro is directly outside the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary. You can take drinks inside the event with you. Grab a hot cocoa to take along with you to the event. They also sell snacks, like kettle corn.
Want a few other hot chocolate options in Folsom to take with you into the event? Consider one from Snook’s Candies & Chocolate Factory or Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates.
✨ Tip 3: Dress warm and bring layers
This is a nighttime event in December; therefore, it can get chilly. Dress warmly and bring blankets for children who will be in strollers.
✨ Tip 4: Take home a Christmas ornament souvenir
At the same stall inside the barn at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, you can purchase a Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary Christmas ornament. Our family purchases ornaments from places we go or visit, and this was a great addition to our ornament collection. Plus, when buying ornaments or flashing Christmas light trees, proceeds support the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary and Folsom Parks and Recreation.
✨ Tip 5: Warn kids that animals may be sleeping
Since some of the animals won’t be viewable at night, let kids know they might be sleeping. Some prior discussions may help them feel less disappointment if they don’t get to see specific animals they were hoping to view while there.
✨ Tip 6: The Starlight Express is worth it
It’s a short train ride, but it will add to the magic of the evening, and kids will love it! Since the train is a separate ticket, you could technically just do the train ride and not even have to go to the Wild Nights & Holiday Lights event at the zoo.
More Holiday Activities in Folsom
Folsom has magical holiday activities for families that are easy to combine on the same night as Wild Nights & Holiday Nights. Check out awesome holiday activities in Folsom for families in my Instagram Reel.
Darvel Court
Some of the best Christmas lights in Sacramento are in Folsom. Darvel Court is truly mesmerizing, and probably my personal favorite Christmas lights display in all of Sacramento. The towering 70-foot redwood trees strung with blue and green lights are just stunning.
Ledgemont Court
Ledgemont Court is another spot with one of the best Christmas light displays in the Sacramento area. There are many Disney-themed houses, so it’s perfect for kids to explore and spot their favorite characters.
Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates
Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates recently opened a second location in Folsom. The store is only a four-minute drive from Darvel Court. Grab one of their famous hot chocolates to-go before checking out the lights at Darvel Court.
Santa’s Whistlestop Adventure
It just so happens that one of the few other affordable holiday train rides in Sacramento is also in Folsom. The Placerville Sacramento Valley Railroad operates a vintage motorcar for Santa’s Whistlestop Adventure. The train ride is short and takes you to the woods, where kids will get to spend time with Santa. Santa’s Whistlestop Adventure is a daytime train. You could ride this train in the afternoon, grab dinner, then go to Wild Nights & Holiday Lights, all in the same night.
Historic Folsom Holiday Activities
Santa’s Christmas Cottage
If you feel like a visit from Santa is missing at Wild Nights & Holiday Lights, you can drive over to the Historic Folsom District. On Friday and Saturday evenings, take free photos at Santa’s Christmas Cottage. Check out what to expect in my Santa’s Christmas Cottage Instagram Reel!
Santa’s Christmas Cottage in historic Folsom is one of the best places in Sacramento to get free Santa photos. In addition to Santa, Mrs Claus joins in on the pictures. There are other Christmas characters like Rudolph, too. You can’t miss this festive, adorable cottage next to the Folsom ice rink.
Historic Folsom Ice Rink
Go ice skating in historic Folsom while circling a beautifully lit Christmas tree. The Folsom ice rink is one of the top ice skating rinks in Sacramento. There are many events, including ones with princesses and movie nights.
Holiday Scavenger Hunt at Snook’s Candies
For a unique free holiday activity, kids can embark on a holiday scavenger hunt through Snook’s Candies & Chocolate Factory in Historic Folsom. They’ll receive a paper card of items they have to find in the store. After finding the items, they’ll get a sweet prize. There’s a more challenging scavenger hunt version for teens and adults. While in Snook’s, don’t miss one of their decadent hot chocolates.
Wild Nights and Holiday Lights Address: Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary | 403 Stafford St, Folsom, CA 95630
