Lincoln Park, Chicago, has something on the calendar almost every week of the year: free festivals and ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo, the Green City Market on Clark Street, flower shows at the Lincoln Park Conservatory, and neighborhood street festivals from Mayfest in May to the World Dumpling Fest in September. This calendar lists what is coming up from late October 2026 through January 2027, then walks through the annual events month by month, with 2026 dates for the ones that already happened and 2027 dates only where organizers have announced them. Dates change, so each entry links to the organizer’s own page.
Full guides to five of the biggest events: ZooLights, Green City Market, Taste of Lincoln Avenue, Spooktacular and the Chicago Air & Water Show at North Avenue Beach.
Coming up next: late October 2026 to January 2027
The next three months are Halloween weekend, the final weeks of the outdoor Green City Market, and ZooLights, which runs November 20, 2026, through January 3, 2027. Costs are listed only where the organizer publishes them; a blank means check the link.
| Date | Event | Where | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri–Sat Oct 23–24, 6:30–10 p.m. | Zoo Brews: Howls and Growls (21+) | Lincoln Park Zoo | From $55 nonmembers, $44 members; $70 day-of | Zoo |
| Sat Oct 24, 1–4 p.m. | Spooktacular trick-or-treat, Lincoln Avenue | Lincoln Ave., Diversey to Webster | Chamber | |
| Sat Oct 24, 3–5 p.m. | Howler at Bauler | Bauler Park, 501 W. Wisconsin St. | Chamber listing | |
| Sun Oct 25, 1–4 p.m. | Spooktacular trick-or-treat, Clark Street | Clark St., Diversey to Armitage | Chamber | |
| Sun Oct 25 | BOO-seum Bash | Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Dr. | Chamber listing | |
| Through Sun Nov 1 | Fall Fest | Lincoln Park Zoo | Free admission; rides ticketed | Zoo |
| Thu Oct 29, 4–6 p.m. | Halloween Party at Lincoln | Lincoln Park Cultural Center, 2045 N. Lincoln Park West | Park District | |
| Nov 2–4 and Nov 30–Dec 2, Dec 7–8 | Illinois resident free days | Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum | Free for Illinois residents | Choose Chicago |
| Wed Nov 11 and Thu Nov 19 | Illinois resident free days | Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St. | Free for Illinois residents | Choose Chicago |
| Thu Nov 12 and Nov 19, 5–7 p.m. | The Gradient at Lincoln | Lincoln Park Cultural Center | Park District | |
| Thu Nov 19, 4:30–9 p.m. | ZooLights Member Preview Night (members only) | Lincoln Park Zoo | Free for members and guests | Zoo |
| Nov 20, 2026–Jan 3, 2027, 4:30–9 p.m. | ZooLights | Lincoln Park Zoo | $7–$12 advance; $20 day-of or flexible; free Mondays Nov 23 and 30, Dec 7 and 14 (reservation required) | Zoo |
| Sat Nov 21 | Last listed outdoor Saturday market (8 a.m.–1 p.m.) | Green City Market, 1817 N. Clark St. | Free to browse | Green City Market |
| Tue Nov 24 | Sensory-Friendly Night at ZooLights | Lincoln Park Zoo | Ticketed | Zoo |
| Sat Nov 28, 10 a.m. | Sustainable Makers’ Market | Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum | Chamber calendar | |
| Sat Dec 5, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. | Student Art Fair at Lincoln | Lincoln Park Cultural Center | Park District | |
| Sun Dec 6, 1–3:30 p.m. | Clark Street Cookie Crawl | Clark St., Fullerton to Diversey | Chamber | |
| Sun Dec 6, 3, 6 and 8 p.m. | Chris White Jazz Trio: tribute to A Charlie Brown Christmas (8 p.m. show 18+) | Lincoln Park Zoo | Zoo | |
| Thu Dec 10, 6:30–10 p.m. | Adults Night Out: Sugar and Spice (21+) | Lincoln Park Zoo | Zoo | |
| Wed Dec 16, 10:30 a.m.–noon | Jingle Ball at Lincoln | Lincoln Park Cultural Center | Park District | |
| Thu Dec 31, 10:30 a.m.–noon | New Year’s Eve at Noon Party at Lincoln | Lincoln Park Cultural Center | Park District | |
| Sat Jan 2, 2027, 2–4 p.m. | New Year’s ReZoolutions | Lincoln Park Zoo | Zoo |
ZooLights is closed November 26 and December 1, 8, 15, 24 and 25, and open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day; last entry is 8 p.m. Our ZooLights 2026 guide covers tickets and timing, and Halloween in Lincoln Park 2026 rounds up the trick-or-treat weekend. For the colder months, see Lincoln Park in winter.
