Pick your WildLights night first, buy tickets for that exact date, and build the rest of the trip around it. WildLights at The Living Desert runs on select nights from 6 to 9 PM, tickets are good for one date only, and capacity is limited. So the stay comes second. Grab the night, then book the house.
Here's how we'd put the weekend together.
What Is WildLights at The Living Desert?
It's the holiday light show at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, and the zoo calls it the Coachella Valley's brightest holiday tradition. You walk the zoo after dark through millions of lights. Returning favorites for 2026 include the Giant Present, a 30 foot Christmas tree, the Tunnel of Lights and the G scale model train, plus some new displays.
The animals are part of it too. The African Safari pathways stay open, so keep an eye out for rhinos, giraffes, zebras and African painted dogs. Kids tend to remember that part longer than the lights, honestly.
Also on the list: s'mores at Pronghorn Picnic Place, dinner at Bighorn Cafe, a free photo with Santa through December 24 and with the Grinch from December 26 to 30. Guests 21 and older can get beer, wine and specialty cocktails.
When Is WildLights 2026?
Public nights for 2026, per the official WildLights page:
- November: 24, 25, 27 and 28
- December: 4, 5, 10 through 12, 17 through 24, and 26 through 30
Hours are 6 to 9 PM, with last admission at 8:30. Members get a preview night on November 23. The zoo is closed on Christmas Day.
Special Nights Worth Planning Around
- December 10, Jingle Pups: dog night. Both you and your dog need a ticket.
- December 17, Adults Only: 18 and up.
- December 18: Pride Night.
One catch on Jingle Pups. The Brooklyn Penthouse has a strict no pets rule because of host allergies, so please leave your own pets at home. Jingle Pups is really a night for friends who live in the valley and can bring their dogs straight from their own place. Every other main night is service animals only.
How Much Are WildLights Tickets?
These are the 2026 prices listed on the official page:
- General: $25
- Children 3 to 17: $20
- Members: $23
- Under 3: free
- Daytime zoo plus WildLights bundle: $64.95 per adult, $49.95 per child
Read the fine print before you click buy. Tickets are nonrefundable and valid only on the date you pick. And WildLights is an all weather event, so a chilly or drizzly night doesn't get you a do over.
Can You Do the Zoo by Day and WildLights the Same Night?
Yes, but they're two separate visits. Every daytime guest has to be out of the zoo by 5 PM, even folks holding WildLights tickets. WildLights entry starts at 6.
That hour in between is the part people don't plan for. They figure they'll just hang around inside, and then they're standing in the parking lot at 5:05 wondering what to do with tired kids. The zoo says there are 600+ animals and 50+ desert gardens to see in daylight, so a full day there wears little legs out. Have a plan for that gap. An early dinner somewhere nearby in Palm Desert is the easy answer.
With younger kids, we'd honestly split it across two days. Daytime zoo one day, pool at the house, WildLights the next night. Want the bundle for that plan? Check the official page first to see if it allows split days.
Where Do You Park at WildLights?
Parking in the zoo lot is free. It fills up fast on busy nights, though, and the zoo asks guests to carpool and allow extra time. Overflow parking is on Portola Avenue, Haystack Avenue and Buckboard Avenue. Those are neighborhood streets, so don't block driveways or park in red zones.
Carpooling makes sense from the house too. The driveway at The Brooklyn Penthouse holds two vehicles, and a limited number of street passes cover a third if you request one before arrival. Nobody wants to circle a packed lot in the dark anyway.
How Far Is WildLights From an Indio Stay?
The Living Desert sits at 47900 Portola Avenue in Palm Desert. The Brooklyn Penthouse is in Terra Lago, a gated community in Indio just off the I 10. Our property page puts The Gardens on El Paseo, also in Palm Desert, about 15 miles from the house. So think of WildLights as a drive across the valley, not a stroll. Leave a cushion for parking before that 8:30 last admission.
Check in is at 4 PM, so arrival night can work. We'd save WildLights for night two, though. Less rushing.
What Should You Bring?
- Layers. You'll be outside and walking for a couple of hours after sunset.
- A stroller or wagon, or rent one there. Wagons and double strollers run $10 plus tax, first come, first served. The paths are wide and paved.
Got someone sensitive to noise or twinkling lights? WildLights has amplified music and lots of blinking displays. Guest Services at (760) 346-5694 can answer specific questions.
Why Stay at The Brooklyn Penthouse for WildLights?
Coming home from a night of lights to one house instead of four hotel rooms is the whole point. The Brooklyn Penthouse sleeps up to 12 across five bedrooms, and every bedroom has direct access to a full bathroom. The upstairs king suite connects to a queen over queen bunk room, so parents can keep little ones close.
The hot tub is heated at no charge, which is exactly what you want after two hours on your feet in December. Pool and spa hours run 8 AM to 10 PM per HOA and city quiet hours, so get back by 9:30 and you've still got a soak. There's also a home theater with a 136 inch LED panel screen and a free play arcade game room for the nights you skip the zoo.
It's a home for families and friends staying together, not a party house. Parties aren't allowed, the guest count tops out at 12, and only the people on the rental agreement can be at the property. If you're filling a December calendar, our list of the best winter adventures near Palm Springs has more ideas for the days around WildLights.
WildLights FAQs
What time does WildLights start?
WildLights runs from 6 to 9 PM on event nights. Last admission is 8:30 PM, so get there early enough to park.
Are WildLights tickets refundable?
No. Tickets are nonrefundable and only good for the date you bought them for. The event goes on in any weather.
Can you bring a dog to WildLights?
Only on Jingle Pups night, December 10, 2026, when dogs and their people each need a ticket. On the other main nights, only service animals are allowed.
Is parking free at The Living Desert during WildLights?
Yes, the zoo lot is free. It fills up on busy nights, and overflow parking is on Portola, Haystack and Buckboard Avenues.
Book The Brooklyn Penthouse for Your WildLights Trip
WildLights capacity is limited each night, so lock in your date early. Then book your stay at The Brooklyn Penthouse with LuxeModBnB and give the whole group one home base for the season.