Zoo Lights Returns To Chicago For 29th Year But With Higher Prices

CHICAGO — With the holiday season still more than a month away, one popular Chicago fan-favorite is returning to Lincoln Park Zoo, but it will cost more to get through the door than it has in the past.

Tickets for the zoo’s popular attraction Zoo Lights went on sale on Thursday. Zoo Lights, which has been hosted for the past 28 years, will begin on Nov. 17 and run through Jan. 7, zoo officials said. But after residents paid $5 to get into the zoo to see the lighted displays in the past, tickets jumped to $7 for most weeknights and $10 for Fridays and Saturdays as well as Thanksgiving Eve and New Year’s Eve.

As has been the case in the past, Zoo Lights will be free on Mondays, the zoo said. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here. Despite the free admission on Mondays, tickets are still required.

“Tickets to ZooLights and other events help keep Lincoln Park Zoo free and support care, conservation, and community management,” Lincoln Park Zoo spokeswoman Anna Ciesik said when asked about the increase in ticket prices. “In addition to all of the previous offerings of ZooLights, this year’s ticket pricing reflects the exciting new additions for 2023, including new and modern LED light displays with interactive elements and an updated light show on the South Lawn.”

Ticket sales from ZooLights directly support the zoo’s world-class animal care, global conservation efforts, and innovative learning programs, zoo officials said in a news release. Events like the holiday lights spectacular also help keep the zoo free to the public 365 days a year.

This year’s ZooLights features a dazzling array of new and modern LED light displays that offer an exciting update to this classic event, the zoo said. Guests will be immersed in “ethereal and interactive elements” across the zoo.

Also on view is a never-before-seen garden-themed light show on the zoo’s South Lawn.

Visitors will encounter festive photo ops as they wander through the zoo, plus costumed characters and traditional Victorian carolers will be traveling around on select nights. The Pepper Family Wildlife Center will transform into the North Pole, hosting visits with Santa alongside the zoo’s holiday tree and festive décor.

“ZooLights ….is back with more to enjoy and experience than ever before,” Lincoln Park Zoo Director of Marketing & Events Gretchen Kirchmer said in a news release. “We hope to inspire a new nostalgia for generations of families and friends to come, as they watch Lincoln Park Zoo transform into a shimmering winter wonderland in the heart of Chicago.”