ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo

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Photo: Christine Zenino from Chicago, US · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

🎃 Seasonal · Chicago

2 hours · $ · Reservation required

age fit

0–1 yr

★ 3.0

1–3 yrs

★ 4.0

3–5 yrs

★ 4.0

5–10 yrs

★ 4.0

🚗
About 50 min drive
From Naperville · Parking: Zoo lot about $20–35, fills fast on light show nights; bus 151 / 156
🍼
Stroller-friendly
Flat surfaces — bring the stroller
🌳
Some shade
Fine on cold days · Good on cool days
⏱️
Typical visit: 2 hours
Best seasons: Winter

Millions of lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo every winter: animal-shaped light tunnels, light shows synced to music, ice carving demonstrations, and several indoor animal houses staying open after dark; a loop with hot chocolate in hand and a stroller in front is a December tradition for Chicago families.

💡 Tips

Open evenings from mid-November to early January; in recent years most nights charge about $5–7 admission with some sponsored free nights (check the website and buy ahead). Weekends are very crowded, so go on a weeknight right at the 5pm opening.

What this place offers

✓light show

✓zoo

✓hot chocolate

✓carousel

✓ice carving

✓stroller friendly

✓restrooms

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Holiday lights

This weekend's weather in Chicago

Forecast at the destination itself (coast and hills often differ from home)

☀️

Sat 10/17

Sunny · 36–57°F · 3% rain

☀️

Sun 10/18

Sunny · 48–63°F · 0% rain

Location

Chicago, Illinois

ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo

🎃 Seasonal · Chicago

What this place offers

Featured in these guides

This weekend's weather in Chicago

Location

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