Calendar & Events

Calendar & Events

Featured Event

Spring Egg-Stravaganza

Saturday, April 19

The hunt is on: Spring Egg-Stravaganza is back! Children ages 1–8 can hop to the zoo and fill their baskets with eggs, get photos with the Easter Bunny, chat with zoo experts, and enjoy plenty of “egg”-citing activities—including lawn games and musical entertainment.

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Events

Spring Egg-Stravaganza

Saturday, April 19

Children ages 1–8 can hop to the zoo and fill their baskets with eggs, get photos with the Easter Bunny, and more!

Early Bird Member Morning

Second Saturday Each Month: March–October

Join us for a series of members-only hours at the zoo! Members can enjoy an exclusive morning of early access to the zoo, free rides, and more!

Earth Week

Monday, April 21–Sunday, April 27

Head to your zoo for a week-long celebration full of free activities, chats, and more!

Sunset Garden Tours

Select Thursdays, May–September

Join a zoo horticulturist for a relaxed evening in the garden at Lincoln Park Zoo—after hours!

Zoo-ologie

Friday, May 2

Join the Auxiliary Board of Lincoln Park Zoo at Zoo-ologie! Tickets to the event include an open bar, bites from Chicago’s best restaurants, dancing, and a raffle—all inside the beautiful historic landmark, Café Brauer.

Second Saturday Garden Tours

Second Saturday Each Month: April–November

Join fellow nature lovers for a free guided tour of Lincoln Park Zoo’s diverse plant life and ecosystems.

Saturday Night at the Zoo Hosted by River North Fests

Saturday, May 10

With no kids and no strollers—but featuring bars, concessions, music, lawn games, free carousel rides, and karaoke—this is the perfect night out for adults only.

Memory Enrichment

Third Friday of Each Month

Memory Enrichment at Lincoln Park Zoo is a free, welcoming program for people living with dementia and their loved ones and care partners.

Sound Meditation With Jay Taylor

Select Saturdays, May 17–October 4

Lie back, relax, and sink into an immersive sonic landscape with sound meditation facilitator Jay Taylor.

Zoo Ball

Friday, July 11

Join us at the 48th annual Zoo Ball, our signature fundraiser! This gala provides critical support for Lincoln Park Zoo and helps ensure Chicago’s zoo remains free and open to all.

Summer Kickoff at Lincoln Park Zoo

Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-26

Start summer in style, with this free and family-friendly celebration that features ticketed attractions throughout the zoo, photo ops, and free programming and activities for all ages.

Run for the Zoo

Sunday, June 8

Don’t miss the 47th Run for the Zoo, Chicago’s beloved family-friendly tradition for runners and walkers of all levels and abilities!

’90s Night at the Zoo Hosted by River North Fests

Friday, June 13

Kick it back to the ’90s with a night of nostalgia at the zoo, hosted by River North Fests!

Craft Brews

Saturday, June 28

Savor the flavor of more than 100 craft beers and ciders at Lincoln Park Zoo’s annual Craft Brews at the Zoo, co-hosted by Lou Dog Events.

Summer Wine Fest

Friday, July 25

Get ready to stroll through lush gardens with a glass of fine wine at Lincoln Park Zoo’s annual Summer Wine Fest!

ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ

November 2025–January 2026

ZooLights will feature more than 3 million lights, including hundreds of luminous LED displays and festive seasonal experiences.

Programs

LEAP: Learn, Explore, and Play

Select Dates

Join us for a morning of investigating and exploring the natural world through play. Children guide the way as they choose whether to dig in the dirt, manipulate loose parts, create a collaborative work of art, or settle in with a story underneath a canopy of colorful fabric.

L.E.A.P. Into Nature Play: A Family-Friendly Workshop

SELECT DATE

Join Lincoln Park Zoo’s Child and Family Learning team for a morning of nature play! We’ll discover the benefits of playing in and with nature, explore some of our favorite materials and activities, and send you home with resources and inspiration.

Conservation Camp

Summer 2025;
9 a.m.–3 p.m. weekdays

Campers, rising grades PreK-5, will explore the zoo and learn about animals and how we care for them. They’ll also make new friends and spend time outdoors.

Children laughing and playing

Summer Zoo Crew

July 7–August 16; 9 a.m.–3 p.m. each day

Through team-building and immersive learning, campers entering grades 6–8 in the fall will explore the relationships between animals, humans, and ecosystems.

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