Finally, that wonderful time of the year is back! Get into theย holiday spiritย with friends and family by enjoying the beautiful holiday lights in Chicagoland.
From Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum toย ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo, each lights show promises to add an extra touch of magic to your holiday season. Whatโs even better? Watching your childrenโs eyes go wide as they take in the twinkling lights.
Where to See Holiday Lights in Chicagoland
So, bundle up and sip some hot chocolate while exploring these holiday displays. Here are some popular and dazzling attractions in Chicagoland to make your season brighter.ย
This article was recently updated Oct. 30, 2024, by Chicago Parentโs Audience Development Coordinator, Kari Zaffarano. The update included her adding holiday light displays to the ChicagoParent.comโs calendar and featuring the best holiday light displays in Chicagoland. Questions? Please reach out to kari@chicagoparent.com.
Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden
Nov. 15, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025ย
- Address: 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
- Cost:ย $32-$39/adults, $17-$24/ages 3-12, free/2 and under
See thousands of twinkling lights while walking through the Winter Cathedral and a reimagined fire garden.
ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
Nov. 15, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025
- Address: 2100 N. Clark St., Chicago
- Cost: $7-$10/Tuesdays-Sundays, free/select Mondays; fees for additional encounters and activities
Enjoy a twinkling winter wonderland at Lincoln Park Zoo. Festive activities include visits with Santa, a holiday pop-up bar, sweet treats of all kinds and more. They also have a sensory-friendly event on Dec. 4.
Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light at Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Nov. 16, 2024-Jan. 6, 2025
- Address: 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
- Cost: Free w/museum admission; $25.95/ages 12-plus, $14.95/ages 3-11, free/2 and under
This Chicago tradition began in 1942 with a single tree. Now the museum features a four-story, floor-to-dome Grand Tree surrounded by more than 50 other trees and displays. Each tree nearby showcases holiday customs from various cultures worldwide.
Illumination: Tree Lights at Morton Arboretum
Nov. 16, 2024-Jan. 4, 2025
- Address: 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle
- Cost:ย Ticket prices coming soon
Surround yourselves with color while walking on the one-mile paved pathway. Enjoy seasonal music, captivating light designs and roasting sโmores on a fire at this outdoor event.ย
Light of Christmas Drive Thru at Guaranteed Rate Field
Nov. 21, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025
- Address: 333 W. 35th St., Chicago
- Cost: $20.99-plus/vehicle
Visitors can enjoy the immersive holiday light show from the comfort of their own car at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Holiday Magic at the Brookfield Zoo
Nov. 22-24, 29-30; Dec. 1, 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, 26-31, 2024
- Address: 8400 W. 31st St., Brookfield
- Cost:ย $29.95-$34.95/ages 12-64, $20.95-$24.95/ages 3-11, free/2 and under
This annual event features more than two million twinkling LED lights and is Chicagolandโs longest-running holiday light experience! This year, there will be a new holiday market and two new themed lighting areas. Advanced tickets required.
Santaโs Rock n Lights โ Drive Thru Light Show
Nov. 22-Dec. 31, 2024
- Address:ย Kane County Cougars, 34w002 Cherry Lane, Geneva
- Cost:ย Starting at $29.99/carload of up to six people; prices vary by date
Enjoy more than 1,000 feet of dancing light tunnels, larger-than-life 3D light sculptures of polar bears, reindeer, dinosaurs and gift of light and hundreds of thousands of lights dancing to music for about a mile or more.
Willow Hill Lights at Willow Hill Golf Course
Nov. 22, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025
- Address: 1350 Willow Road, Northbrook
- Cost: $40/car
The holiday lights show features a 2.5-mile route. It includes over one million lights, three drive-through tunnels and a 30-foot Christmas tree.
Winter Lights at Central Park
Nov. 22, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025
- Address: 1510 Forest Gate Road, Oak Brook
- Cost: Free
Enjoy a half-mile walk to see the holiday lights through Central Park. See musical hearts, colorful rainbow arches, cascading snowflakes and more.ย
The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
Nov. 23, 2024
- Address:ย Michigan Avenue, Chicago
- Cost:ย Free
The annual festival happens a week before Thanksgiving. Grand Marshals Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse from Walt Disney World illuminate more than one million lights on more than 200 trees along the route. Plus, enjoy numerous free family-friendly activities. After the event, you can also come back to see the lights during the holiday season.
Naper Lights in Downtown Naperville
Nov. 28-Dec. 31, 2024
- Address:ย Downtown Naperville
- Cost: Free; donations are welcome
Wear 3D glasses and have fun at a special holiday lights event hosted by Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise. Santa will be by the big tree Nov. 24-26 and Dec. 23.
Cosley Zoo Festival of Lights
Nov. 29-Dec. 30, 2024
- Address: 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton
- Cost:ย Free; donations appreciated
See twinkling lights, an amazing selection of Christmas trees and wreaths and greenery at this holiday lighting event. Lights come on at 3 p.m. Also, hot chocolate and holiday gifts are available to purchase in the Wild Side Gift Shop.ย
Kohlights: A Mesmertastic Holiday Lightacular!
Nov. 29โ30; Dec 6โ7, 13-14, 20-22, 2024ย
- Address:ย Kohl Childrenโs Museum,ย 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview
- Cost:ย Early admission: $28-plus/non-members, $22-plus/members; Regular admission: $22-plus/non-members, $16-plus/members; free/under 12 months
Kids can take control over the light display at different activity stations along the way at this holiday event. Kohlights is now an indoor and outdoor experience, so there will be access to all indoor exhibits as well.
Christmas in the Commons at New Lenox Commons
Nov. 30; Dec. 1, 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 2024
- Address: 145-199 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox
- Cost:ย Free
See a holiday light display with their 50-foot tall lighted Santa Claus and holiday activities to accompany the lights, including visits from Santa, horse-drawn wagon rides, synthetic skating rinks and more.
Holiday Lights in Lilacia Park
Dec. 8, 2023-Jan. 1, 2025
- Address: 150 S. Ave., Lombard
- Cost: Free; Bring an unwrapped and unused toy for donation
This annual holiday lights display in Lilacia Park features tree decorations, magical light shows, a gingerbread house and more.ย Kids can visit with Santa from 6-8 p.m. every Friday-Sunday. Also, holiday characters, cookies and hot cocoa.
Holiday Light Shows Worth the Drive
Christmas Carnival of Lights in Wisconsin
Nov. 23-Dec. 31, 2024
- Address: Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, 8425 HWY 38, Caledonia, WI
- Cost: $30-plus/vehicle
The biggest, brightest and most dazzling drive-through light show is nestled in the woods of Caledonia, WI – just 75 miles north of Chicago. Activities include driving through the 2.6 mile light path by car, aboard Santa’s giant sleigh, or on the charming Golf Cart Holiday Train, photos with Santa, outdoor ice skating, photo-ops and walk-through areas, holiday treats and beverages, cozy fire pits, shopping and more. Guests can tune into their radio and watch as the lights dance along in harmony to holiday music.
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