# IllumiNights at the Zoo: A Lantern Festival — Zoo Atlanta > Event for families in the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell area (GA). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Nov 21 – Jan 17 · 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM - Where: Zoo Atlanta, 800 Cherokee Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30315 - Ages: for everyone; Child (3-11) rate; Child 2 & Under free - Price: General admission: Adult (12+) $20.99–$24.99; Child (3-11) $17.99–$19.99; Child 2 & under free; members and groups discounted - Organizer: Zoo Atlanta - Official page: https://shop.zooatlanta.org/Webstore/shop/ViewItems.aspx?CG=EVT2920&C=EVT2920 - Last checked: Sat, Oct 24 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 32 metro areas as of Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/atlanta/activities/illuminights-at-the-zoo-a-lantern-festival-zoo-atlanta--listing-38b48478ba15a7e993d695d7 ## About Zoo Atlanta's holiday lights event turns the Grant Park zoo into a mile-long evening trail of illuminated lanterns shaped like exotic animals and scenes from around the world. Families walk the route at their own pace, stop at fire pits to roast marshmallows, buy hot cocoa, and can ride the Endangered Species Carousel or try the Wild Explorer VR Theater, which runs holiday-season features alongside its regular films. The live animals are indoors by dark, so the lanterns are the show; daytime visitors must leave by 5 p.m. and re-enter with an IllumiNights ticket. The event runs rain or shine on select nights from late November to mid-January with timed entry and limited capacity, so book online in advance; children 2 and under are free. Parking is in the Cherokee Avenue lot or the Grant Park Gateway deck. ## Similar picks in Atlanta - [Gwinnett Glows: free tree lighting and lantern parade — Gas South District, Duluth](https://grassyknees.com/atlanta/activities/gwinnett-glows-free-tree-lighting-and-lantern-parade-gas-south-distric--listing-a904d3f7d2bfcd0fb0a3f477) — Sat, Nov 21 · 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Gas South District, Duluth · Free · checked Oct 24. Gas South District's second annual Gwinnett Glows opens the holiday season in Duluth with a free evening that builds up to the lighting of the district's holiday tree and kicks… - [City Center Winter/Holiday Market — Cumming](https://grassyknees.com/atlanta/activities/city-center-winter-holiday-market-cumming--listing-23ff0906fcd25fb1089494e7) — Sat, Nov 21 · 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Cumming City Center · checked Oct 20. Cumming City Center hosts its annual Winter/Holiday Market on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 100 vendors take part, and the City of Cumming lists… - [Santa's Post Office at The Battery Atlanta](https://grassyknees.com/atlanta/activities/santa-s-post-office-at-the-battery-atlanta--listing-42d9942d4b59b9d6ca2b2f41) — Sat, Nov 21 (+17 more dates) · 12:00 PM · Truist Community Corner, The Battery Atlanta · Free · checked Oct 16. Santa sets up shop at his Post Office in the Truist Holiday Community Corner, at the corner of Power Alley and Battery Avenue, on select days from Saturday, November 21 to… - [Festive Night of Lights — Olde Town Conyers](https://grassyknees.com/atlanta/activities/festive-night-of-lights-olde-town-conyers--listing-dc1938e56c8168b8bb84849d) — Sat, Nov 21 · 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM · Railroad Street, Olde Town Conyers · All ages · Free · checked Oct 20. Olde Town Conyers switches on its Christmas lights at Festive Night of Lights on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Families gather on Railroad Street for visits… - [Kids Holiday Market at The Battery Atlanta](https://grassyknees.com/atlanta/activities/kids-holiday-market-at-the-battery-atlanta--listing-400daceba80955618bd8155a) — Sun, Dec 6 · 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM · The Battery Atlanta · checked Oct 16. Young entrepreneurs run the stalls at The Battery Atlanta's Kids Holiday Market on Sunday, December 6, 2026, 1 to 4 p.m. Families shop kid-run businesses selling gifts, treats… - [Holiday Model Trains — Atlanta garden display](https://grassyknees.com/atlanta/activities/holiday-model-trains-atlanta-garden-display--listing-21950dcccab55f0fd9d68438) — Nov 14 – Jan 10 · Atlanta Botanical Garden · With admission · checked Oct 13. Families explore a seasonal model-train exhibition presented by Norfolk Southern at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. ## More for families - [This weekend in Atlanta](https://grassyknees.com/atlanta/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/atlanta/this-weekend.md) - [Things to do with kids in Atlanta](https://grassyknees.com/atlanta) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/atlanta.md)