Glowing lights and animal friends at Brookfield Zoo's Holiday Magic

BROOKFIELD, Ill. (WLS) -- 'Tis the season to welcome back Chicagoland's longest-running lights festival! Brookfield Zoo is celebrating its 35th annual Holiday Magic. The 12 enchanted evenings bring all sorts of holiday fun Saturdays and Sundays December 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, and the week of December 26-31.

Guests will get to experience more than a million lights, caroling to animals, live entertainment, ice-carving demonstrations, and even special visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Many habitats, including Great Bear Wilderness, Big Cats, Tropic World, The Swamp, Birds and Reptiles, Feathers and Scales, The Living Coast, The Fragile Kingdom, Hamill Family Wild Encounters, and Hamill Family Play Zoo, will be open and illuminated to view favorite animals.

The Holiday Magic festivities come to a close on Saturday, December 31, when everyone is invited to ring in the New Year at the Zoo Year's Eve celebration. A DJ will have the Holly Jolly Theater rockin' and rollin' with music, fun games, party favors, prizes, and more beginning at 6:00 p.m. Families with younger children can head to Hamill Family Play Zoo, where kids can make noisemakers and also enjoy an early kid-friendly New Year's countdown at 8:00 p.m.

Tim Sullivan, curator at the Chicago Zoological Society, brought a few zoo residents to the ABC 7 State Street Studios to share the joy of Holiday Magic.

Event: Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo

Date: Saturdays and Sundays December 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, and the week of December 26-31.

Hours: 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Address: 3300 Golf Rd, Brookfield, IL 60513

Admission/ Ticket Prices: Regular admission is $17.85 for adults and $12.50 for children ages 3-11 and seniors 65 and older. Children 2 and under are free.

Link: http://www.czs.org/magic