Lincoln Children's Zoo

12/17/2024

Our 2024 Lincoln Children's Zoo Wrapped just dropped 🦒🥬 What was your favorite zoo moment this year?

12/16/2024

Time is running out for you to attend the most magical event of the year - Zoo Lights Powered by LES! ✨️ Get in the holiday spirit by walking through the millions of lights displayed throughout the Zoo. Tickets are selling fast, and a limited number of dates/times are available, so get your tickets NOW! Zoo Lights takes place now through December 30th.

Purchase tickets at: bit.ly/ZooLightsLES

Zoo Lights is proudly sponsored by Lincoln Electric System (LES)

12/14/2024

B🦒G News! Our giraffe calf has a name! Everyone meet…….. Dan!

Dan was named in memory of a beloved friend to the Zoo and Lincoln community.

You can visit Dan in the giraffe barn daily from 10am-5pm!

12/13/2024

There is something so magical about Zoo Lights Powered by LES!✨ Maybe it's the magical light displays, the holiday spirit fused into each aspect of the event, spending time with friends and family - or maybe it's just the hot cocoa!

Whatever it is, you need to be a part of it! Zoo Lights Powered by LES continues on now through December 30th. Tickets are selling FAST so get yours today!

Purchase tickets at: bit.ly/ZooLightsLES

Zoo Lights is proudly sponsored by Lincoln Electric System (LES)

12/12/2024

Here’s a photo of Juniper and Spruce to brighten your day!

The red panda triplets are spending more and more time in their guest facing habitat! Visit the Zoo and you might just catch a glimpse of the three of them climbing, running around, or napping.

The Zoo is open daily from 10am to 5pm.

12/10/2024

Looking for the perfect date night activity? Look no further than Zoo Lights Powered by LES! Take a stroll through the dazzling light displays together, roast s'mores, enjoy delicious hot cocoa, take a holiday train ride and more! Tickets are selling fast so get yours today!

Purchase your tickets to Zoo Lights Powered by LES now: bit.ly/ZooLightsLES

Zoo Lights is proudly sponsored by Lincoln Electric System (LES)

Zoo Lights Powered by LES at the Lincoln Children's Zoo

12/09/2024

There's a potential for snow in the forecast this week, and some of the animals definitely enjoy it more than others! ❄️

Are you team snow, or no snow? Comment your answer below!
❤️❄️ YES! LOVE the snow!
😭❄️ No snow! Please stay away!

12/09/2024

We LOVE seeing everyone’s photos enjoying Zoo Lights Powered by LES! So much hard work goes in to putting this event together and nothing is better than seeing our community enjoy it ❤️. Get your tickets to this magical event now!

Purchase tickets at: bit.ly/ZooLightsLES

12/07/2024

😮😮😮 It’s going to be 60 degrees today!? In December!? Seems like the PERFECT day to visit Lincoln Children’s Zoo!

The Zoo is open 10am-5pm, we hope to see you there!

12/06/2024

Zoo Lights Powered by LES is SOLD OUT this weekend!

There are 23 nights of Zoo Lights remaining. We are completely sold out for 6 of those nights, with limited tickets remaining on some of the other evenings. You don't want to miss out on the magic of this event, so get your tickets NOW before it's too late!

Purchase tickets here: bit.ly/ZooLightsLES

Proudly sponsored by Lincoln Electric System (LES)

12/04/2024

GIVEAWAY CLOSED! Congrats to our winner, Ashley LaRae Wellmann!

🚨Giveaway Time!🚨

Zoo Lights Powered by LES has officially started! To celebrate, we are giving away 4 VIP tickets to your Zoo Lights date of choice!

To enter:
✨ Like this post
✨ Share this post
✨ Tag three people you would bring with you in the comments below!

A winner will be chosen and notified on Sunday, December 8th at 5pm!

Zoo Lights Powered by LES is one of the largest lights displays in the Midwest with over ONE MILLION lights! Enjoy immersive light shows choreographed to holiday music, walk through light tunnels, hanging vine lights and so much more.

Purchase tickets here: bit.ly/ZooLightsLES

Beware of scammers! The Zoo will never ask for credit card information or payment in order to receive free tickets.

Proudly sponsored by Lincoln Electric System (LES)

12/03/2024

It's , or as we like to call it, Giving ZooDay!

Over 60 years ago, Arnott Folsom and the community came together with a dream to create a world-class zoo in the heart of Lincoln. In 2025, your beloved Lincoln Children’s Zoo will enter its 60th year. As we reflect upon 60 years of Lincoln Children’s Zoo, we are overcome with gratitude for all those past, present and future who supported Mr. Folsom’s dream.

