# Meet Santa Claus at Holiday Magic — Brookfield Zoo > Event for families in the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin area (IL / IN). Times are Central Time. - When: Sat, Nov 21 (+16 more dates) · 4:00 PM – 8:30 PM - Where: Brookfield Zoo Chicago — Pachyderm area, 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, IL 60513 - Ages: All ages - Price: Included with Holiday Magic admission (tickets from $29.95; free for members); professional photo extra - Organizer: Brookfield Zoo Chicago - Official page: https://visits.czs.org/webstore/shop/ViewItems.aspx?CG=2372&C=2373 - Last checked: Tue, Oct 27 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 2, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-01), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/meet-santa-claus-at-holiday-magic-brookfield-zoo--listing-7977d5ae547a5e393c0cc11b ## About Santa Claus visits Brookfield Zoo Chicago on weekends and the days just before Christmas during Holiday Magic, the zoo's evening holiday light festival. Families find him near the Pachyderm area, where children can tell him their wishes and pose for pictures; professional photos are offered for purchase. Visiting Santa is included with Holiday Magic admission, so a Santa stop fits easily into an evening of light displays, the glowing maze, Candy Cane Lane and the hand-carved carousel (open weather permitting). Santa's hours are 4–8:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and December 21–23, and 5:30–8:30 p.m. on Fridays, with his last visit on Wednesday, December 23. Dress warmly: Holiday Magic is outdoors after dark. ## Similar picks in Chicago - [Flossmoor's Holiday Glow Tree Lighting with Santa](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/flossmoor-s-holiday-glow-tree-lighting-with-santa--listing-0d1318eed8d432253d655da6) — Fri, Nov 20 · 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Flossmoor Park · checked Oct 30. The Village of Flossmoor's annual tree lighting: the Fire Department delivers Santa to the park, followed by photos with St. Nick. Kids can explore emergency vehicles decked out… - [Holiday Market Family Days with Santa at The Grove — Glenview](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/holiday-market-family-days-with-santa-at-the-grove-glenview--listing-628127d9478e9c0b28ec3166) — Sat, Nov 14 (+1 more date) · 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · The Grove Redfield Estate, Glenview · From $5 · checked Oct 24. 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