Things to Do
COVID-19 Update
To ensure the safety of our staff and the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all programs and offerings listed below may be suspended at any time.
Daily Activities
Lincoln Park Zoo’s daily activities last approximately 10 minutes and are open to all ages. Some of this season’s activities are listed below; however, all programs are subject to cancellation due to animal needs, inclement weather, or to ensure public safety. Additional programs may happen spontaneously around the zoo at various times.
Seal Training And Feeding
11:30 a.m. & 2:00 p.mTraining isn’t just for show—it helps us care for the animals! Learn how by watching this daily training session.
Ape Cognition and Care
1:30 p.m., Monday–FridayDiscover the surprising methods we use to learn about and care for great apes.
Attractions
Lionel Train Adventure
Hobbyists have been stoked about Lionel Trains since 1900, the year the iconic train manufacturer was founded. Now, the Lionel Train Adventure ride at Lincoln Park Zoo is on track to become another cherish pastime.
This beautifully crafted attraction is located near the zoo’s West Gate and just south of Regenstein Macaque Forest. The trackless, 28-passenger train crossed over a quaint country bridge and wends past forest and canyon scenery before returning to a redbrick station. It features passenger cars, a coal car, and a wheelchair-accessible caboose.
AT&T Endangered Species Carousel
The AT&T Endangered Species Carousel is a Chicago landmark adorned with 48 intricately hand-carved and beautifully hand-painted replicas of threatened animal species, plus two chariots. Both the young and the young-at-heart will enjoy these colorful models of baby gorillas, zebras, wild dogs, and more.
Early Childhood Activities
Edible Gardens
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.Join zoo volunteers and staff from the Green City Market to plant, weed, compost, and harvest–establishing a deeper connection to the resources that sustain humanity. The seasonal green-thumb fun includes planting tomatoes, pulling weeds, thinning carrots, harvesting green beans, and digging purple potatoes.