Glowing Wild Lights Up The Denver Zoo This Spring

Glowing Wild at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance returns for its second year, inviting Colorado families to travel the world in a single evening, from the lush forests of Asia to radiant reefs of Australia. Guests will experience the glimmer of 60 illuminated scenes and 175 new larger-than-life lantern sculptures that bring animals and their stories to light, all handcrafted by Chinese artisans. Glowing Wild is a limited-time event on select nights from March 13 through May 10, 2026.

As guests explore DZCA’s 80-acre campus, they’ll be transported across the globe through stunning wildlife lantern installations.

These include a moose standing 20 feet tall and 60 feet wide, a family of African lions inspired by the Zoo’s own pride in Predator Ridge, and many other immersive and interactive surprises along the way.

Glowing Wild will also feature nightly entertainment and a brand-new menu with seasonal fare. Guests can enhance their experience with a Food + Drink Passport to enjoy bites and beverages at various locations throughout the journey.

As part of the Glowing Wild festivities, DZCA is offering several special evenings, including two Adult Nights on Thursday, April 2 and Thursday, May 7 for the 21+ crowd.

Each ticket comes with one complimentary drink ticket, food and beverages, live music, and silent disco and animal demonstrations.

DZCA will also host a Glowing Wild Sensory-Friendly Night on Sunday, April 12 with special accommodations for guests living with sensory processing disorders, including reduced crowds, low-volume music, quiet rooms and more.

Glowing Wild will run from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on select evenings in March through May: March 13 to April 5, April 4 to 6, April 9 to 12, April 16 to 19, April 23 to 26, April 30 to May 3 and May 7 to 10.

General admission tickets start at $24.95 for adults, $17.95 for youth and free for kids 2 and under. Value Nights are Monday through Thursday. Tickets are a few bucks more on Friday to Sunday.

You can buy tickets here.

Members save an additional 10 percent on event tickets, food and beverages and merchandise, and receive many other benefits.

Here’s a map of Glowing Wild 2026

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