Tis the season for Christmas lights as the Lincoln Park Zoo has transformed the zoo into a jolly bright winter wonderland. Each year Lincoln Park creates a holiday lights festival for families to roam around the park while walking around the animal exhibits.
Lincoln Park Zoo had first begun their first Christmas light in 1995 with it being 30 years since the first light festival. Originally 100,000 lights were set up through the zoo. Since then the zoo has expanded their light show with over 3 million lights being broadcasted throughout the park.
“We touch so many lives in so many different ways: our visitors learn about diverse species from around the planet, our animals receive enrichment that inspires natural behaviors. As the zoo evolved, we became one of the most popular cultural destinations in Illinois and the only privately managed, free zoo in the country,” according to Lincoln Park Zoo.
The festival began on Nov. 21 and will run until Jan. 4, 2026 from 4:30 to 9:00 PM each night. The fair consists of a variety of different rides and attractions along with holiday bites like smores with hot coco and the popular Zoolights cookie decoration contests.
As visitors walk into the zoo from the bright light tunnel they are welcomed with LED animal figures such as polar bears and penguins. Families are also excited to see a few real life animals which the park has set up an indoor exhibit that showcases zebras, lions and many more animals.
“We want people to have an unforgettable experience and come to the zoo during a time when they normally wouldn’t come, during the winter at nighttime,” says Josh Rupp, the Zoo’s Director of Events. “All the events we put on, including ZooLights, exist only to support the mission of the Zoo and its conservation and education efforts.”
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