Christmas Event at the Brookfield Zoo in the Chicago Area

Among the many exciting Christmas events planned for the Chicago area are special celebrations taking place at the Brookfield Zoo which will be transformed into a dazzling Winter Wonderland glowing with more than three quarters of a million beautiful lights. In the past, these twinkling "fairy" lights have been white which were beautiful but are even more so now with the addition of colored lights such as those introduced last year in the Candy Cane Lane and Blue Moon Lagoon. I have visited this great Christmas event many times and have always enjoyed it.

Dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes as there are a lot of things to see, including more than 400 community and corporate trees lining the malls and surrounding Roosevelt Fountain. Also guaranteed to please will be magicians, jugglers and professional ice carvers creating frozen works of art.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will preside in the Discovery Center to meet young visitors through December 19th, in addition to costumed characters greeting guests at the north and south gates and the Talking Tree located near the south gate. Visitors who can carry a tune (and those who can't) are invited to join the Merry Maskers in the traditional "Sing to the Animals" or "Sing to the Dolphins" concerts. Local area choral groups are also on hand to entertain and inspire. There will be special dolphin shows and other great indoor stuff to do including free admission to the Hamill Family Play Zoo where kids can engage in seasonal craft projects.

The chill wintery air is sure to whet appetites which can be rewarded with homemade soups, hot chocolate, cider, Irish coffee, and tasty snacks at various zoo restaurants and concession stands. Gift shops will be open as will the Magical Animal Photo Memories tent where visitors can have their photos taken with animals from the Children's Zoo. In addition to all the other special Winter Wonderland attractions, most of the famous Brookfield Zoo animals will be available for viewing, especially the Polar bears who are in their element at this time of year.

This famous Christmas event runs for 16 nights: November 26th and 27th, December 4th and 5th, December 11th and 12th, December 18th and 19th, and December 26th through January 2nd. The Brookfield Zoo is located in Brookfield, IL, at First Avenue between Ogden Avenue and 31st Street, about 14 miles west from downtown Chicago. Admission to the Winter Wonderland isn't free (except to Zoo members). For prices, hours, nightly schedules of events and more information, visit www.czs.org/czs/Brookfield/Plan-Your-Day/General-Information.aspx.