The zoo lights are beautiful some of them are synchronized to music. This is a very nice experience that I think every Chicago visitor should see. There is plenty of places to pick up a drink or two and some light food. While you are there you can also stop by the lion house or the reptile house and visit with some animal and warm up if it's a very cold day. read more

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I had an amazing time at Zoolights at the Lincoln Park Zoo! This is a fun Chicagoland holiday tradition and there is so much to experience ! From the ferris wheel to the sparkling holiday light tunnel, there is something for everyone! Perfect holiday outing!! read more

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I arrived around 7:30pm on a Sunday for their Zoo lights with my son. It was $7 a person. It was a coldddd day, unfortunately. The zoo is large and I don't think we were able to see everything. Not only did we see the lights, but we were able to see some of the animals both indoors and outdoors but it was limited. The lights were pretty cool! They had stands for small food items and drinks. I highly recommend bundling up! I wasn't prepared enough. They do have bus stops right outside the entrance, which was convenient. read more

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We went last night, despite the cold, and it was really fun! It was my niece's first time at LP's zoo lights and she really enjoyed them. She even convinced me to ride the Ferris wheel, sooo much fun. There's a lot of lights to see. We grabbed hot cocoa to stay warm, but we didn't get through the whole thing because we needed some real heat. definitely recommend checking them out, just bundle up! read more

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Purchased tickets for four families but wind chills were well below zero on the day we were to visit. I emailed stating that we have small children that cannot be outside in dangerous weather and would they please honor our tickets another day? They jokingly told us to bundle up, stated their policy and denied my request. Never again will I attempt to see their display. Horrible people! I would give negative stats if that was an option. read more

Beautiful and most lights were accompanied by music. Definitely a must see for the Christmas season.

We really enjoy Zoo lights at the Lincoln Park zoo Last year was our 1st year attending, and we really thought it was great. It is definitely the least expensive of all of the light installations in and around Chicago. It's such a bargain at only $5 per person, butt, Monday nights are free! You do you have to make A reservation in advance , and the Monday night reservations open up the previous Tuesday morning. So exciting to see and walk through all of the lights as well as visit some of the animal residents at the zoo Grab a hot chocolate and walk through the wonder with your loved ones Tickets are selling fast, so grab yours asap! For more information on ZooLights hours, tickets, etc. please visit https://www.lpzoo.org/event/zoolights/ read more

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Amazing!!!!!! We rented out an igloo and it was so much fun!!! We had little kiddos with us so we did it during the day not the evening when the lights were on but they still had some trees and little gingerbread men lit up throughout. The igloos were SO CUTE and we got hot cocoa and cookies to decorate. It even started snowing a little bit before we left, so magical!! I always love the zoo staff they're so sweet and always try hard. They even gave the kiddos special light up cups for the cocoa!! read more

After coming to Zoo Lights for years, we discovered that they finally decided to/needed to start charging for admission. Mondays are still free, but you have to make reservations. (Quick and easy). We came lastnight when it was 20 degrees, and see that they made up for the free night...with $30 for parking!! Yikes. There were some new displays, which was nice to see, and the new light show was amazing this year! Hot chocolate is now $7 and while the various alcoholic beverages were tempting, I was not about to pay $13 for a hot toddy. They have good snacks too but our hands were too cold to take our gloves off! All in all it was a great kickoff to the holidays and it's always enjoyable, even in the cold. read more

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Been to Zoolights multiple times over the past 5 years. Such a cool experience to see amazing light displays and music with zoo animals. The carousel is always a big hit. Don't like that they are charging now. Prior Zoolights you paid for ticket only. There is a Ferris wheel too. The gorilla trek was cool. It was pretty cold out so not too many animals, the gorillas were sleeping so cute. NYE Zoolights is also really cool and affordable. Will be back again! read more

Zoolights - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very cool and well kept zoo! The zoo lights were amazing and a perfect festive night out. Despite being crowded it wasn't miserable and we had plenty of space to walk about and check out the beautiful scenery. Our favorite light display was the Chicago city outline! read more

