Your Guide to Fall at Lincoln Park Zoo

If you opted to stay indoors a lot this summer, thanks to tornadoes, derechos, thunderstorms, high heat, and other weather anomalies, we can’t blame you. But fall is almost upon us, and with it comes many more opportunities to enjoy seasonal pleasures in Chicago. Here are some things to expect at Lincoln Park Zoo as we enter the pumpkin-spiced months coming our way.

Know the Basics

Note that zoo hours are changing. Zoo gates will open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. daily. The extended evening hours of summer no longer apply. Remember, zoo buildings open at 10 a.m. and close a half-hour before the zoo does.

Check the schedule for daily activities and things to do. Some presentations and programs end for the summer after Labor Day, including Feed the Chickens, Feed the Cows, and Groom the Goats. You can still watch an African Penguin Feeding Demonstration through Monday, November 30. Use this webpage to plan your visit.

Enjoy seasonal programs before they end for the winter! Enjoy a Malott Family Penguin Encounter through Saturday, October 31, or take a Behind-the-Scenes Tour at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House through Sunday, November 15. Fall-themed sunset garden tours take place on September 10 and October 8.

Enjoy Fall Events

The change of seasons at Lincoln Park Zoo means Fall Fest is coming! Fall Fest is the free-admission festival that’s fun for the whole family, and it takes place Fridays–Sundays between September 25–November 1. At Fall Fest, you can roast s’mores, watch professional pumpkin carvers, catch live music and entertainment, pick up a pumpkin for the family, and watch animals enjoy fall-themed enrichment. New things are happening every weekend as autumn colors the leaves and the sky changes, so you’ll want to come down, ride some rides, eat some fun foods, and be outside while you can.

Explore the legend of the zoo with Haunted History Tours. Chicago locals know—Lincoln Park Zoo is allegedly haunted. Author Adam Selzer leads this spine-tingling walking tour to explore the zoo’s cemetery roots and phantom-filled locations. Tours take place on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in October.

Come for the brews, stay for the “boos” at Zoo Brews: Howls and Growls. Just in time for Halloween, this 21+ craft beer and cider fest takes place on October 23 and 24. You can “trick-or-treat” your way through stations at the zoo, take unlimited free rides, watch pumpkin carving, and dance to a DJ. We can’t wait to see your costume!

Trick-or-treat safely at Spooky Zoo, hosted by the Auxiliary Board. At this free event for all ages on Saturday, October 17, families can enjoy chats, learning activities, a scavenger hunt, kid-friendly entertainment, free carousel rides, and the fun of Fall Fest. They’ll also trick-or-treat with sustainably sourced candy.

Image by Julia Fuller

Remember, events at Lincoln Park Zoo support fee admission for all, along with the animal care, conservation, and education work that happens every day of the year.

What to See and Do

Don’t miss zoo babies Hazina, the eastern black rhino, and Zuri, the Grevy’s zebra. Hazina and her mother Kapuki are located on the southernmost rhino habitat at Regenstein African Journey. Meanwhile, Zuri, mom Adia, and sister Yabelo are at the zoo’s South Loop. Both are getting big fast—in fact, Hazina is more than 400 pounds now! But they are still as cute as can be.

Check out the new arrivals! Newer animals at the zoo include Solana, a Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House; Mystie, a North American river otter at Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo; Porter and Taiyang, Sichuan takins in the South Loop; and Qi, a red panda at Pepper Family Wildlife Center.

Take in the view. One of the most iconic views of the Chicago skyline can be seen from the Lester E. Fisher Bridge over Nature Boardwalk. It changes daily and you’ll see something different every time thanks to cloud formations, animals and plants near or in South Pond, shadows cast by Peoples Gas Education Pavilion, local birds and bees, and the leaves changing color with the season.

Enjoy some rides. During Fall Fest, the zoo brings in a number of carnival-style attractions such as the Fun Slide and a Ferris wheel. Lionel Train Adventure, the Endangered Species Carousel, and Gorilla Trek VR Experience are also available year-round. You’ll need to buy tickets for these rides; they cost $4.50 for one, but you can get 10-ride and 10-ride packs for a discount and members also pay less.

Try some limited-time zoo foods and drinks. Special items on the menu during Fall Fest include waffle sticks covered in chocolate and sprinkles, street corn bowls, maple butter espresso martinis, pumpkin spice matchas, candied apples, cider doughnuts, and more. Don’t miss these tasty treats!