The East Gate light up during ZooLights, featuring a glowing sign spelling out "#ZooLights"

Calendar & Events

Featured Events

ZooLights Presented by Invesco QQQ and ComEd

November 21–January 4

Chicagoland’s favorite holiday tradition is back and brighter than ever! Enjoy more than 3 million lights, hundreds of nostalgic LED displays, and festive experiences that capture the magic of the season.
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More Events

Elf Movie Party at ZooLights

Sunday, December 21

Don’t be a cotton-headed ninny muggins! Get ready for an interactive movie experience packed with games, props, and—of course—singing loud for all to hear. Come see one of the best holiday movies ever made and be ready to party with Alamo Drafthouse and Lincoln Park Zoo.

Run for the Zoo

Sunday, May 31, 2026

Run for the Zoo makes it easy (and fun!) for everyone—from toddlers to elite athletes— to help support their favorite species at Lincoln Park Zoo and in the wild.

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.

Programs and Camps

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.

Conservation Camp

Summer 2026;
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

Summer 2026;
9 a.m.–3 p.m. weekdays

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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