LINCOLN PARK — Lincoln Park Zoo flipped the switch on its annual ZooLights on Friday.
Here's your ultimate guide to enjoying one of Chicago's best winter attractions this year.
By the Numbers:
- 2 million — More than 2 million lights shine each night.
- 20 — This year marks the 20th year of ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo.
- 1,000 — the first 1,000 visitors each night receive free holiday specs to make the lights sparkle.
- 363,136 — The average number of visitors each year over the past three years.
- 6 million — The total number of visitors over the past 20 years.
Hours and Info:
- ZooLights will run Fridays-Sundays until Dec. 12. From Dec. 12 through Jan. 4 the lights will be on nightly.
- ZooLights is open from 5-9 p.m.
- Special Nights: On Wednesday the zoo goes 21-plus for BrewLights and Thursday is a members-only night.
- Santa's last night at ZooLights will be Wednesday.
Where to Eat Before?
- RJ Grunts, 2056 N. Lincoln Park West, a neighborhood classic a short walk from the entrance to the zoo. Grab a burger ($10-$12.)
- Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder, 2121 N. Clark St., one-of-a-kind pizza-pot-pies and grinders. ($23.50 for a full pound pizza.)
- Riccardo Enoteca, 2116 N. Clark St., a wine bar serving Italian small plates and pizza.
- Gemini Bistro, 2075 N. Lincoln Ave., offering a three-course prix fixe ZooLights menu ($35) that includes a to-go dessert for your walk to the zoo with cookies, coffee, hot chocolate or apple cider.
How to Keep Warm?
- Holiday Brew Stop — Grab a seasonal beer from Louis Glunz inside the zoo grounds.
- Hot Chocolate Quick Stop Cafe — A number of stands throughout the zoo offer hot chocolate, hot cider and mulled wine.
- Head indoors to the Regenstein small-mammal reptile house and Regenstein center for African apes where you might catch the chimps sleeping on their backs with their hands and feet in the air.
Ice Skating
- Ice skating returns for its second year at the Farm-in-the-Zoo.
- Admission is $5 and skate rental is another $5.
- A full ice rink calendar with hours is available at lpzoo.org.
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