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I came to Zoolights for the first time since I was a little kid, and it's just as magical as I remember! The hardest part is finding parking, however there's plenty of meters in the area. We parked across from the Hotel Lincoln and went in the South Entrance by the petting zoo. Only thing to note is that going in this way takes away a bit of the 'flow' of the lights since you go in a weird backwards loop. If you go in this entrance, also make sure to take a trip to the front to see the lit up 'Zoolights' sign! We came on a Monday night since all Mondays in December are free! By the time we found parking we were walking in around 5pm, which was perfect because it wasn't too crowded and had just gotten dark. There are plenty of places to grab adult & warm drinks, as well as some snacks while you walk and see the lights. Some of the indoor exhibits are open, which is a nice option to keep warm. The only animals we saw in their exhibits were the monkeys & the penguins, the rest were out for the nights. The lights this year were great! I loved the Christmas music being played to keep up the ambiance, and there were colorful and fun lights everywhere we looked. I loved that they had animal lights near each exhibit so you had an idea of where you were within the zoo. My favorite part was the light up tunnel & Chicago skyline/flag. We finished our rounds in about an hour or so, so I wouldn't've paid too much for entry unless it was for a special occasion or with a child. Overall, a great stop in Chicago around holiday time! read more

I've lived in the Chicago area much of my life and, although I'm in Texas now, I do like to visit the city during the holiday season. This was the first time I've been to the Zoolights event at Lincoln Park Zoo and it was a great experience. I've visited other light shows around the country and this one was the best organized and designed set of displays I've seen. The extensive installations and variety of lighting keeps it from being too crowded in any location and there are enough activities and amenities (hot chocolate stands among those) to keep you engaged. The admission price of $7 is more than reasonable and Monday visits are free. Highly recommended. read more

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This is the 27th year we attended this as a family. Literally all the animals except a single giraffe and were blocked off or put away. Guess what LPZ - not actually there to see broken lights and a bunch of empty exhibits. read more

I thought this event was super fun and whimsical. It's so nice to see the zoo in a different light, literally thousands. I was impressed by how high the wrapped the trees. They had so many fun things to do. Although i didn't do them. I'm cheap. I even went on free night. Makes it sweeter! All the regular rides were open plus they had a light maze! And cool light tunnels. Only animal I saw were the migratory birds. Someone told me it was weird duck season. There's quite a variety and they were pretty active. Great time! Check it out before it closes this weekend. (Jan. 8 I think) it's only $5! read more

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@LINCOLNPARKZOO - Adults Night Out, HOLIDAZE is here! Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago What a magical night in the first snow of December the Zoo Lights are FINALLY here! (ad) Celebrate the with a boozy & food-filled no-kids zone open for an . As you can see in the reel there's a live DJ , Carousel, Light Maze, Ferris wheel, various zoo exhibits open (see the ) You can even take pictures with Santa and grab the special 3d holospex glasses to look at the lights differently! Thank you for having me ! What a fun s'mores experience + appetizers (especially the mini baked potatoes & steak skewers by @tigerlilyevents , More on @midwestmunching on Instagram read more

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Nice light show display, haven't been in years. Was lucky enough to go on a free admission (Monday). Weather was nice for walking around, and the 6$ hot chocolate was surprisingly very good. read more

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Loved Zoolights this year. In my opinion it is bigger and better than years prior. More inside area were also opened so you can get the chance to see animals and warm up! For less than $10pp, this is a great holiday option! read more

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Visited LPZ a few weeks ago for Zoo Lights. Their light display was so tacky! The only beautiful light displays were the Christmas displays which were mostly indoors. The music was obnoxious too and to top it off there were hardly any animals in the exhibits. I overheard many people expressing their disappointment as most were expecting a Christmas light display instead of this bizarre spiritless light display of disjointed themes. DO BETTER LPZ!!! read more

Frustrsting experience. Took 40 mins to enter the north parking lot. Kept seeing cars enter from other directions but traffic heading south on First Avenue was at an absolute standstill. No breakdowns but lots and lots of families trying to push their way into the front of the line as if their kids were more important than everyone else's. Hardly saw any animals. One apparently disturbed polar bear, three penguins and some dolphins--that's it. Lights were good. read more

Zoolights at Lincoln Park zoo has quickly become a favorite after Christmas event. This event is free to enter. There are ways to spend money once inside, there are ways to donate to the event, or you can stroll through without spending anything - it's up to you to decide. The lights are spectacular! So well done and impressive. Several of the attractions are open and the staff is standing by to answer questions and tell you a little more about the animals. I'm always impressed by Lincoln Park zoo. It's such an important part of our community. This event can get crowded. One year we went the Saturday after new years and there were lots of strollers making it a bit difficult to work your way through the displays. This year we went the Thursday after new years and it was a bit less crowded. Looking forward to next year! read more

