Santa's Grotto

Name: Santa's Grotto
Start: 2026-11-21
End: 2026-12-23
Location: Dublin Zoo

About the event

Make this Christmas extra special with a magical visit to Santa’s Grotto at Dublin Zoo. From festive daytime adventures to enchanting Wild Lights evenings and quieter sensory-friendly sessions, there’s a special way for every family to enjoy the magic of Christmas.

Santa’s Grotto opens on Saturday 21st November 2026 and runs until Wednesday 23rd December 2026.

Meet Santa, receive a special festive gift and make memories to treasure this Christmas.

Meet Santa under a sky of stars and lanterns! This special evening bundle combines entry to Santa’s cosy grotto (with a festive gift included) and a journey through the celebrations of **Passport to Wonder **– nine immersive zones of handcrafted lanterns, dazzling light, music, colour and movement.

A festive day filled with wildlife, wonder, and cheer! Enjoy a magical daytime trip to Dublin Zoo, meet Santa in his enchanting grotto, and take home a special gift. Perfect for little explorers and family adventures.

Every Saturday & Sunday morning from the 21st of November, Santa’s Grotto will open for quieter sensory-friendly sessions with a calmer atmosphere. Enjoy a magical morning at Dublin Zoo with a gentler, music-free grotto experience. With reduced noise, thoughtful lighting, and smaller groups, every visitor to Santa during these hours can meet Santa in a calm, welcoming environment – and take home a festive gift*

From 12th November, Ireland’s largest festival of lights returns to Dublin Zoo with a spectacular new experience.

Wild Lights: Passport to Wonder invites you on a journey through nine immersive zones, where captivating celebrations and traditions from across the globe come alive through magnificent handcrafted lanterns, dazzling light, music, colour and movement.

Feel the beat of K-Pop, the rhythm of Carnival, the glow of Diwali and the magic of Christmas as you explore a world of wonder. With unforgettable sights around every corner, Wild Lights is the perfect way to make magical memories with family and friends.

Nine zones. Countless moments of wonder. One unforgettable night.