Chicago Area Lights Up For Holidays: Popular Displays Open

CHICAGO, IL – Some of the Chicago-area's most popular holiday lights displays will soon be opening for the season. Morton Arboretum's Illumination display, which drew more than 162,000 visitors last year, will be among the first to flip the switch on thousands of beautiful, twinkling lights adorning trees along a mile-long path.

But other crowd favorites, including ZooLights in Lincoln Park, (which is free!), and Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo, will soon be showcasing their twinkling lights, too.

If you'd prefer staying out of the cold, the Chicago area includes plenty of drive-through displays, including a new lights show at Goebbert's and a mile-long display at the Lake County fairgrounds.

Here is a closer look at some Chicago-area light shows worth checking out this season:

Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum

More than 162,000 people stopped out for Illumination in 2017 and Morton Arboretum is expecting the popular holiday attraction will have another successful year. Attendees are surrounded by color as they walk a one-mile paved path amid interactive lighting effects that highlight the beauty of trees in winter. There will be seasonal music and ever-changing, interactive lighting designs. You can also warm up by a crackling fire with a cozy drink or roast marshmallows for s’mores.

• 'Illumination: Tree Lights' Returning At The Morton Arboretum

View a sneak peak of this year’s show in the video below.

• Location: Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53
• Schedule: Nov. 17 through Jan. 1. Illumination is closed on Mondays, except for December 31. The exhibit is also closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Tickets are available for specific times, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Admission ends at 8:30 p.m. The lights turn off at 9:30 p.m.
• Tickets: Non-member adults pay $23 for weekend tickets, which includes admission for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and $18 for weekday tickets. Children 2 to 17 years old are $15 on the weekend and $12 during the week. Members pay $18 for weekend admission and $13 for weekday admission. Children 2 to 17 years old pay $10 for weekend admission and $7 for weekday. Children two and younger are free. Attendees are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance. You can purchase tickets here. Other options for buying tickets include calling the ticket line at 630-725-2066, open daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by stopping into the visitor center during open hours.

More via the Morton Arboretum website

Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo

Now it its 37th year, Brookfield Zoo lauds itself as the Chicagoland’s largest and longest running lights festival with over one millions twinkling LED lights and a 41-foot talking tree. There is also a skating rink, carolers, ice carvers, and, of course, plenty of zoo exhibits will remain open late (until 8 p.m.) for visitors to check out.

• Location: 8400 31st Street, Brookfield
• Schedule: Dec. 1 to 2, 8 to 9, 15 to 16, 22 to 23 and 26 to 31.
• Tickets: Holiday magic is free for Brookfield Zoo members. Adult admission is $21.95, seniors 65 years and older are $15.95 and children ages 3 to 11 years old are $15.95. The cost for tickets are $1 cheaper when purchased online.

More via the Brookfield Zoo website

ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo

You can’t argue with free. ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo is the most cost-friendly of the major holiday light shows in the area. A holiday tradition for 24 years, the zoo boasts 2.5 million lights featuring luminous displays. Your kids can also get your photo with Santa, there are live ice-sculpture carvings and warmed spiced wine and frosty beer to sip along the way.

• Schedule: Open from 4:30 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 23, 24, 25 and 30, Dec, 1-2, 7-23, Dec. 26-31, Jan. 1-6.
• Cost: Free

More via the Lincoln Park Zoo website

Santa's Rock N' Light Show

The drive-thru light show will include lights that dance along to Christmas music and almost a full mile of nearly 1,000 programmable elements and over 100,000 animated lights dancing to Christmas music, according to the event Facebook page.

• When: Nov. 23 to Dec. 31
• Where: Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E Peterson Road in Grayslake
• Ticket Price: Tickets start at $16 for the drive-thru show.

More via the event website

Goebbert’s Holiday Light Show

A drive-through light show at the Pingree Grove Goebbert’s. There are over 1.5 million lights illuminating the farm and orchard.

• Where: 42W813 Reinking Road, Pingree Grove
• When: 5 to 11 p.m. on Tuesdays through Sundays starting on Nov. 22 and continuing through Jan. 2. The holiday light show is closed on Mondays.
• Tickets: Tickets start at $20 for a 1- to 9-passenger vehicle. Tickets can be purchased online.

More via the Goebbert’s Facebook page

More light displays worth checking out:

• Aurora's Festival of Lights in Phillips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive in Aurora. You can drive through the free display starting on Nov. 23. More information via the Aurora Festival of Lights website.
• Wonderland Express at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 S. Lake Cook Road in Glencoe. The display runs from Nov. 23 through Jan. 6. More information is available on the Chicago Botanic Garden website.
• Holiday Lights in Lilacia Park, 150 S. Park Ave. in Lombard. The display opens on Dec. 1. More information is available on the Lombard Park District website.
• Holiday Lights in Rosemont opens on Nov. 23 at MB Financial Park, 5501 Park Place in Rosemont. Check the village of Rosemont website for more information.
• Christmas Around the World and Holiday of Light at the Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. The Grand Tree lighting ceremony was held on Nov. 15, marking the display's opening for the season. The display will remain open through Jan. 6. More information is available here.
• Festival of Lights & Christmas Trees at Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Cosley Ave. in Wheaton. The light display runs from Nov. 23 through Dec. 30. For more information, visit here.
• Naper Lights at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St. in Naperville. The light display will run from Nov. 23 through Dec. 23. For more information, visit here.

Photo via the Morton Arboretum website