The last 60 years would not have been possible without the care and support of our community and generous donors. As a nonprofit, Lincoln Children's Zoo depends on the generous support of our community to maintain our high level of care for the animals, our mission for education and conservation, and continue to be a place to create memories and experience up-close encounters with animals from all over the world.

We want to thank you for joining us on this journey and ask that you help us celebrate Giving Tuesday and our upcoming 60th anniversary by making a donation to the Zoo. Help us turn these 60 incredible years into 60 more and beyond!

Donate Now at: https://bit.ly/LCZdonate

12/02/2024

Registration for the Tots & Turtles Winter Sessions opens tomorrow!!

Registration for the 2025 Winter Session opens on the following dates:
🐢 Zoo Members: Tuesday, December 3rd at 10 a.m.
🐢 Non-Members: Wednesday, December 4th at 10 a.m.

Members will receive an e-mail at 10 a.m. on Tuesday morning with a secret early access link to register.

Tots & Turtles is a six-week toddler & parent/guardian education program for children ages two to four that will introduce your child to interactive environments filled with learning opportunities. Each week children and parents/guardians will meet a new animal friend and take part in activities designed to assist with toddler development.

Please note: Tots & Turtles is a popular program and often sells out quickly. If you are unable to register for the winter session, registration for the 2025 spring session will open in February.

More information at: https://www.lincolnzoo.org/education/toddler-programs.html

11/30/2024

The season of Zoo Lights Powered by LES has officially begun! Zoo Lights takes place every night from now until December 30th (minus Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).

Don’t miss out on unique light shows choreographed to your favorite holiday music, beautiful light tunnels, holiday train rides, hot cocoa, s’mores and more!

✨What are you most looking forward to seeing at Zoo Lights this year?✨

Purchase tickets here: bit.ly/ZooLightsLES

Proudly sponsored by Lincoln Electric System (LES)

11/29/2024

✨ Zoo Lights Powered by LES starts TONIGHT! ✨

Tonight and Saturday night’s event is SOLD OUT. Purchase tickets for another evening here: bit.ly/ZooLightsLES

We are so excited to start our 30 nights of Zoo Lights and can’t wait for you all to experience the magic of this event!

Proudly sponsored by Lincoln Electric System (LES)

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Lincoln Children's Zoo!

We are closed today, Nov. 28th. We will reopen tomorrow, Nov. 29th at 10am.

11/27/2024

🥁........Drumroll please.......🥁

The red panda names are...... Juniper, Spruce, and Cedar!! 🎄
(Pictured left to right: Spruce, Cedar, and Juniper)

Thank you to everyone who participated in helping us name these incredibly rare red panda triplets! Fun fact: In 2024, only 12 red panda cubs were born in zoos in North America. This means Juniper, Spruce, and Cedar make up 25% of the cubs born. Their birth is incredibly important for animal conservation efforts of this endangered species, and we're so glad our wonderful community had a part in naming them.

The triplets are occasionally out on exhibit and spend more and more time out each passing day. We expect them to be on exhibit full time by the end of December.

We asked for holiday/winter themed name suggestions to go along with our holiday light show, since proceeds from Zoo Lights Powered by LES directly supports the animals in the winter months. Those who voted on red panda names were entered in a giveaway for four free Zoo Lights tickets. Congrats to our winner, Victoria C!

Learn more about the event and purchase your Zoo Lights Powered by LES tickets here: bit.ly/ZooLightsLES

Zoo Lights proudly sponsored by Lincoln Electric System (LES)

11/26/2024

Last night, Lincoln Children's Zoo hosted our first ever sensory-friendly Zoo Lights Powered by LES! The event was created for individuals with sensory needs who may not otherwise be able to attend, including those with autism, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, and other disabilities.

It was a magical night, filled with smiles, laughter, looks of awe and wonder, and of course lots of hot cocoa!

The Zoo partnered with organizations such as Autism Family Network, Nebraska Department of Veteran Affairs, Lincoln Public Schools Independence Academy, and Madonna Rehabilitation to disperse tickets to those who could benefit from them, as well as working closely to identify what changes and additions needed to be made to the event to make it more accessible and inclusive.

Special accommodations for this event included:
✨Lowered music volume throughout the event.
✨Suggested alternative routes to avoid flashing lights.
✨Multiple quiet spaces with fidget items.
✨Lower attendance and timed admission for minimal wait times.
✨Headphone check outs for guests.
✨Additional staff working to help direct and answer questions.

This event was made possible through support from the Zoo, Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities and The Hampton Family Foundation. With everyone's support, we were able to provide free admission, train rides, hot cocoa and cookies to all guests.

We are so thankful for the amazing community we are a part of. We look forward to continuing to provide inclusive and accommodating experiences for all members of our community.

On Monday, the Lincoln Children’s Zoo held its first Sensory Zoo Lights event for those who would not otherwise be able to enjoy the dazzling displays.