Safari Park Wild Holidays Guide and Review 2024
Where is the Safari Park Wild Holidays
Wild Holidays is hosted at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, San Diego North County, about 35 miles away from the San Diego Zoo (which is located near Downtown San Diego).
It’s not that far of a drive from downtown San Diego, but if there’s traffic it can take around 45 minutes. I recommend following our carsick hacks if you or your little ones get motion sickness on road trips.
15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd, Escondido, CA 92027
Attraction Tickets & Vacation Deals
When is the Safari Park Wild Holidays
Safari Park Wild Holidays is on select nights during the holiday season.
Stay Tuned for Safari Park Wild Holiday Dates for 2024.
Safari Park Wild Holiday Dates for 2022: November 25–27; December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17–23, and 26–January 1
Wild Holidays in 2021 was on select nights from 11/26/21-1/2/22, 4 pm-8 pm.
Check back for Wild Holiday times for 2024. Once the times are released by the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, I will add them here.
What is included in the Safari Park Wild Holidays
The Wild Holidays event at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is included in the admission to the park.
There are various holiday entertainments, lights, music, and decorations spread throughout the park during the holiday season.
If you’re looking for an adventure to get your whole family into the holiday spirit, the Wild Holidays event at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park does not disappoint.
Be sure to print out a Travel Journal for your kids so they can record the adventure.
Wild Holidays Entertainment
- Safari Parker (kid’s story time)
- Holiday Troubadour (guitar)
- Firefly Stilt Walkers
- Turtle Doves (violins)
- Sweater Weather (guitar & percussion)
- Photos with Santa (Note: may not be available after 12/25)
If you do anything during Wild Holidays, see Safari Parker.
There was surprise snow at the end of Safari Parker’s “‘Twas the Night Before Wild Holidays,” a fun interactive story for the kids.
Our girls were mesmerized and we had bubbles all over our hair and Christmas sweaters!
The Firefly Stilt Walkers were super fun to see. We were talking with one Firefly, and he said his sister’s name was Evangeline (a subtle nod to the Princess and the Frog).
Our toddler preferred them from a distance, but still enjoyed their lights and wings. Try and get pictures with them before it gets too dark, but make sure to swing back around and see them fully lit up at night.
As for photos with Santa, there was no line when we went. This could change depending on the day and visitor count, but it seemed to be the pattern for Wild Holidays in 2021.
Santa was so helpful with getting the girls to smile for the photos and gave them each a candy cane after.
There was no cost to meet Santa during Wild Holidays, but pictures were available for purchase.
We got the package that included the print & digital downloads so we could have all of the photos and different border options.
Wild Holidays Music to Lights Shows
- Nairobi Lantern Walk
- Light up the Holidays
- Bridge of Lights
If you’re someone who loves Christmas lights, the Safari Park Wild Holidays music and light shows are a must.
The Bridge of Lights was absolutely stunning! The whole bridge to the tigers was lit up and synced to a variety of Christmas songs.
This is a long bridge too, so it’s not like a little tunnel that you quickly exit out of. The Safari Park light tunnel spans the entire length of the bridge leading up to the Tiger Trail and Walkabout Australia exhibits.
Plus, you need to go through it again to get back to the park entrance, so it’s set up very well to thoroughly enjoy the attraction.
The Safari Park Nairobi Lantern Walk was very pretty.
I was expecting it to just be some lights and background music, but the music was queued up to the flickering of the lanterns for a very holiday-filled ambiance.
Another light display I wasn’t sure about was Light up the Holidays, but it was super fun & got us all dancing!
You just never know if something like this will be just music or a one-song wonder. Different holiday music played from Safari Park Radio 197.2 while the lights danced around. The result was a combination of different colors, different patterns, and multiple songs. It was so awesome and queued up perfectly to the beat.
Wild Holidays Lights & Decor
- The Spirit of the Season
- Journey of Light
- Baja Gardens
Beautiful decorations and great photo ops were everywhere in the Safari Park Wild Holiday areas.
There’s a large glowing “Wild Holidays” sign on the way to the Bridge of Lights. Again, I recommend taking your photo in the daylight but then swinging back around at night to see it all lit up.
If you head over to the elevator going down to the Lion Camp and African Loop enclosures, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful Christmas Tree and a stunning view of the Savannah.
Other glowing lights and decorations are scattered throughout the park, and the Baja Gardens receive their own special holiday lighting treatment.
Other Safari Park Wild Holidays Tips & Info
- Get there Earlier to see Animals During the Day
- Take Pictures before Dark
- Check the Schedule for Entertainment Times
The later Safari Park Wild Holiday hours are more for just the Christmas event areas, so get there early if you want to see more animals.
We easily saw the tigers, kangaroos, and animals along the Nairobi Walk.
However, the entire area down by the elephants and Africa loop was closed off when it got dark.
Take pictures earlier then enjoy the scenery & lights at night.
I mentioned this earlier, but I can’t stress it enough. The lights are absolutely amazing, but if you want clear pictures and don’t have the best night photography skills (or kids who stay still during longer exposure times), then take the photos before dark and take the rest of the evening to just enjoy the holiday lights.
If you really want the lights to be on for your photos, you can get some decent pictures of the lights at dusk.
Many of the entertainment events are scheduled frequently throughout the night. I would pick which ones are a must-do and plan to be in that area around your preferred time (especially if you have a toddler who might start falling asleep).
Check-in with Santa Clause since he does have a break scheduled.
The Safari Park employees were very helpful in providing us with the info we needed. We made it to Safari Parker’s first performance and back to Santa before our toddler decided to take a nap.
Safari Park Wild Holidays Summary
Overall, the Wild Holidays experience at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is a fun way to get into the spirit of the holiday season.
If you’re looking for Halloween fun, definitely check out both the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park for more holiday-themed events. Sea World San Diego also has a great Spooktacular for September and October.
If you’re looking for additional experiences, then check out the Roar and Snore or read our review on SeaWorld San Diego’s Beluga Whale Encounter.
FAQ
Does San Diego Safari Park have Christmas lights
Yes, and the Safari Park Wild Holidays is an amazing way to get into the holiday spirit.
Entertainment, lights, music, and decorations are all included in the cost of admission. Prints or digital copies of photos with Santa are extra, but meeting Santa does not cost extra.
Is San Diego Safari Park open on Christmas?
Yes, the San Diego Safari Park is open every day of the year. Just be sure to check their website or app for updated park hours, as closing time varies on weekends, weekdays, and holidays.
Be sure to catch the entertainment, lights, and music of Safari Park Wild Holidays included with admission.
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