ZooLights installation gets underway at the Phoenix Zoo

It may still be in the triple digits in Phoenix, but the ZooLights crew at the Phoenix Zoo is hard at work prepping for the most magical time of the year.

Justin Davis, ZooLights Manager at the Phoenix Zoo, joined “Arizona Horizon” to provide an update on the process of installing this year’s ZooLights.

The ZooLights installation is already underway with more than 4 million lights, hundreds of custom-designed light structures and dozens of large-scale illuminated lanterns, taking months of behind-the-scenes labor to bring one of Arizona’s favorite holiday traditions to life.

To beat the blistering summer heat, crews have been working overnight, up in lifts, among the trees, carefully stringing lights and assembling glowing displays under the stars. Instillation began early June and is projected to finish sometime late October.

“The trees don’t care about the lights and they’ll just eat them,” Davis explained. “…and we have to switch our show up every year, because you don’t want to see the same tree being green every year.”

Phoenix Zoo guests can expect to see familiar instillations such as the traditional lake-light show and “Jengo,” the inanimate talking giraffe. Additionally, new instillations like the “Story Book Nook,” that features a tree telling audiences a story will make their debut.

While some may have concerns on how the instillation could potentially impact animals at the Phoenix Zoo, Davis says that the animals are rather curious, than disturbed by the teams working to bring the attraction to life.

“We start super early in the morning so a lot of the animals are still in their night house,” Davis said, “…we do have to coordinate with all of our keepers to make sure that our machines and equipment isn’t too loud for them.”

ZooLights officially kicks off Wednesday, November 26, 2025.

Visit the Phoenix Zoo’s website to purchase tickets to ZooLights.