Annual events by month
Most of Lincoln Park’s big annual events fall between May and October, when the neighborhood associations, the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce and Lincoln Park Zoo each run several. Entries below give the typical timing, the 2026 dates and any 2027 dates organizers have already posted.
Winter (December to February)
- ZooLights, late November to early January. 2026–27 dates are November 20, 2026, to January 3, 2027, at Lincoln Park Zoo. The zoo’s light festival, with free Monday nights by reservation. Full ZooLights guide.
- Clark Street Cookie Crawl, early December. 2026 date is December 6, 1–3:30 p.m., on Clark Street between Fullerton and Diversey. Participants collect holiday cookies from Clark Street businesses, with carolers and hot chocolate along the way.
- Light Up the Night, early December. The last published date was December 4, 2025, at Lincoln Common, 2345 N. Lincoln Ave.; 2026 date not yet announced. A public holiday lighting at the Lincoln Common plaza.
- Winter flower show, Lincoln Park Conservatory, late November to early January. The 2025–26 show ran November 26, 2025, to January 4, 2026; 2026–27 dates not yet announced. Free, with a required reservation.
- New Year’s ReZoolutions, early January. 2027 date is Saturday, January 2, 2–4 p.m., at Lincoln Park Zoo. A family New Year’s event at the zoo.
- Spring Flower Show, Lincoln Park Conservatory, mid-February to May. 2026 dates were February 14 to May 10 (“Jewels of Spring”); 2027 dates not yet announced. Free, with registration through the Lincoln Park Conservancy.
March and April
- Savor Lincoln Park, March. 2026 date was Wednesday, March 18, 6–9 p.m.; 2027 date not yet announced. A ticketed evening tasting of neighborhood restaurants, run by the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce.
- Spring Egg-Stravaganza, late March. 2027 date is Saturday, March 27, at Lincoln Park Zoo. A spring kids’ event at the zoo.
May
- Lincoln Park Uncorked: Armitage-Halsted Wine Stroll, May. 2026 date was May 7; 2027 date not yet announced. A wine stroll through shops on Armitage (Kenmore to Halsted) and Halsted (Armitage to Webster).
- Chicago Mayfest, mid-May. 2026 dates were May 15–17; 2027 dates not yet announced. A street festival at 1000 W. Armitage (Racine to Sheffield) that benefits the RANCH Triangle Community Conservation Association.
- Run for the Zoo, late May or early June. 2026 date was Sunday, May 31; 2027 date not yet announced. A 5K, 10K and kids’ course in and around Lincoln Park Zoo.
June
- Lincoln Park Greek Fest, early June. 2026 dates were June 5–7; 2027 dates are June 4–6 (Friday 5–11 p.m., Saturday noon–11 p.m., Sunday noon–10 p.m.), $10 suggested donation. Held by St. George Greek Orthodox Church at 2701 N. Sheffield Ave.
- Lincoln Park Health & Wellness Weekend: Summer, early June. 2026 dates were June 6–7; 2027 dates not yet announced. Chamber-run fitness and wellness events at neighborhood businesses.
- Old Town Art Fair, mid-June. 2026 dates were June 13–14; 2027 dates are June 12–13 (Saturday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.), rain or shine. A juried fine-art fair in the Old Town Triangle around Lincoln Avenue and Wisconsin Street, run by the Old Town Triangle Association.
- Wells Street Art Festival, the same mid-June weekend. 2026 dates were June 13–14; 2027 dates not yet announced. An art fair on Wells Street near North Avenue, at the neighborhood’s southern edge.
- Cravings on Clark Restaurant Crawl, late June. 2026 date was June 24; 2027 date not yet announced. A Chamber restaurant crawl along Clark Street.
- Taco & Tequila Fest, late June. 2026 dates were June 26–27; 2027 dates not yet announced. Held in Wrightwood Park, 2534 N. Greenview Ave., benefiting Wrightwood Neighbors.
July
- Sheffield Garden Walk, mid-July. 2026 dates were July 18–19; 2027 dates not yet announced. Private gardens open to visitors between Armitage and Fullerton, Halsted and the river, run by the Sheffield Neighborhood Association.
- Armitage & Halsted Sidewalk Sale, mid-July. 2026 dates were July 18–19; 2027 dates not yet announced. Boutiques on Armitage, Halsted and Webster put sale racks on the sidewalk.
- Taste of Lincoln Avenue, late July. 2026 dates were July 24–26; 2027 dates not yet announced. A street festival on Lincoln Avenue between Fullerton and Wrightwood, run by the Wrightwood Neighbors Association, with a $10 suggested donation. Full Taste of Lincoln Avenue guide.
