# WildLights at The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens Thanksgiving Opening (Palm Desert)

> Event for families in the Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario area (CA). Times are Pacific Time.

- When: Nov 25 – Nov 29 · 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Where: The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, 47900 Portola Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260
- Ages: All ages; wide paved pathways ideal for strollers and wheelchairs; s'mores roasting stations for kids
- Price: $16 for adults; $12 for children ages 3–12; free for children under 3; s'mores kits available for purchase
- Organizer: The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
- Official page: https://www.livingdesert.org/events/upcoming-zoo-events/wildlights/
- Last checked: Wed, Nov 4

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 42 metro areas as of Nov 8, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-07), 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/riverside/activities/wildlights-at-the-living-desert-zoo-and-gardens-thanksgiving-opening-p--listing-42507cfe3e6a60bb0ab64da0

## About

WildLights at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert opens for Thanksgiving week, transforming the botanical garden and zoo into an illuminated wonderland with over three million sparkling lights. Families explore pathways adorned with life-sized glowing animal lanterns including giraffes, cheetahs, and rhinos.

The experience features a 30-foot decorated Christmas tree, a model train display boasting more than 3,300 feet of track winding through miniature villages, and open-air fire pits where kids can roast s'mores. Stroller-friendly paved routes throughout the park make it ideal for toddlers and grandparents alike.

## Similar picks in Riverside

- [Palm Springs Wild Turkey Trot 5K (Thanksgiving morning)](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/activities/palm-springs-wild-turkey-trot-5k-thanksgiving-morning--listing-e00a90c48d10304f411acd7f) — Thu, Nov 26 · 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM · Downtown Palm Springs (start at Tahquitz Canyon Way & Palm Canyon Drive) · All ages · From $50.60 · checked Oct 30. A flat, certified Thanksgiving-morning 5K through downtown Palm Springs neighborhoods that is runner, walker, stroller and dog friendly. Finishers get a long-sleeve tech shirt…
- [Mission Inn Festival of Lights Thanksgiving Switch-On Weekend (Downtown Riverside)](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/activities/mission-inn-festival-of-lights-thanksgiving-switch-on-weekend-downtown--listing-0a4447a915e4e0b47a878db7) — Nov 27 – Nov 29 · 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM · The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa & Main Street Pedestrian Mall · All ages · Free · checked Nov 4. Recognized nationally among the country's most spectacular holiday celebrations, the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa Festival of Lights illuminates downtown Riverside starting…
- [Old Town Temecula Thanksgiving Weekend & Santa's Arrival at Pennypickle's Workshop](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/activities/old-town-temecula-thanksgiving-weekend-and-santa-s-arrival-at-pennypic--listing-8e8a1828501e415bbc0a97eb) — Nov 27 – Nov 29 · 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM · Pennypickle's Workshop (Temecula Children's Museum) & Old Town Boardwalk · All ages · Free · checked Nov 4. Old Town Temecula kicks off its festive 'Temecula Chilled' holiday season immediately following Thanksgiving. On Black Friday evening, Santa Claus arrives at Professor…
- [Fall ZooCamp at The Living Desert (Thanksgiving week)](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/activities/fall-zoocamp-at-the-living-desert-thanksgiving-week--listing-84ca8a82f774529e5f0a789e) — Mon, Nov 23 (+2 more dates) · 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM · The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Palm Desert · From $250 · checked Oct 16. A three-day morning camp at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens during Thanksgiving week, November 23–25, 2026, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm each day, for grades K–6. This session…
- [Letters to Santa — Santa's Mailbox at Riverside Community Centers](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/activities/letters-to-santa-santa-s-mailbox-at-riverside-community-centers--listing-bcef5e85a45a9387390ad373) — Nov 23 – Dec 11 · 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM · Orange Terrace Community Center (one of five drop-off sites) · Free · checked Oct 27. From the Monday before Thanksgiving through December 11, the City of Riverside's Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department sets up Santa's magical mailboxes in five…
- [Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Ride 'n' Dine Thanksgiving at 8,500 Feet](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/activities/palm-springs-aerial-tramway-ride-n-dine-thanksgiving-at-8-500-feet--listing-45b28b52e3d40c612a1d1ebb) — Thu, Nov 26 · 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM · Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Mountain Station · All ages · From $41 · checked Nov 4. Take Thanksgiving dinner to literal new heights aboard the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, ascending two-and-a-half miles up Chino Canyon in rotating tram cars to the 8,516-foot…

## More for families

- [Things to do with kids at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/venues/the-living-desert-zoo-and-gardens) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/riverside/venues/the-living-desert-zoo-and-gardens.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Palm Desert, CA](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/towns/palm-desert-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/riverside/towns/palm-desert-ca.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Riverside County, CA](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/counties/riverside-county-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/riverside/counties/riverside-county-ca.md)
- [Thanksgiving break with kids in Riverside](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/thanksgiving) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/riverside/thanksgiving.md)
- [This weekend in Riverside](https://grassyknees.com/riverside/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/riverside/this-weekend.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Riverside](https://grassyknees.com/riverside) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/riverside.md)