Zoolights - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Zoo lights is always a good time and great for the family or a date night. This year they have expanded and added more lights and a new pavilion/exhibit. Mondays and Tuesday's are free and they have a night for those that have sensory sensitivity, which I think is great! There are light shows programmed to music, huge led displays, and lots of photo opps. Food Is available throughout and the main restaurant near the entry is open. Ice sculpting is back and plenty of animal exhibits are open for you to check out the animals. If you don't take the bus or Uber, parking in the lot will start at about 20/25 dollars and go up depending on how long you're there. Don't forget to take a ride on the merry go round while you're there! read more

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Went here with my family and had a blast! Zoolights is free so you can't really go wrong! It can get pretty crowded and somewhat difficult to navigate if you're not familiar with the area, but there's interesting things in every corner! The ice sculpting was super interesting and the cookies & cream hot chocolate was wonderful! Definitely a new holiday tradition! read more

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The lights were spectacular. I definitely recommend going with friends and family during the holiday season. I'd say you can walk through everything in about 45mins - 1 hour if fast-paced, but should really plan on spending 2 hours if want to enjoy and stop to grab some drinks/snacks. They have treats like pretzels, cookies, churros, etc. they also serve holiday drinks and some alcohol for adults. Docking a star because the entry process was not well thought out and there was a very long line despite us having to buy tickets in advance with a 30 min time slot to enter. I got there at 7:15 and only got to the gate at 7:50. I would recommend going later in the night if you don't want to wait as I saw the line had died down when I left. Overall recommend! read more

Zoolights - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The zoo lights were ok but not exceptional. I have seen others that were better there was no theme or cohesion to it

Pretty lights .... aaaand a whole f ton of people. Free admission on non event days. My husband and I were lucky enough to visit Zoolights on the first "real" snow of the year. Zoolights is sure to bring some light to your day. My favorite thing to do here is stand in the center area and just STARE. They are just lights but the Holidays aren't the Holidays without bright, blinking, bulbs. A lot of the sections have timed songs, where the lights work with the song. Downside is that this is Chicago and people flood through attractions, like this. There are "less crowded" parts of Zoolights that you can get to! I know that when we went to the Kids Farm area to see the lone wolf, there was almost no one there. Zoolights is a fun, free, and Holiday themed activity. Stay warm with some mulled wine and Christmas cheer. Tis the season! read more

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On a field trip with over 20 people and the zoo closed at exactly 5:00 after they told all of us we could still show up for the 4:30 show. they locked the gates right in front of the bus and continued to ignore us after we honked and yelled for security to come over and help us. Our teacher even called and they refused to pick up the phone. They do not state first come first serve and they don't care about the meeting times. it's a huge waste of time and an even bigger waste of money. DO NOT DO THIS. I heard it boring anyway. who wants to walk in the cold and look at shitty Christmas lights poorly placed on trees anyways. Also dont even know if I'm gonna get a refund. 10 whole dollars just to be disrespected. read more

A refreshing family friendly activity and a great way for everyone to take a break from their screens and get some fresh air! Zoolights looks and feels a little different this year due to the pandemic. You have to buy tickets in advance and can only enter during a very specific time window. You have to wear masks and follow one-way signs around the zoo once you get inside. It is much less crowded than it was in previous years, which is nice but at the same time makes the exhibit feel a little less festive. However, the seal was putting up quite a show amidst the light display during our visit, making the entire experience very memorable. We highly recommend going to Zoolights this year, especially if you are stuck in town. The ticket prices are much much cheaper than similar exhibits in the 'burbs (even with the parking fee) and are definitely worth every penny. read more

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The Lincoln park Zoolights have become a part of our winter tradition over the last few years and it's always a good time. We love strolling around and looking at the lights with some hot chocolate. I'd say it's somewhat underwhelming if you don't have children but we still enjoy it. Wish they had some more snacks or adult friendly activities. read more

What a fantastic idea! A huge, beautifully kept zoo decorated with two and a half million lights as a visitor's oasis that's free! We happened to go on a pleasant night that wasn't too cold. It was busy but not congested. It was easy to navigate at our own pace with ease. Ice sculptures, music & light shows, cookie decorating, hot chocolate and Santa Claus! Absolute fun for young and old, it's very popular for good reason. The staff was very helpful and friendly. The snack shop was full of goodies. The gift shop was open with tons of gifts for yourself or others. Some of the animals were out and ready to host the night time visitors too! Don't miss the singing port-o-potties!!! read more

