PNC Festival of Lights Member Preview Night

Members only. Animal chats begin at 4:30 p.m., before the posted 5:00 p.m. start.

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About this adventure

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden opens the 44th PNC Festival of Lights to members one evening before the public run. On Wednesday, November 18, 2026, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., the zoo is lit with what the page calls five million LED lights. A tree lighting ceremony at 6:00 p.m. starts the season. DJ JonJon the Elf plays from 5:00 p.m., and Santa and Mrs. Claus see visitors in Santa's Village at 6:45 p.m. Animal chats are posted from 4:30 p.m. onward: black bear, elephant, bearcat, leaf-cutter ant, Komodo dragon, manatee, and giraffe, with the last chat at 8:00 p.m. The night is members only. Members may bring the guests included with their membership and may buy up to four more tickets at half price at the ticketing windows or online. The page does not print that half-price dollar amount. This is not the public Festival of Lights, which is already listed and starts the following evening.