Light up your Holiday with ZooLights!

By Anthony Todd in Miscellaneous on Dec 16, 2008 5:10PM

Zoolights is one of our favorite Chicago holiday traditions. Every night, from now until January 4th, Lincoln Park Zoo is filled with bright lights and holiday-themed activities for the whole family. Best of all? It’s free! We visited Zoolights last Friday night to bring you a glimpse of the colorful display.

In addition the lights, there are holiday refreshments (including spiced wine!) at the Park Place Café, two special light and music shows, visits with Santa in the Lion House and ice carving on the patio outside the main gift shop. For zoo lovers, this is also a rare opportunity to see the animals after hours. Some animals will be off exhibit, but many nocturnal animals will be out and about. We also caught the lions asleep on their backs with their paws in the air – just like our cats at home.

Our favorite lighting effect is near the zoo’s South Lawn. A large dragon arches over the pathway, and periodically he will shoot flame all over the surrounding trees, which will light up in shades of red and orange. Maybe we like this particular feature because it’s so COLD during ZooLights – be sure to dress in extra layers and go inside often for hot drinks.

Zoolights runs every night from 5-9:00 PM until January 4th.