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Very fun place to come with kids and enjoy the beautiful views of Chicago! I've come with friends over the years and every year the lights are prettier than the last. Besides, the cold weather this was a blast! There are cool lights for everyone to enjoy and stations to take cute photos and order warm treats and drinks! I highly recommend checking out these beautiful and fun lights! read more

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"A free zoo in the city?" I will start the review with four (4) stars, without a doubt. "How about a free zoo with festive Christmas lights?" I don't care what other people say. I will automatically render my five (5) stars! I didn't make it to the zoolights last Christmas, so I couldn't give my heart, Lincoln Park Zoo. But this year, I won't shed a tear because I'm here with hubby on a snowy day, walking around, visiting a ton of pokestops, and catching some pokemons. Speaking of Pokémons, two (2) high-CP Pinsir door guards were here to greet us at the Webster/Lincoln Park Way entrance (as of 12/04/2016, it has been a Pinsir's nest). In addition to all the light decorations throughout the place, the majority of zoo was actually open. We went to the Lion House, the Primate House, the Reptile House, and the African House. Just in case you need to take a break from walking or escape the cold, head to one of the indoor exhibitions. I saw a few guests who were drying their socks and shoes in the Reptile House. The "Santa's Photo Booth" can be found inside the Primate House. Restrooms are located inside the Lion House, with "men" and "women" on the opposite side, respectively. I know the cafe has restrooms available as well. The Ferris Wheel wasn't open, but I did snap a picture of it. The "candy cane" corridor appeared to be a popular destination for photo-taking, so I would recommend all of you to be aware of the people in front of you who suddenly stop and pull out their cameras or phones. Hubby and I had great fun and enjoyed our night out together. Although parking is available by the Lakeshore east entrance, I strongly suggest the use of public transportation. I know CTA #130 and #151 have a stop at their west-end entrance. One can also utilize #22 (Clark) bus, or walk approximately fifteen (15) to twenty (20) minutes to the CTA Fullerton Brown/Red/Purple Line station. read more

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This is a special place and wonderful entertainment during December in the city. If you read some of the other reviews you'll see this attraction gets marked down often because of the crowds...but the crowds are what tell you it is a draw for thousands each day. Yes, parking is a problem as always but this is good stuff. Don't miss one of the benefits of living in a large and wide open city like Chicago. This totally FREE exhibition is thousands and thousands of light displays throughout the zoo grounds, lighting up the evening. Just as the zoo is free, all the light exhibits are free. You simply stroll through the grounds and soak up the visual treats. Most of the zoo houses are also open...and many of the animals are on display and ready to delight the crowds (although some of the animals may be sleeping)...and the buildings are also a good place to warm up between walks. Also included (but at a reasonable price) are a number of fair-type rides...we went on the Ferris Wheel but skipped the Carousel and the light maze...either way these inexpensive rides and attractions are fun for the kids and gives them a change of pace if they get tired just walking. There are a few food vendors on the grounds selling pretzels and popcorn and the like, and there is a beer dispenser for those that are thirsty. The porta-potties get janky over the evening, but all-in-all this light event is a treat. Come around 4 pm - just before it is dark - to make finding parking easier, and come on a weekday to avoid some of the crowds. We showed up around 3:30 pm and had an early dinner a block or so away at R.J. Grunts and then walked over...easy way to accomplish two things...had a meal and had found street parking before it got busy. Do this! read more

Zoolights - Alice in Wonderland display - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

25 Year's and going Strong!! Lions,Tiger's and Bears.....On My.....Lighted Lion's, Tiger's and Bear's even better!! Oooooooh Yesssssssss!! Sweet Home Chicago...... Love the City and lite up Monkeys in the Tree's and so much more here......Helicopters overhead and TV News Channels broadcasting the Festivities both from the Air and on the Ground......Kid's frolicking around and sound's of little girl's and boy's shouting "Ooooh n Ahhhh"!! The glow of the happy faces and busyness of the crowd hustling about to see and hear the Zoo all lite up and Christmas music coming from all around the Zoo grounds.... Even the Musical Port-O John's doing their part to bring Humor and Happiness as spectators walked past.....The Ice Sculpturer dazzling the audience with his chainsaw making a Crystallized Character from a solid piece of Ice.....Such a Delight to see it live and have the Christmas Spirit flow throughout the whole Zoo!! Having the sounds of the season match the Spectacular view's makes it more the Magical...... Ho^Ho^Ho and away we go.... MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE AND PEACE,LOVE N JOY FILL YOUR LIFE FOR NOW AND ALWAYS!! read more

