ZooLights (Lincoln Park Zoo)

3M+ lights and the endlessly-repeatable train ride — toddler catnip, with a sensory-friendly night.

Why you'll go

3M+ lights plus the train ride, and a sensory-friendly night with reduced sound and flashing. The holiday outing that actually works with a little one.

What they'll love

The lights are everywhere — more than 3 million of them, plus hundreds of glowing LED animal displays a little one can point at and name — but the real toddler magnets are the rides: a whimsical Endangered Species Carousel and a Ferris wheel with skyline views, both endlessly repeatable at toddler scale. There's a light tunnel/maze to walk through, Santa nightly through Dec. 23, and weekend cookie-decorating and ice-carving stations. For a kid who can't yet sit through much, it's a walk-around-and-gawk outing with a carousel to circle back to.

Real talk

No longer free general admission — 2025–26 was timed tickets $7–10/person, with free Mondays by advance registration. Go a weeknight early in the season; weekends near Christmas are packed and pricier.

Don't miss

  • Ride the Endangered Species Carousel The carousel is the toddler-perfect ride here — gentle, repeatable, and full of light-up animals. Note that rides are ticketed separately from the base ZooLights admission, so budget a little extra. Buy ride tickets or an add-on when you book your entry — the base ticket doesn't cover the carousel, Ferris wheel, or train, and buying on-site means an extra line in the cold.
  • Go on the sensory-friendly night if lights overwhelm your kid One designated night (Nov. 25 in 2025) keeps blinking and moving lights static and turns the music down low — a real relief if your little one is sensitive to flashing lights or noise. This is a single date each season and it books up; grab tickets early if it fits your kid.
  • Chase a free Monday Most Mondays are free with advance registration, which turns a $7-$10/person outing into a no-cost one. Registration is released weekly, usually around 11am the week of. Book the instant the slots drop — free Mondays go fast, and you'll still want to arrive right at the 4:30 opening to beat the crowd.