Date: November 27-29, 2009; December 14, 2009-January 3, 2010; (closed December 24 & 25)

Cost: free

What to expect: Lincoln Park Zoo gets the royal holiday treatment with more than two million lights (presented by ComEd). The zoo's exhibits stay open late on select evenings, making for interesting seasonal photo-ops. Now you can send the folks a holiday card with your smiling face next to a clan of pygmy hippos. Little ones can also have their pictures taken with a classically clad Santa in the Kovler Lion House. Adults can enjoy warm cocktails, spiced wine and frosty beer while the kids revel at the zoo's numerous displays.