Lincoln Park Zoo Lights © Todd Rosenberg Photography 2015

Posted on December 20, 2016

Here’s your Lincoln Park Holiday weekend event guide to catch some of Chicago’s best culture and happenings in the neighborhood.

Lincoln Park Family

Lincoln Park ZooLights
Head over to the Lincoln Park Zoo for the brilliance of this fun, free, family-oriented holiday celebration, featuring luminous displays and holiday-season activities throughout zoo grounds.

Open Thursday, December 22 and Friday, December 23
4:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N. Clark

Diary of A Worm, A Spider & A Fly – Emerald City Theatre
Enter the whimsical world of insects with a cast of creepy crawly characters, and laugh away the trials of being a young bug in school. Through musical genres such as rap, hip-hop, pop, and Broadway standards, this choral comedy humanizes the life cycles of insects to celebrate and accept the passions and differences in every child. Taken from the best-selling books by Doreen Cronin, “There’s an alternate world that’s very cool beneath your feet and in the air!”

Thursday, December 22
Performances at 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
Apollo Theater
2540 N. Lincoln

Frogs: A Chorus of Colors – Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Leap into the amazing and colorful world of frogs when the Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum opens the awe-inspiring ex-“ribbit” Frogs: A Chorus of Colors. Get eyeball to eyeball with 70 vibrant and vocal frogs from around the world, including delicate tree frogs, fat bullfrogs, bizarre horned frogs and elegant dart poison frogs.

Open Monday – Friday – 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Open Saturday – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday, December 25
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon

Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! – Emerald City Theater
Based on the best-selling book series by Barbara Park, this critically-acclaimed Emerald City Theatre revival explores the challenges of giving selflessly through humor and holiday joy as fan-favorite Junie B. Jones journeys through a Columbus Day school play, a holiday sing-along concert, and Secret Santa Day. “Dear Santa, I really hope you were watching me just now. That’s all I hope. Love, Junie B. –Giver.”

Friday, December 23
Performances at 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
Apollo Theater
2540 N. Lincoln

Lincoln Park Cuisine and Cocktails

Looking for a place to eat or grab a drink on Christmas Eve and Day? Check out these Lincoln Park restaurants and bars.

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba
2024 N. Halsted
Enjoy $2 to $4 tapas and $1 pintxos during brunch or dinner. Imagine a warmer holiday with $16 pitchers of red sangria.

Delilah’s
2771 N. Lincoln
Head over to Delilah’s to grab a quick pint or settle into a booth to watch The Star Wars Holiday Special from 1978. They’re open all weekend Sunday – Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. and on Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.

Derby Bar & Grill
1224 W. Webster
Continue the holiday cheer on Christmas Day with brews and cocktails at Derby Bar & Grill. They’ll open their doors at 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Day – just in time to catch the Broncos vs. Chiefs game.

Distilled Chicago
1480 W. Webster
Distilled Chicago is open all weekend starting at 11:00 a.m. with bottomless mimosas at brunch and Happy Hour specials starting at 4:30 p.m.

Earls Lincoln Park
NEWCITY – 1538 N. Clybourn
Meet visiting friends for dinner on Friday or grab lunch before the trip out to the suburbs. Earls Lincoln Park will be open on Christmas Eve from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Frank’s
2503 N. Clark
You can grab a pre-event cocktail or spend the holiday with neighborhood friends. Frank’s is open 365 days a year.

King’s Lincoln Park
NEWCITY – 1538 N. Clybourn
Need a Christmas Eve diversion? Bowl a couple of games at King’s Lincoln Park and grab a bite to eat while you’re there. They’ll be open from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Kingston Mines
2548 N. Halsted
Enjoy live music and grab a cocktail at Chicago’s legendary blues bar. Kingston Mines is open all weekend.

Lincoln Station
2432 N. Lincoln
Pre-game on Christmas Eve from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and catch the Buffalo Bills vs. Dolphins game.

Oyster Bah
1962 N. Halsted
Open til 10:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Oyster Bah will be serving King Crab Legs and Whole Maine Lobster in addition to their full menu.

Standard Market Grill
444 W. Fullerton
Kick off Christmas Eve with delicious brunch favorites as well as specialty breakfast pizzas and their Brunch Burger topped with applewood-smoked bacon and an over easy egg.