Festivals, Fairs & Special Events
Holiday Magic November 21, 2026
Bundle up, grab some cocoa and get ready to glow! Chicagoland’s longest-running holiday lights festival has been lighting up the night for 45 years, and this season 3.5 million twinkling lights are taking over Brookfield Zoo Chicago.
Find your way through a giant 90-by-60-foot maze of lights, stroll through candy-striped tunnels on Candy Cane Lane, and wander among pink flamingos in the Flamin-glow Forest. Watch the Glowing Tree light up to holiday music, strike a pose at the Gingerbread Cottage, and dance the night away at the Retro Christmas dance area.
Tell Santa your wish list on select nights, catch the dolphins making a splash in Holiday Magic Dolphin Discovery with Buddy the Elf on the big screen, and roast s’mores by the fire. When your toes need a break, warm up inside with the penguins and more in the Zoo’s cozy animal buildings. Then take a spin on the carousel and pick up gifts at the Holiday Market before you head home.
Want to make it extra special? Rent a heated Holiday Igloo for your crew, complete with s’mores and hot chocolate.
Dates:
November 21-25 and 27-29, 2026
December 3-6, 10-13, 17-23 and 26-31, 2026
January 1-3, 2027
Time: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Price: Tickets starting at $29.95, free for zoo members
All ages welcome. A Sensory Friendly night is on December 3.
