Whether you’ve visited once or a hundred times, Lincoln Park Zoo always offers more to discover. With new arrivals and births happening around the clock, there’s always a fresh reason to stop by. Best of all, it’s completely free to enter, 365 days a year.
Meet the newest residents
This year brought two milestones worth celebrating. In June, Grevy’s zebra Adia welcomed a new foal — a meaningful birth for a species with fewer than 2,000 left in the wild. And this spring, Hazina, a critically endangered eastern black rhino calf whose name means “treasured” in Swahili, made her public debut alongside her mom Kapuki at Regenstein African Journey. Visits to the zoo directly support the conservation work behind stories like these, both in Chicago and around the world.
A great value, every day
Lincoln Park Zoo is the country’s only privately managed, free-admission zoo. Throughout the day, guests can catch free care demonstrations and keeper chats — from penguin feedings to iguana care and giraffe training — included with every visit. For those looking to explore further, Zoo Experiences, such as the popular Malott Family Penguin Encounter or the new Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House, offer an up-close look while the fees support the zoo’s daily care and conservation efforts. Members enjoy added perks like free parking and discounts throughout the grounds.
Fun for every season
The zoo’s calendar stays full all year, with events for every kind of visitor — all-ages favorites like Family Fun Fur-iday, after-hours adult nights out, seasonal traditions like Fall Fest, and the beloved holiday lights display, ZooLights. Add horticulture tours through the zoo’s accredited gardens and arboretum, plus Nature Boardwalk’s local wildlife, and there are options for every visitor.
Plan your next trip and see what’s new at Lincoln Park Zoo, where it’s always free, always changing, and always worth the visit.