By-The-Numbers Look at Record-Setting ZooLights

Did you take in the holiday glow of ZooLights this year?

If so, you weren’t alone. The Lincoln Park Zoo welcomed a record-setting crowd this year, according to a letter sent Thursday by the organization's president, Kevin Bell.

"I think the enthusiasm for the event reflects its commitment to quality," he said. "Guests were eager to visit with Santa, pose with their favorite light display and celebrate the brilliance of 2 million lights."

The following is a quick, by-the-Numbers Look at ZooLights:

420,484: That's how many guests strolled through the beauty of ZooLights this past season. 

5,000: The number of Zoo members who received the VIP treatment—along with cookies, hot chocolate and crafts—in the Members Lounge at Park Place Café.

9: Represents how many people proposed to their significant others during the event, with the most popular place to bend the knee being the frozen animals shaped by the zoo's expert ice carvers.

2,000: Is the number coats for collected for those in need through the ZooLights Coat Drive. "That’s a real testament to the generosity of those who came to enjoy the zoo’s free holiday event," Bell noted.

15: The percentage increase in visitors to ZooLights from last year to this past year. The 2011-2012 season was also a record setting one for audience, Bell said.