Ticket for admission to Oregon Zoo’s holiday spectacular is your proof of fare on bus, MAX, LIFT
You’ll remember the dazzling lights, whimsical displays and holiday spirit of ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo forever — and with TriMet, you won’t have to pay a penny to get there.
From Nov. 21 to Jan. 4, you can ride TriMet to the Zoo for free with a ticket to ZooLights. It’s all thanks to a new partnership with TriMet and the Oregon Zoo, made possible with support from Metro’s Regional Travel Options program, the Federal Transit Administration and Explore Washington Park.
Your ticket for admission is your ticket to ride on TriMet. Just show your ticket for the event date to your bus or LIFT operator, or a TriMet Customer Safety Supervisor, on your way to or from the Zoo. Tickets are valid proof of fare for up to two hours before the start time to two hours after the event ends.
ZooLights tickets are valid fare on TriMet bus, MAX, WES and LIFT paratransit, as well as the Portland Streetcar. Plan your trip now at trimet.org!
Getting there on TriMet
TriMet serves the Oregon Zoo directly via the underground Washington Park MAX Station. The MAX Blue and Red lines serve this station — the deepest underground transit station in the Western Hemisphere! — with trains arriving about every 7 to 8 minutes for most of the day.
Free parking for transit users is usually available at the Sunset Transit Center. The Washington Park MAX Station is just one stop away on an eastbound MAX train.
There are many other free TriMet Park & Ride facilities throughout TriMet’s tri-county service area. Find the one that’s most convenient for you at trimet.org, using the “travel options” tool in our trip planner!
You can also transfer from other MAX lines to the MAX Blue and Red lines at Pioneer Courthouse Square or the Rose Quarter Transit Center. All MAX lines serve these two locations in the Portland City Center.
Learn more at trimet.org/oregonzoo.
Lights and sights
ZooLights is one of Portland’s most beloved and enduring holiday traditions. Every winter, the Oregon Zoo dazzles with colorful lights, life-size animal lanterns and more breathtaking decorations.
Most animals won’t be on view during ZooLights. However, many food and drink vendors will be open to serve Zoo visitors.
You can catch ZooLights from Nov. 21 to Jan. 4. It begins daily at 4:30 p.m. This ticket promotion does not include BrewLights, which is Nov. 14-15.
Tickets to ZooLights are on sale now at shop.oregonzoo.org.
ZooLights will not be open Nov. 25-27 for the Thanksgiving holiday, nor on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.