Herds of excited children and spirited adults rush to the gates of the Lincoln Park Zoo, grabbing cardboard glasses as their cheeks turn red. A small girl wearing a festive coat and pink, furry earmuffs looks through the 3-D glasses, given to her by a fragile elderly woman in a dark green slicker, and reacts as if she just saw Santa.  And chances are, she did.

Zoo Lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo has returned for its 23rd year in a row. The Zoo premiered this year’s lights–a holiday staple for Chicagoans and tourists alike who are looking for bright holiday cheer–on November 17 to members, and to the public on November 24. Though the lights are the main attraction, it’s the supporting cast of Live Ice Sculpting, Pictures with Santa, and a Walk Down Candy Cane Lane that truly make it a night to remember.

Colorful, creatively shaped lights can always make people happy, but could the lights harm the animals? The Lincoln Park Zoo did not say anything on the matter, but the L.A. Zoo Lights had something to say. According to an article written by the L.A. Times about the return of Zoo Lights to the city in November of 2014, “The lights are primarily placed in areas separate from the animal exhibits. Most animals will be in their evening sleeping quarters during the event and will not be impacted.”

Chicago’s zoo’s lights are generally placed in areas of lower animal population, but the human traffic during Zoo Lights is increased at night by about 70%, according to The Lincoln Park Zoo. Even though the lights don’t hurt the animals, it seems that the more humans staring at the animals later at night would keep them up later. The Zoo did not say anything on the matter.

The number of animals at the Lincoln Park Zoo has dropped because animals have died, and the Zoo has not replaced them.  

“The bright lights alter the internal biological clocks of birds and other daytime animals, as night effectively becomes day again,” Kayleigh Barber of One Green Planet said. “This wreaks havoc with animals. They stop nesting and begin to forage, or they sing all through the night, and sometimes it even prevents them from mating.”

The disruption that Barber alludes to has not prevented Parker students from creating lifelong memories at Zoo Lights. “Ever since I was a baby, my family and I have spent a night at the Zoo each December gazing at the colorful lights and drinking steamy hot cocoa,” sophomore Rohan Jain said. “It’s a place full of holiday spirit and decorations, which is super fun.”

Other Parker families are regular visitors of Zoo Lights too. “I remember going to Zoo Lights so much when I was younger,” sophomore Lily Koltun said. “I remember going with my whole family and just being fascinated by all the lights because I hadn’t seen that before. I went back in 8th grade, and they had the 3D glasses, which were so mesmerizing.  I’m sure for the younger kids now those are tons of fun.”

The main entrance to the zoo is located just a block away from Parker, where Webster intersects with Stockton Drive. The area in front of the iconic Lincoln Park Zoo sign is nearly constantly full of eager visitors buying $4 light-up sticks and grabbing cardboard glasses.

“Those cardboard glasses, the same ones they have today, were so cool,” junior Cole Aldeguer said. “As I pulled the glasses up to my eyes, the holidays came alive. Seeing Rudolf and Santa on the light poles while I held a cup of hot chocolate to keep my tiny hands warm…Zoo Lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo was an essential part of my holiday celebrations for many years, and it never ceased to amaze me.”

That is what attracts so many visitors to Zoo Lights–not much changes from year to year, but still about 60% of the visitors every year are returning visitors, according to The Lincoln Park Zoo. Ryann Kehoe of The Lincoln Park Zoo said, “The experience of Zoo Lights is meant to be enjoyable for the whole family.” It’s just a few steps away, full of holiday cheer…and a great place to find free 3D glasses!