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BROOKFIELD – The magic of the holidays is back through the end of the year at Brookfield Zoo.
The zoo's 35th annual Holiday Magic festival began earlier this month, marking one of the largest light displays in the Chicago area, complete with more than 1 million lights across most of the zoo's 200-plus acres.
"It's pretty impressive," said Elizabeth Sterchele, the events marketing assistant at the zoo. "Even when I walk out every day in the evening it's pretty amazing."
The festival began Dec. 3 and ran each Saturday and Sunday since, with plans to stay open the entire week of Dec. 26 through 31.
The highlight of this year's event is the new version of the Polar Lights display, complete with intricate lights and shows.
Also returning is the 41-foot Talking Tree to interact with guests, 530 trees decorated by community organizations and "dancing" trees decorated by nearly 60 area corporations that move to holiday-themed music.
Several habitats across the zoo, 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 to the public to accommodate for the zoo's expanded hours, running until 9 p.m. throughout the Holiday Magic event.
All the activities, excluding holiday pictures with the animals and the holiday tram, are free with general admission to the zoo.
The full festival will conclude at the special Zoo Year's Eve event Dec. 31, ringing in the new year at the family-friendly hour of 8 p.m. with a confetti cannon celebration.
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If you go
What: Holiday Magic
Where: Brookfield Zoo, 8400 W. 31st St., Brookfield
When: 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 26 through 31
Cost: $17.85 adults, $12.50 for seniors and children ages 3 to 11
Info: czs.org/holidaymagic, 708-688-8000
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Holiday Magic entertainment schedule
Dec. 26
5 p.m. – Wings Dance
6 p.m. – Those Funny Little People
7 p.m. – Momentum Performing Arts
8 p.m. – Norridge Park Movers and Shakers
Dec. 27
5 p.m. – Village of Orland Park Dance Program
6 p.m. – Those Funny Little People
7 p.m. – Elite Feet Dance Center
8 p.m. – TNT Extreme
Dec. 28
5 p.m. – HoTT Productions
6 p.m. – Those Funny Little People
7 p.m. – Expression Dance Studio
8 p.m. – Forevermore Dance & Theatre Arts
Dec. 29
5 p.m. – In Motion Dance Studio
6 p.m. – Those Funny Little People
7 p.m. – Buffalo Grove Studio of Dance
8 p.m. – Darla’s Dance Center
Dec. 30
5 p.m. – Music Connection
6 p.m. – Those Funny Little People
7 p.m. – Mundelein Dance Company
8 p.m. – Impact Dance Studio
Dec. 31
5 p.m. – Those Funny Little People
6 to 9 p.m. – Zoo Year’s Eve Countdown