ZooLights is the holiday light festival at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, held on the zoo grounds at 2001 N. Clark St. in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. The 2026–27 season runs from Friday, November 20, 2026, through Sunday, January 3, 2027, from 4:30 to 9 p.m. nightly (last entry 8 p.m.), with a few closed nights. Advance tickets cost $7 to $12 depending on the date, same-day and flexible tickets are $20, and four Monday nights are free with a reservation.
This is Chicago’s ZooLights, not the event of the same name at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Everything below comes from Lincoln Park Zoo’s own ZooLights page, checked in October 2026. For other things happening this season, see our Lincoln Park events calendar.
Good to know
| Dates | Fri Nov 20, 2026 to Sun Jan 3, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 4:30–9 p.m. nightly; last entry 8 p.m. |
| Closed | Thu Nov 26 (Thanksgiving); Tue Dec 1, 8 and 15; Dec 24 and 25. Open New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. |
| Location | Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60614; paid lot entrance at 2400 N. Cannon Dr. |
| Cost | $7–$12 fixed-date tickets bought in advance; $20 day-of or flexible; everyone needs a ticket, including infants |
| Free nights | Mondays Nov 23 and 30, Dec 7 and 14 (reservation required; released one week ahead at 11 a.m. CT) |
| Organizer | Lincoln Park Zoo; presented by Invesco and ComEd |
| Source checked | Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLights page, October 2026 |
What ZooLights is and what to expect
ZooLights turns the 49-acre zoo into a walk-through light show, and it is one of Chicago’s longest-running holiday traditions. The zoo says this season features more than 3 million lights and hundreds of LED displays. The event began in 1995 and was free for more than two decades; the zoo started charging admission in 2020, citing the financial strain of the pandemic, and has kept a set of free nights since.
Lights and attractions
- A light tunnel, a narrated light show on the South Lawn and a Ferris wheel with skyline views
- The Endangered Species Carousel and a holiday-themed VR ride; rides are sold separately from admission
- Live ice carving on Friday and Saturday nights
- Photos with Santa in Pepper Family Wildlife Center nightly through Dec 23 (professional photos for purchase)
- Hot cocoa, mulled wine, churros and snacks at select spots, fire pits for s’mores and the Light Lounge at Foreman Pavilion
Special nights in 2026–27
- Member Preview Night: Thu Nov 19, 4:30–9 p.m., members only
- Sensory-Friendly Night: Tue Nov 24, 4:30–9 p.m., with blinking lights slowed or held steady and music softened or off
- Chris White Jazz Trio tribute to A Charlie Brown Christmas: Sun Dec 6, several showtimes, including an adults-only show
- Adults Night Out: Sugar and Spice (21+): Thu Dec 10, 6:30–10 p.m.
- New Year’s Eve at ZooLights: Thu Dec 31, 4:30–9 p.m., with an hourly countdown
Tickets and free nights
Buy fixed-date tickets ahead of time: they are cheapest in advance ($7 to $12, depending on the night) and jump to $20 on the day. A $20 flexible ticket works on any regular ZooLights night through January 3, but not at ticketed special events. Limited $20 same-day tickets are sold at the East and West Gates (cash accepted). Tickets are nonrefundable.
The free Monday nights are November 23 and 30 and December 7 and 14. Free tickets still require a reservation, and the zoo releases each night’s batch one week ahead at 11 a.m. Central. December 21 and 28 are not free nights. Zoo members get two to eight free fixed-date tickets depending on membership level, plus 20% off additional fixed-date tickets.
Getting there
Transit or a short walk is the easiest way in, because the zoo’s own lot is limited and can fill on weekend nights. The zoo lists these options:
- CTA buses: the 22, 36, 151 and 156 stop along the zoo’s western edge
- CTA trains: Fullerton (Red and Brown) and Armitage (Brown and Purple) are each about a mile west
- Driving: paid lot at 2400 N. Cannon Dr. (Fullerton and Cannon), about $35–45 a day after a free first half hour, no cash; parking is not included in a ZooLights ticket
- Rideshare: use the West Gate, near Stockton Drive and Webster Avenue
For more on CTA lines and neighborhood parking rules, see Getting around Lincoln Park.
Tips for a better visit
- Plan ahead for Friday and Saturday nights, which the zoo singles out for advance planning; its lot may close temporarily when full.
- Arrive within an hour of the entry time on a fixed-date ticket. Late entry is allowed, but last entry is 8 p.m.
- Dress for a Chicago winter. ZooLights runs rain, snow or shine.
- Leave pets at home (service animals are welcome) and plan to buy snacks inside; outside food and drink are not allowed.
Nearby in Lincoln Park
The zoo sits inside lakefront Lincoln Park. Our Lincoln Park Zoo listing covers daytime visits, when admission is free year-round. Close by:
- Lincoln Park Conservatory, just north of the zoo on Stockton Drive
- Vanille Patisserie (2108 N. Clark St.) and Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co. (2121 N. Clark St.) on the west side of Clark
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum on Cannon Drive, north of the zoo
More in the restaurant directory and Parks and the lakefront.
Frequently asked questions
When is ZooLights 2026 at Lincoln Park Zoo?
ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago runs November 20, 2026, through January 3, 2027, from 4:30 to 9 p.m., with last entry at 8 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving (Nov 26), Tuesdays December 1, 8 and 15, and December 24 and 25.
How much are ZooLights tickets?
Fixed-date tickets bought in advance cost $7 to $12 depending on the night. Day-of fixed-date tickets and flexible tickets cost $20. Every guest needs a ticket, including infants, and rides are extra.
Is ZooLights free?
Four nights are free in 2026: Mondays November 23 and 30 and December 7 and 14. You still need a free reservation, which the zoo releases one week before each date at 11 a.m. Central. All other nights are ticketed.
Where do you park for ZooLights?
Lincoln Park Zoo has a limited paid lot at 2400 N. Cannon Dr., about $35 to $45 a day after a free first half hour, and parking is not included in admission. The zoo recommends CTA buses (22, 36, 151, 156) or rideshare to the West Gate.
Is Chicago’s ZooLights the same as ZooLights in Washington, D.C.?
No. Chicago’s ZooLights is run by Lincoln Park Zoo at 2001 N. Clark St. in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., runs a separate event with the same name.
Sources
- Lincoln Park Zoo: ZooLights 2026–27 (dates, tickets, free nights, rules)
- Lincoln Park Zoo: Hours and location (parking, CTA, rideshare)
- CBS Chicago: ZooLights tickets now required (Sept. 2020)
Have a question we didn’t answer, or spot something out of date? Tell us and we’ll update the guide. Back to the Lincoln Park events calendar.
Last updated October 2026 by Live Lincoln Park.