Brookfield Zoo is Free on Tuesdays, Thursdays

With a week of school vacation remaining, parents looking for a fun and affordable outing with the kids should consider a zoo day.

Brookfield Zoo offers free admission days on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31. And Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago is free 365 days of the year.

Brookfield Zoo, located at 8400 31st St., Brookfield, has free admission during normal zoo hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Tuesday and Thursday, according to the zoo’s website. (Free admission days will be extended to Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sundays in January and February, too).

Also, there is no entry charge from Nov. 1 to March 1 at Brookfield’s Children’s Zoo and the Hamill Family Play Zoo, the website states.

Many of Brookfield’s animals including bears, camels, Amur tigers, snow leopards, bison and  Mexican gray wolves enjoy colder temperatures and are very active during this season, according to the zoo site.

Between outdoor viewings, visitors can step inside Brookfield's indoor exhibits to warm up. Indoor exhibits include Tropic World, the dolphin shows at Seven Seas and the Great Bear Wilderness underwater viewing area, where kids can look eye to eye with grizzlies and polar bears.

Zoo attendees should note that regular zoo admission fees apply to Brookfield Zoo’s Holiday Magic celebration, held from 4 to 9 p.m. all this week through Saturday, Dec. 31.

Holiday Magic boasts one million twinkling lights, animated displays and a laser light show. Many indoor exhibits will be open at night for animal viewing, according to the zoo.

Regular admission fees for Brookfield are $13.50 for adults; $9.50 for children ages 3 to 11; and $9.50 for seniors age 65 and older. Parking fees are $9.75 per car or van. Brookfield provides free admittance to all U.S. Armed Forces active military and reservist personnel, the website states.

Lincoln Park Zoo, located off Lake Shore Drive at the Fullerton Parkway exit, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The zoo is free and open to the public every day of the year.

Families can catch Lincoln Park's Zoolights festival, presented by ComEd and Charter One, from 5 to 9 p.m. all this week through Dec. 31. Zoolights is free and offers visitors brilliant light displays, music, live ice carving, and, of course, animals from around the world.