Twinkling lights embellish the Lincoln Park Zoo. Each corner of the Zoo is brought to life with experiences featuring the festive glowing lights.  The annual ZooLights are a much awaited event throughout the year. The celebration of the holidays is welcomed by the ZooLights every year starting mid-November. However, with COVID-19 present, the celebration will look different, while still delivering, “a merry, family-oriented tradition in the heart of the city,” as stated in the Lincoln Park Zoo website. 

Under the “Calendar & Events” section on The Lincoln Park Zoo website, a page is filled with information regarding the event. Projected to take place starting November 21 through January 3, the celebration will have five free nights and will happen from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on days when the Zoo will be open.  

The website also included more information about the changes the ZooLights will experience due to pandemic regulations. The changes followed by City and State guidelines include tickets, all outdoor activities, and allowing space for social distancing. The website also included further information such as FAQ’s and more details and logistics for the beloved Chicago tradition.

Middle and Upper School Music Teacher Emma Castaldi brings Parker’s singing group Grape Jam, to perform at the ZooLights every year. 

“It actually was kind of the first new tradition that I added to the choir program the first year that I was at Parker,” Castaldi said. “I wanted to find some new kind of performance opportunity for Grape Jam that was outdoors and more caroling kind of setting.” 

After a successful first year performing at the ZooLights at the Lincoln Park Zoo, Castaldi decided to return every year as a new addition to the Grape Jam curriculum. “It was so easy to set up, they’re very accommodating,” Castaldi said, after reaching out to the ZooLights organizers in August, the first year setting up the performance. 

The holiday celebration includes a variety of music that is present at different locations within the zoo. “If you walk through ZooLights, there’s always some sort of music playing, whether it’s pumped through the speakers, or if it’s live. It’s just a way to add more to the evening,” Castaldi said while describing the role that music plays during the celebration.

 However, due to the COVID-19 regulations put in place, as well as the precautions being taken, the live music that the ZooLights often have, like Parker’s own Grape Jam, might be limited or not present due to medical concerns it may bring. 

“Singing is actually one of the biggest spreaders of COVID. It’s even worse than talking because you are using extra air and breath, and so, there is all this research and these articles just saying you can’t sing around others during this pandemic,” Castaldi said. 

Public Relations & Content Coordinator for the Lincoln Park Zoo Sabrina Cynova mentions the challenges the Zoo faced while planning for ZooLights. 

“The most challenging part of the planning process this year was making the decision to charge for ZooLights. For the first time in 152 years, the zoo was closed for an extended period of time” Cynova said. “By charging a nominal admission, Lincoln Park Zoo is still able to bring this beloved holiday tradition to the zoo and community, while also breaking even financially.” 

 Cynova describes how while there will be charge for admissions there will still be five free nights. Additionally the charged admission decreases the amount of people present each night which favors COVID-19 regulations. 

 “Safety has been a top priority, and there are strict guidelines in place,” Cynova said. “ZooLights is a ticketed holiday happening this year to reduce capacity and promote social distancing,” Cynova said. 

The ZooLights will also include new additions to the celebration this year.

 “New this year, Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo transforms into an Enchanted Forest, made complete by music, smoke machines, twinkle lights, and mirrors,” Cynova said. 

Popular experiences within the ZooLights from last year return to the celebration as well such as,  “Snowy’s Spirits & S’more pop-up and Light Maze Presented by Invesco QQQ,”  Cynova said. 

The festive experience will host many Chicagoans this year to welcome the holiday season.  Laura Neiman Rifkin, a Parker parent, Alum, and frequent ZooLights attendee, describes the importance of the ZooLights even during a pandemic. 

“It is just a lively holiday experience, and especially when its cold over a weekend in particular, in the fall and as we head into winter, it’s just a great activity for our kids and we want to support the Lincoln Park Zoo, and we want to expose the kids to as many different holiday opportunities as possible,” Neiman Rifkin said. 

The ZooLights will also have virtual events present this year. “I think it’s the perfect alternative, especially if the weather doesn’t cooperate.”  

Although there have been obstacles the Zoo has faced due to the pandemic, the ZooLights will have their annual holiday festivities and continue to bring light to the city. 

“We wouldn’t miss it,” Neiman Rifkin said.