ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ

Tickets for Lincoln Park Zoo members become available October 1 and tickets for the general public can be purchased beginning October 8.

Tickets for Free Admission Mondays will be released one week prior to each date at 11 a.m.

On most Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, ZooLights runs from 4:30-9 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, as well as Wednesday, November 27, and Monday, December 23, ZooLights runs from 4:30-10 p.m. ZooLights is closed on Tuesdays.

On Thursday, November 28 and Wednesday, December 25 ZooLights will be closed.

On Wednesday, December 4, Sensory Friendly Night is a ticketed event open from 4:30-9 p.m. On Thursday, December 12, Adults Night Out: Holidaze Presented by On The Rocks Premium Cocktails and -196 Vodka Seltzer is a ticketed event for guests 21+ from 6:30-10 p.m.

Every individual in your party, including children, must have a ticket to enter ZooLights. Purchase your tickets here.

ZooLights tickets are nonrefundable.

Resale of tickets is prohibited, but you may transfer tickets to a friend or family member if you’re unable to attend. You may also transfer your ticket to another available date as long as you do so prior to the date of your original visit (once that date passes, the tickets are no longer valid). Follow the link on your ticket confirmation email to complete a date transfer, or email events@lpzoo.org for assistance.

Limited paid parking is available in the zoo parking lot on Cannon Drive. Parking is not included in the price of your entry ticket.

On busy nights, traffic can become congested and parking may become difficult to find. We encourage the use of public transportation or rideshare services if possible.

When the parking lot is full, zoo staff will close it temporarily to ensure the safety of patrons. The lot will reopen when it is no longer at full capacity. If you are coming on a Friday or Saturday night, please plan your parking in advance.

Lincoln Park Zoo does not allow outside food and beverages during ZooLights.

Strollers and wagons are allowed at ZooLights, but please keep in mind that high-volume nights bring crowds that may be difficult to maneuver with oversized strollers or wagons. Scooters and bikes must be parked or walked.

Medications and prescriptions are allowed with proper labeling and identification. Staff may ask you to place certain medications in a secured locker in Searle Visitor Center during your visit.

Smoking tobacco and cannabis as well as vaping inside the gates is prohibited for the health and safety of the animals. Pets are not allowed at the zoo, but service animals are welcome.

Lincoln Park Zoo’s Code of Conduct can be found here.

Lincoln Park Zoo is proud to offer Sensory-Friendly Night at ZooLights on December 4. During this special event, all blinking or moving lights will remain static or turned off. Music will be turned to low volume as well. Please email accessibility@lpzoo.org with questions.

Yes, every individual in your party must have a ticket for entry, including infants, children, and Lincoln Park Zoo members.

ZooLights tickets are $7–10. Admission is free on most Mondays but tickets are still required. See the full schedule and pricing at tickets.lpzoo.org.

Lincoln Park Zoo members and their guests get exclusive, free access to the ZooLights Preview Night on Thursday, November 14. They will also receive four to eight free passes, depending on their membership level, to use on a date of their choice. Any tickets beyond these free passes can be purchased with a 20% discount. Not a member? Visit lpzoo.org/join to learn more.

No. We suggest buying your tickets early, as we cannot guarantee tickets will be available at a later date or at the event.

Please check your ticket confirmation for your selected entry time. We encourage guests to enter within one hour of that time to help manage lines at the gates. However, guests will not be turned away if they enter after their entry window.

Nope! All guests must show their ticket for entry to ZooLights, but an electronic version is fine. For the most efficient experience—and to help conserve paper—please have your ticket ready on your smartphone.

Tickets for the Ferris wheel, Endangered Species Carousel, Gorilla Trek, and Lionel Train Adventure can be purchased on your mobile device at tickets.lpzoo.org. Or, you can visit a ticket booth on zoo grounds at each of the attractions.

ZooLights takes place rain or shine. Please dress accordingly.

You’ll find Santa Claus in Pepper Family Wildlife Center nightly from 4:30–9 p.m. through December 23.

Yes! Groups of 50 or more can purchase tickets at 5% off. For just the discount, email events@lpzoo.org. For a private space, catering, dedicated entry, and other amenities, email groupsales@lpzoo.org.

Yes! From bright, intimate spaces to full zoo buyouts, ZooLights rentals are now available. Build a holiday party unlike any other at Regenstein Center for African Apes, the Kevin J. Bell Board Room at Pepper Family Wildlife Center, or the colorful Light Lounge at Foreman Pavilion! Visit lpzoo.org/private-events or contact groupsales@lpzoo.org for more information.

Hundreds of animals from around the world reside at Lincoln Park Zoo, including critically endangered species and species that are extinct in the wild. These animals have the choice to be out and visible or behind the scenes. Visit go.lpzoo.org to see the species that call Lincoln Park Zoo home and navigate to their habitats while you’re here!

Would you like to sponsor ZooLights? Email corporatealliances@lpzoo.org.

Do you have accessibility needs? If you would like help buying a ticket, email accessibility@lpzoo.org.

For other questions or issues not listed here, email zoolights@lpzoo.org.

ZooLights is an all-ages event. However, every guest must have a ticket—including infants and children.

Due to high guest volumes, we highly encourage you to buy entry tickets in advance. A limited number of tickets may be available for purchase at the gates.

You’ll get a QR code at checkout; for easy access, take a screenshot or photo of it. You’ll also receive the QR code by email. We recommend saving this to your Apple or Google Wallet. If you do happen to lose your ticket, email us at zoolights@lpzoo.org to have it re-sent to you.

You’ll only receive one QR code per purchase. If you’re attending with a group of other guests, you can share it so they can enter separately. Note that the code will only scan for the amount of tickets that you have purchased.

Wonderful! Please reach out to groupsales@lpzoo.org.

Yes, you can download this PDF of the ZooLights program and print it. Check out the interactive program here.

A single purchase of 50+ tickets is eligible for a 5% discount on the ticket price. Please email zoolights@lpzoo.org for details. You will receive one QR code that will scan for all tickets that were purchased in one transaction.