Page 17 - Brookfield Zoo Chicago Annual_Report_2024
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Hamill Family Play Zoo            play in our ecosystem. The hives
                                                                                 Additions                         are part of an immersive educational
                                                                                                                   experience designed for children
                                                                                 The Hamill Family Play Zoo welcomed   and families, featuring an observation
                                                                                 new additions this year, offering    station to safely watch hive activity,    connect
                                                                                 new opportunities for exploration    a play area to pretend to be a bee
                                                                                 and play.                         and more elements of creative
                                                                                                                   exploration.
                                                                                 In August 2024, a new chicken
                                                                                 coop opened in the back yard of the
                                                                                                                   Oktoberfest
                                                                                 Hamill Family Play Zoo, including five
                                                                                 breeds: partridge rock, barred rock,   During Oktoberfest 2024, guests
                                                                                 silver seabright, gold Wyandotte,    enjoyed live polka music presented
                                                                                 and silver lace Wyandotte chickens.   by Leinenkugel’s with bratwursts,
                                                                                 A colorful graphic illustrates how    sausages, and pretzels in hand.
                                                                                 to tell the differences between
                                                                                                                   A Magical Holiday Season
                                                                                 hens and roosters, as well as where
                                                                                 chickens can be found around      This year, Holiday Magic® illuminated
                                                                                 the world—everywhere except       the park with new features, includ-
                                                                                 Antarctica and Vatican City.      ing a Holiday Market where guests
                                                                                                                   could find unique ornaments and
                                                                                 In December 2024, two hives of
                                                                                                                   gifts, a peppermint-themed glowing
                                                                                 honeybees settled into a new
                                                                                                                   Candy Cane Lane, and Sparkling
                                                                                 home inside of the Hamill Family
                                                                                                                   Coast, a transformation of The Living
                                                                                 Play Zoo after being locally rescued
                                                                                                                   Coast into a world of light-up aquatic
                                                                                 by Illinois Bee Rescue, offering
                                                                                                                   animals and oceanic displays. And of
                                                                                 guests of all ages an opportunity
                                                                                                                   course, the Anniversary Ferris Wheel
                                                                                 to learn about the vital role bees
                                                                                                                   added extra brightness through the
                                                                                                                   end of the year!
                                                                                                                   Alongside favorite holiday events
                                                                                                                   like Tree Trim and Reindeer Run,
                                                                                                                   we also launched our second Zoo
                                                                                                                   After Dark event, Holiday Sip ‘n Stroll.
                                                                                                                   Guests 21 and older got a sneak
                                                                                                                   peek of the lights while sampling
                                                                                                                   specialty holiday food and drinks
                                                                                                                   on a snowy evening!









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