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HOL1DAY 1LLUM1NAT1ON A timeless tradition that doesn't cost a penny. If I'd ever been to Zoo Lights at Lincoln Park, it was a long time ago and I've no recollection of it. But I went on one of the last days in 2016 with a date and remembered everything just fine. Lincoln Park Zoo -- which is free during the year anyways -- hosts a special holiday event in December complete with synchronized Christmas lights and hot cocoa tents. The lights were very festive and many were timed to music, although as Jessi W pointed out, the tunes were on an endless loop which got repetitive after a while. HighLIGHTS (hah!) included huge LED snowflakes hung in trees, a light-up Loch Ness Monster in a small pond, a neon "running" tiger, and my personal favorite decoration of the evening - a majestic Harambe figure. RIP buddy (5/27/99 - 5/28/16). It's cold as always and parking can be a hassle to find, but fortunately there's entrances at both ends of the zoo so your walk isn't too ridiculous. There was a merry-go-round and a super sketchy Ferris wheel set up on a pay-per-ride basis, but the howling winter winds made us think twice about going on. I would recommend that you either plan on staying for several hours or get out in 30 minutes or less -- parking fees jump up from 'free' to $20 after just half an hour for the general public. 'Twas good (albeit chilly) times. Along with the Christkindlmarket, The Lights at Lincoln Park Zoo is something to look forward to every holiday season in Chicago. read more

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Such a magical thing to do with family or friends! The zoo does an excellent job decorating all the grounds. So many adorable light animals and of course the light show in the middle set to music is always wonderful. This year they added a ton of hanging monkeys that were SO cute! Some things to note - if you want to beat the crowds, the zoo offers a bunch of ticketed nighttime events that are fantastic. My favorite is BrewLights. A bunch of breweries set up throughout the zoo and you get to taste all the different beer, see the animals, go on the carousel, even visit Santa! Another ticketed event is a really great market with vendors selling an array of goods that are great holiday gifts. Tried the holiday market this year and it was so fun and a manageable crowd. read more

Zoolights - Zoo lights! - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We love coming every year and it's part of our holiday traditions. This year you have to buy a timed ticket that's $5 for entry because of COVID (we didn't mind supporting the zoo but I do hope it goes back to free for everyone to enjoy). We were glad to have something outside and safe to do to get us in in the holiday spirit. The light maze ($3 tickets each) was a nice edition - it wasn't particular hard or anything but the 3D glasses were fun. It got some laughs our of our group. Love all the lights places but maybe they can mix it up a little one year? Some different themed decorated Christmas trees spread throughout? Or a few different staged photo areas? I'm taking off one star this year because of the lightshow that's in the middle by the cafe. This year it really seems like they were half-doing it. If it was timed to music it wasn't done very well and it was all white for the whole thing with no extra things lighting up. I wish they would go back to different themes, I loved the Alice in Wonderland year or when they did more of a Christmas rock music thing. read more

My friend & I went to the brew lights event this past winter. It was absolutely freezing but still a blast!! They had such an awesome set up with the lights, it was really beautiful. They offered different things to do: the light show, the light maze, indoor section with live music, and ice sculpture shaving! The merry go round was up & running which was also really fun! They had beer booths set up sporadically throughout the zoo which was convenient. Overall, we had a really good time! read more

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Wow, can't believe this event is free and is open every day of December! Very family friendly and friendly to people of all ages. The lights are so pretty, don't forget to stop by the gift shop to grab a free pair or 3D glasses that changes the lights to a different shape. I had a blast here with my husband & was super glad we visited even though we were freezing. The indoor exhibits definitely helped because they were heated! It was cool to see the nocturnal animals up and about. It was hard to see some of the animals because they dimmed the lights for the animals to catch some Zzzs. You can even take a photo with Santa. Some of the additional stuff like the rides and light maze aren't free but it was $3 per ticket. For a free event, it really can't be beat, we spent a good hour something here. read more

Wasn't worth the money we paid for the parking and the entry ticket. We saw a total of 3 animals. The chimps and gorillas (which were all asleep) a porcupine, and some snakes. That's it. The lights were mediocre. Wasn't worth the 45 minute drive into Chicago. read more