Inside one of the nicest Minor League Baseball parks in the U.S., the Village of Rosemont and Impact Field are gearing up for a holiday light festival designed to go really big, rivaling any other when AMAZE Light Festival flips on the switch.
“I think families are in for a special treat,” says Shawn Hunter, co-owner of the Chicago Dogs and Executive Producer of AMAZE Light Festival, which runs select days Nov. 19-Jan. 2. “It’s all of your favorite holiday traditions in one place.”
Going really big is not an exaggeration. Picture more than 1 million lights in a spectacular lighting display, a 3-story-tall tree in the middle of all the action, a 2 ½-story-tall snowman sure to bring the oohs and ahhs, a brand new trackless merry Arctic Express train for the kids (and parents!) to ride as it meanders near that giant snowman and more, seven illuminated worlds to explore, holiday-themed food and drink and even a big tube slide mountain, he says.
“It’s going to be an immersive illuminated event,” he says, adding there are only a couple of light festivals like it anywhere else in the country. Rosemont and Impact Field, built specifically to host such huge community events, partnered with Artistic Holiday Designs to create a big show focused on families and kids.
“It’s one that’s just not spectacular lighting presentations, but it’s immersive so people can actually be part of the show,” Hunter says.
As he watched some of the 1 million lights being installed in the ballpark right off Interstate 294, giving families super easy access from the city and suburbs, Hunter took some time out to share what families can expect at AMAZE Light Festival.
All the holiday feels
The family-friendly nature of the ballpark carries over into the holiday light festival.
Families will discover the self-guided experience offers lots of wide-open spaces and lots of staff to guide holiday revelers to get the most from the spectacular, Hunter says. The festival uses all of the ballfield and the concourse.
“It was designed, and it’s being built, so it’s very easy for families to really enjoy the entire show,” Hunter says. “They will be blown away by the magnitude, by the beauty and the fact that they can get down in it and enjoy it up close.”
Upon arrival, families receive a storybook and map to AMAZE, which was crafted to include two mascots in the story who will also be at the festival to delight kids, along with Santa and helpers, of course.
Every 30 minutes, a synchronized light show lights up the stadium. Families can be on the field immersed in it or grab seats to sit down to watch.
As they walk through the experience, Hunter thinks families will love Storybook Village, with a royal castle, princess and magical fountain, the North Pole, and the Whimsical Forest with its glittering willow trees and reindeer, and lighted tree farm that will fill the air with the smell of pine, among the other themed areas.
Places to warm up have been created, too, including a candy store wonderland, Sparky’s Land of Sweets, that will please even the pickiest kid. Plus, a holiday market features holiday food and drinks for both kids and adults to keep tummies full and the mood festive.
Families who really want to up the wow factor can opt to buy VIP and platinum tickets that include a buffet and more.
Hunter knows moms and dads looking to stretch their holiday budgets might be wondering if it’s worth the price. Without hesitation, he says that’s a big yes. His team has spent more than two years creating the event to make it one of the biggest and best in the country. They also priced it lower than many area holiday lights events to make it affordable for more people. The general admission ticket is all inclusive, with an add-on for the unlimited tubing hill.
“When it comes to the experience itself, our goal always is to have people leaving saying ‘I want to do that again and I want to tell somebody about it.’ The eye to detail and the ornaments, all holiday themed, it puts a smile on your face,” Hunter says.
“It’s a winter wonderland.”
Find out more and get tickets at amazerosemont.com.