August
- Chicago Air & Water Show, mid-August. 2026 dates were August 15–16; 2027 dates not yet announced. The city’s free air show, centered on North Avenue Beach. The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool closes that weekend. Full Air & Water Show viewing guide.
- Lincoln Park Health & Wellness Weekend: Fall, late August. 2026 dates were August 29–30; 2027 dates not yet announced. The Chamber’s second wellness weekend of the year.
September
- Lincoln Park Uncorked: Lincoln Avenue Wine Stroll, September. 2026 date was September 17; 2027 date not yet announced. The fall edition of the Chamber’s wine stroll, on Lincoln Avenue.
- World Dumpling Fest, mid-September. 2026 dates were September 19–20; 2027 dates not yet announced. Held in Wrightwood Park, benefiting Wrightwood Neighbors.
- Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo, late September through October. 2026 dates are September 25 to November 1. Free admission, with pumpkins, live music and ticketed rides.
October
- Lincoln Park Wine Fest, early to mid-October. 2026 dates were October 9–11; 2027 dates not yet announced. Held in Jonquil Park at Wrightwood and Sheffield, benefiting Wrightwood Neighbors.
- Bank of America Chicago Marathon, a Sunday in October. 2026 date was October 11; 2027 date not yet announced. The course runs through the neighborhood on Clark Street, Webster, Sedgwick, Stockton Drive and Cannon Drive, so expect street closures that morning.
- Boo-tanical Bash, mid-October. 2026 date was October 14; 2027 date not yet announced. A Halloween event presented by the Lincoln Park Conservancy.
- Spooky Zoo, mid-October. 2026 date was Saturday, October 17; 2027 date not yet announced. Free trick-or-treating at Lincoln Park Zoo, hosted by the zoo’s Auxiliary Board.
- Zoo Brews: Howls and Growls, late October. 2026 dates are October 23–24, 6:30–10 p.m., for ages 21 and up. A ticketed Halloween party with craft beer and cider samples.
- Spooktacular, the weekend before Halloween. 2026 dates are October 24 on Lincoln Avenue and October 25 on Clark Street, 1–4 p.m. both days. Trick-or-treating at more than 40 businesses each day. Full Spooktacular guide.
Weekly and ongoing
Beyond the annual calendar, Lincoln Park has a steady rhythm of free and low-cost things that repeat every week or every season.
Green City Market
Green City Market runs outdoors at 1817 N. Clark St., at the south end of the park, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The 2026 season started Saturday, May 2, with hours of 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday markets run through November 21 (the market’s calendar lists 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; one line on its Lincoln Park page says Saturdays open at 8 a.m.). The market says its winter market is “coming soon,” and 2026–27 winter dates and location are not yet announced. Check the market calendar before you go. See our full Green City Market guide.
Lincoln Park Zoo programs
Lincoln Park Zoo is free and open 365 days a year. On top of the seasonal festivals, it runs repeating programs listed on its events page:
- Sunset Garden Tours for ages 16 and up, the second Thursday of each month, 6–7 p.m.
- Memory Enrichment for people living with dementia and their care partners, the third Friday of each month, 10:15–11:15 a.m.
- Early Bird Member Mornings, the second Saturday of each month from March to October, 8–10 a.m., for members.
- LEAP (Learn, Explore and Play) sessions for ages 2 to 4, on multiple dates.
- Seasonal extras such as the Penguin Encounter (May 28 to October 31 in 2026) and the Small Mammal-Reptile House behind-the-scenes tour (through November 15, 2026).
Lincoln Park Conservancy walks and volunteering
The Lincoln Park Conservancy runs guided nature walks on Fridays, 2–3:30 p.m., for $20, starting at the North Pond gazebo, 2535 N. Stockton Dr. Its EcoStewards volunteer workdays at the Lily Pool and North Pond run on weekdays and weekends, and its seasonal wellness series (for example, forest bathing at the Lily Pool) ends for 2026 on October 25. The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool is open daily from mid-April to mid-November. The Lincoln Park Conservatory is free Wednesday through Sunday with a timed reservation.
Beach season
North Avenue Beach is the neighborhood’s lifeguarded swimming beach. The 2026 season ran May 22 to September 7, with lifeguards on duty 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the beach hosts volleyball, rentals and daily beach yoga in summer. 2027 dates are not yet announced. In summer, Theater on the Lake at Fullerton and the lake hosts the Chicago Summer Theater Festival; check the Park District for the season lineup. See our parks and lakefront guide for more.
Museum free days
Two museums inside the neighborhood offer free days for Illinois residents. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum at 2430 N. Cannon Dr. has free days on November 2–4 and 30 and December 1–2 and 7–8, 2026, with free tickets reserved online or in person. The Chicago History Museum at 1601 N. Clark St. has free days on November 11 and 19, 2026. Dates can change, and 2027 free days are not yet announced; Choose Chicago keeps a running list.
