ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
✓ Verified 2025-2026
Where: 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago, Illinois
When: Nov. 21, 2025 - Jan. 4, 2026
Hours: typically dusk – 10 PM
Cost: $7-$10
3+ million lightsanimal light sculptureslight tunnelsynchronized musicSanta meet-and-greetfree admission on select Mondaysattraction
Lincoln Park Zoo's signature winter event strings up more than three million lights, with animal sculptures, a light tunnel and music-synced displays throughout the grounds. Admission runs $7-$10 with free entry on select Mondays, and Santa meet-and-greets plus hot chocolate round out the visit.
Best time to arrive. Sunset in Chicago is around 4:20 PM in mid-December, fully dark by about 4:52 PM. A typical December night here bottoms out near 20°F, so dress for standing around outside.
Other displays nearby
There are 10 other displays within 5 miles of this one, and 14 within 15 miles. Most people make a loop of it rather than driving out for a single house.
- Navy Pier Winter WonderFest
- City of Chicago Christmas Tree at Millennium Park
- Andersonville - North Wayne Avenue Lights
- Christkindlmarket Chicago
- Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
- Pilsen Neighborhood Holiday Displays
- Ravenswood Manor Holiday Lights
- Roscoe Village Holiday Lights
Make a night of it. This is stop 10 on our 11-stop Chicago lights loop — about 9.5 miles and 67 minutes of driving in total.