Date Night at the Indianapolis Zoo

No need for reservations or loads of planning, Christmas at the Zoo provides a full evening of activities all rolled into one. Enjoy it with your favorite person, a group date, or even for a girls night out.

Start your evening with some hot cocoa or an adult beverage in Santa’s Village. The Shmallow hot chocolate features an adult version of our classic cocoa with a shot of Hotel Tango Shmallow, toasted marshmallow flavored bourbon. Then visit our various food locations that feature a specialty seasonal menu. Our Christmas at the Zoo Foodie Guide presented by Red Gold features everything from a locally sourced sirloin steak and homemade meatloaf, to bacon and chive potato puffs and cheese curds. So don’t worry about having to find a spot for dinner. We’ve got that covered. Check out our cookies, pie and other sweet treats to split for dessert.

And, last but not least, take a walk to see the beautiful lights all across the Zoo grounds. The twinkling lights and holiday cheer will make you want to snuggle close with your special one. Voted seventh best in the nation for zoo lights by USA TODAY’s 10Best Zoo Lights contest, you won’t want to miss sharing the holiday magic. And when the chill in the air calls for a warm up, you can stop inside the numerous indoor exhibits located in Oceans, Deserts, Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Complex, and interact with chimpanzees indoors in the Deborah J. Simon Culture Center.