Nashville’s Zoolumination Returns with New Displays

The country’s largest lantern festival, Zoolumination returns to Nashville Zoo this holiday season starting Nov. 13, 2025 and running through Feb. 8, 2026.

Nashville Zoo’s “Smashville Ice Rink.”

Returning this year is The Smashville Ice Rink, presented by Nobody Trashes Tennessee. Visitors can experience the magical glow of custom-made silk lanterns as they skate.

Additionally, guests can expect more than 1,000 one-of-a-kind lighted structures exquisitely constructed featuring wildlife, colorful scenes, picturesque walkways, holiday scenes, and more.

The Shiny Details:

• Live entertainment from cultural entertainers who will perform nightly at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. at the Ajax Turner Amphitheater
• Glide under the lights on The Smashville Ice Rink presented by Nobody Trashes Tennessee
• Visitors can warm up with holiday beverages and traditional foods available throughout the pathways
• Just in time for the holidays, guests are encouraged to venture through a special holiday-themed North Pole Village that will feature the North Pole Express, holiday treats and even visit Santa from Nov. 28 to Dec. 24
• Zoolumination will run nightly from Nov. 13 to Jan. 4 and Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 8 through Feb. 8

Tickets:

• Single night tickets are $25 for adults and teens, kids aged 2 to 12 are $21 with children under age 2 free
• Members save $5 per single-night ticket
• Platinum Pass allows unlimited visits throughout the festival dates and is $39 for adults and teens, and $29 for kids aged 2 to 12
• The ice rink is $12 for nonmembers, $10 for members. Ice skates included
• Please note that advanced tickets are suggested, and it is a rain, snow or shine event

Nashville Zoo is partnering with InLight Festival Group for the sixth year in a row to develop and implement this event. Artists, welders, and construction staff from the group help in the design and construction of each lantern in the back of the Zoo property. The production process takes approximately three months. These lanterns will be placed in public viewing areas throughout the Zoo upon completion and will remain in place until the event ends. All lanterns will be illuminated by environmentally friendly LED lights.

For more information about Zoolumination, please visit www.nashvillezoo.org/zoolumination.

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