Lincoln Park Cultural Center
The Chicago Park District’s Lincoln Park Cultural Center, 2045 N. Lincoln Park West, is the Park District’s program hub in the park, with ceramics, dance and woodshop classes plus family events through Night Out in the Parks. Its fall and holiday events are in the table above. In summer, the Park District’s Movies in the Parks series shows free films citywide at dusk.
Where to check for updates
The most reliable way to confirm a date is the organizer’s own calendar; these are the ones we check:
- Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce events calendar: the best single neighborhood feed, with street festivals, business events and holiday crawls. Its festivals page lists the annual events.
- Chicago Park District events: filter by community area and choose “Lincoln Park.”
- Lincoln Park Zoo events: ZooLights, Fall Fest, Spooky Zoo and monthly programs.
- Lincoln Park Conservancy events: Conservatory, Lily Pool and North Pond programs.
- Green City Market calendar: market days and the winter market.
- Special Events Management: Mayfest, Taco & Tequila Fest, World Dumpling Fest and Wine Fest.
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and Choose Chicago events for museum and citywide listings.
Frequently asked questions
Is ZooLights free?
Mostly no, but some nights are. ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo, November 20, 2026, to January 3, 2027, is ticketed: $7 to $12 in advance, or $20 day-of or for a flexible ticket. Monday nights on November 23 and 30 and December 7 and 14 are free with a reservation; free tickets are released one week ahead at 11 a.m. Central. Zoo admission during the day is always free.
When is Green City Market open in Lincoln Park?
Green City Market’s outdoor Lincoln Park market at 1817 N. Clark St. runs Wednesdays and Saturdays. The 2026 season began May 2 with hours of 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Saturday markets run 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through November 21, 2026. Winter market dates and location for 2026–27 have not been announced yet.
What are the biggest street festivals in Lincoln Park?
The main neighborhood street festivals are Chicago Mayfest on Armitage in May, Lincoln Park Greek Fest on Sheffield in June, the Old Town Art Fair in June, Taste of Lincoln Avenue in late July, the Taco & Tequila Fest and World Dumpling Fest in Wrightwood Park, and the Lincoln Park Wine Fest in Jonquil Park in October. Announced 2027 dates so far are Greek Fest, June 4–6, and the Old Town Art Fair, June 12–13.
What is there to do in Lincoln Park for Halloween?
Lincoln Park Zoo’s free Fall Fest runs through November 1, 2026, and the zoo held Spooky Zoo trick-or-treating on October 17. The Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce’s Spooktacular has trick-or-treating at more than 40 businesses on Lincoln Avenue on October 24 and on Clark Street on October 25, 2026, 1 to 4 p.m. both days.
Are there free events in Lincoln Park in winter?
Yes. Lincoln Park Zoo is free every day, ZooLights is free on four Monday nights with a reservation, and the Lincoln Park Conservatory is free with a timed reservation. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and Chicago History Museum have Illinois resident free days in November and December 2026.
Sources
- Lincoln Park Zoo: ZooLights
- Lincoln Park Zoo: Events
- Lincoln Park Zoo: Fall Fest
- Lincoln Park Zoo: Zoo Brews: Howls and Growls
- Lincoln Park Zoo: Spooky Zoo
- Lincoln Park Zoo: Run for the Zoo
- Green City Market: Lincoln Park
- Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce: Upcoming events
- Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce: Festivals and farmers markets
- Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce: Clark Street Cookie Crawl 2026
- Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce: Savor Lincoln Park
- Chicago Park District: Night Out in the Parks
- Chicago Park District: Conservatory flower shows
- Chicago Park District: Annual winter flower shows return (2025)
- Chicago Park District: North Avenue Beach
- WTTW: Chicago’s beach season kicks off (May 2026)
- Lincoln Park Conservancy: Events
- Choose Chicago: Free museum days
- Choose Chicago: Chicago Air & Water Show
- Lincoln Park Greek Fest
- Old Town Art Fair
- Special Events Management
- Sheffield Neighborhood Association: 2026 Garden Walk
- Wrightwood Neighbors: Taste of Lincoln Avenue
- Time Out Chicago: Chicago Marathon 2026 street closures
Planning a move and want to know what a year on a particular block feels like? Joe Bjorklund, a Lincoln Park broker with 14 years in real estate, is happy to help; get in touch. More in the complete guide to living in Lincoln Park and the Lincoln Park FAQ.
Last updated October 2026 by Joe Bjorklund, Baird & Warner Lincoln Park.