Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Brookfield Zoo’s Final Night of Holiday Magic
Brookfield, Ill. — Those looking for something to do with the family on New Year’s Eve can head to Brookfield Zoo on December 31 for the final night of its Holiday Magic. The Zoo will be open from 3 to 9 p.m.
The park, illuminated with two million LED lights, creates a magical winter wonderland featuring light displays of giant animals—bison, reindeer, giraffe, and bear. Guests can stroll through two, 300-foot light tunnels synchronized to seasonal tunes. Adding to the ambience are the nearly 900 lit and decorated community and corporate trees located on the Zoo’s malls and around Roosevelt Fountain.
The fun doesn’t stop at holiday lights! From 5 to 8 p.m. families can take in a performance by Those Funny Little People and juggling elves, or watch professional ice carvers create frozen works of art from giant blocks of ice. Plus, jolly dance parties take place at the Polar Plaza (aka Hamill Family Nature Plaza). Additionally, guests can take a festive spin on The Carousel and check out the Zoo’s seasonal virtual reality experience, “Elf Power,” featuring Santa’s helpers on a magical VR journey with reindeer who are bringing holiday cheer to all (an extra fee applies to both attractions).
Throughout the park are opportunities for zoogoers to take memorable photos to remember their visit to Brookfield Zoo, including inside the ever-popular luminous 20-foot-tall orb, presented by Ford, that is aglow with thousands of sparkling LED lights, and in front of a 41-foot-tall tree all decked out in colored LED lights and choreographed to festive music. Or, take a photo next to a 16-foot-tall 3D gingerbread house and a holiday-themed festive frame.
Several indoor and outdoor animal habitats are open during the final night of Holiday Magic, including Tropic World, Big Cats, The Swamp, Feathers and Scales, Reptiles and Birds, Desert’s Edge, Clouded Leopard Rain Forest, The Living Coast, Hamill Family Wild Encounters (reindeer and goats only), Great Bear Wilderness, Australia House, and Hamill Family Play Zoo. All indoor animal buildings close at 8:30 p.m., except for Tropic World and Hamill Family Play Zoo, which close at 8 p.m.
Those who work up an appetite can stop by the Zoo’s restaurants and food stands for some standard menu items as well as holiday favorites, such as hot chocolate, cookies, and mulled wine.
Admission to Holiday Magic is $29.95 for adults, $20.95 for children, and $24.95 for seniors 65 and older. Parking is $17-$20. Advanced reservations are not required for entry at the North Gate, however, guests are encouraged to secure admission and parking online prior to their visit. For South Gate entry, advance reservations and parking fees are required for all attendees, including Zoo members. To make reservations and for more information, visit CZS.org/HolidayMagic.
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About the Chicago Zoological Society
The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Society is known throughout the world for its international role in animal population management and wildlife conservation. Brookfield Zoo is the first zoo in the world to be awarded the Humane Certified™ certification mark for the care and welfare of its animals, meeting American Humane Association’s rigorous certification standards. The Zoo is located at 8400 31st Street in Brookfield, Illinois, between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and also is accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, and CTA and PACE bus service. For further information, visit CZS.org.