A Night of Zoo Lights: Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic | What You Need to Know
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This holiday season, step into Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s winter wonderland each weekend from late November through the end of December for Holiday Magic, a dazzling holiday experience filled with millions of twinkling LED holiday lights, charming attractions, and special events.
Special attractions include the brand-new Candy Cane Lane, a Sparkling Coast experience, a new holiday market, zoo light displays featuring giant animals, and seasonal treats from all your favorite Zoo vendors. Explore 300-foot-long tunnels of light synchronized to festive music, a 16-foot-tall LED gingerbread house, a stunning illuminated light orb, and a 41-foot-tall “dancing” tree adorned with colored LED lights choreographed to holiday tunes.
Holiday Magic is back, bigger and brighter than ever.
Create unforgettable memories with family and friends as you wander through Holiday Magic’s enchanted wonderland. Become captivated by holiday scenes that come to life with giant illuminated animals. Experience a brilliant tunnel show and a sparkling sea of lights. And marvel at over 900 beautifully decorated trees illuminating the night, each adorned by local community groups and organizations.
Stroll through the new immersive displays. The Zoo’s Wild Encounters pathway becomes Candy Cane Lane, where you can drop off letters for Santa and the animals on the way to the new East Mall Holiday Market. Adorned with moving wintry blue lights and magical underwater light statues, Living Coast transforms into Sparkling Coast for a magical experience filled with joy and wonder for the whole family.
Discover unique shopping and festive food and beverage menus at the holiday market that could make even the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes. Enjoy a craft holiday cocktail or two, sweet, fragrant funnel cakes, and warm, roasted candied nuts. Discover custom ornaments, cozy winter wear, and handmade gifts perfect for the holidays, and join the Jingle Bell Rock dance party. Hot chocolate available at various locations throughout the park will keep you warm, and a variety of holiday gifts and keepsakes at Jolly Gift Shops will make this season memorable.
The giant animals created with vibrant light displays are a marvel but don’t forget about the actual wildlife in their outdoor habitats, including big cats, bison, camels, kangaroos, and reindeer. There are three open indoor habitats during Holiday Magic: warm up at The Swamp, Living Coast, and Seven Seas Underwater Viewing.
Even Santa can’t resist Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Holiday Magic! Visit him at Seven Seas from November 22 to December 22, between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Additional photo op spots include a 16-foot-tall 3D gingerbread house, a festive holiday-themed photo frame, and a luminous 20-foot-tall orb in front of a dazzling 41-foot-tall tree, decked out in brilliant colored LED lights and “dancing” to festive music.
Seasonal attractions available with an additional ticket price include Elf Power, a virtual reality experience, the largest hand-carved wooden carousel in the country, and the stunning Anniversary Ferris Wheel, which is only open through December 31.
Let the holiday magic begin!
Celebrate a holly-jolly holiday with Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Holiday Magic, Chicagoland’s longest-running lights festival where over two million twinkling LED lights, 900 beautifully decorated trees, a new festive holiday market with seasonal food, drinks, and gifts shops, and illuminated lanes leading to Santa Claus transform the Zoo into a winter wonderland like no other.
When To Visit
Dates: November 22-24, 29-30 & December 1, 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, 26-31, 2024
During this magical time, Brookfield Zoo transforms into a luminous wonderland, opening its gates from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm for a unique nighttime experience for zoogoers of all ages.
For information updates about holiday magic, visit Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s website at czs.org/holidaymagic.
Get Tickets Now
Here’s how to make sure you don’t miss out on the Annual Holiday Magic experience at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. Make advance reservations to secure your spot and choose from four types of Holiday Magic tickets that’ll make you feel like you just transported to the North Pole itself! Be sure to select both admission and parking during checkout to complete your advance ticket purchase.
North Gate Entry | General Admission | 8400 31st Street, Brookfield
Choosing North Gate admission provides entry and parking at the North Gate. Reservations are strongly encouraged but not required.
South Gate Entry | General Admission | 300 Golf Road, Brookfield
Choosing South Gate admission provides entry and parking at the South Gate. Reservations are required.
Member Admission
Members do not need to reserve North Gate entry, but reservations are required for South Gate entry. To use member guest pass vouchers for South Gate entry, redeem them in advance by making reservations.
Active, reservist, or retired military members who present a valid ID at one of the Zoo's admission booths will be admitted to Holiday Magic free of charge. Please note that free community passes are not redeemable for Holiday Magic. The event is sponsored by Comed and Meijer.
About Brookfield Zoo Chicago
A beloved state treasure and a nationally acclaimed attraction, Brookfield Zoo Chicago is hailed for its exceptional design and remarkable animals. The Zoo offers visitors a one-of-a-kind opportunity to connect intimately with wildlife through unique encounters and immersive experiences.
Boasting a diverse array of animal habitats housing over 3,400 animals representing more than 500 distinct species from across the globe, Brookfield Zoo Chicago captured international acclaim for its innovative approach to animal enclosures. Abandoning traditional cages, the Zoo employs ingenious moats and ditches to contain its critters, providing a more natural and engaging environment. This groundbreaking facility proudly hosts beloved animals like giant pandas, giraffes, and polar bears, as well as a fully indoor dolphin exhibit and the first-ever fully indoor rainforest simulation.
Visiting the Zoo
Located just outside Chicago, Illinois, Brookfield Zoo promises an unforgettable experience for families and friends with captivating exhibits, thrilling encounters, and a calendar bursting with exciting seasonal activities. Managed by the Chicago Zoological Society, the Brookfield Zoo has earned global recognition for its unwavering commitment to top-tier animal care and wildlife conservation.
The Zoo is open weekdays from 10 am to 5 pm and weekends from 10 am to 6 pm. Some special events extend these hours.
Buy your tickets today on Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s website - visit czs.org.
Zoo Membership
Experiencing the many wonders of Brookfield Zoo Chicago might require more than a single visit, which is why many visitors choose to become Zoo members—an economical way to make multiple visits throughout the year. Various membership packages are available to meet the needs of individuals and families.
Basic: includes Zoo admission and parking at the main entrance.
Plus: includes basic benefits plus tickets to attractions you choose.
Unlimited: includes basic benefits, admission to all attractions on each visit, and parking at both entrances.
Every member receives:
Free admission for one year
Free parking for one vehicle at the main entrance (1st Ave. and 31st Street)
Member discounts on selected attractions inside the Zoo
Publications including member emails and Gateways, the quarterly member magazine
Restaurant discounts
Education program and special event discounts
Get a Brookfield Zoo Chicago Membership Today
Getting There
This world-renowned facility is conveniently located in the heart of Brookfield, Illinois, at 8400 31st Street (1st Avenue and 31st Street) in Brookfield, Illinois, about 14 miles outside Chicago’s Loop. It takes less than 30 minutes via I-290 W or I-55 S via car or ride share. The Metra commuter line delivers visitors from Union Station to Riverside’s Hollywood (Zoo Stop) in 35 minutes.