Holiday lights around Chicago: Top 10 displays for 2023, from Navy Pier to Morton Arboretum
It’s that time of the year again to bundle up, grab a cup of hot cocoa and take a stroll after dark to see some sparkling holiday light displays. Here is our list of light shows in and around Chicago and beyond, with some indoor displays if you want to avoid the cold.
ZooLights
This year’s display features a new garden-themed light show on the Lincoln Park Zoo’s South Lawn. Be sure to stop by the North Pole at Pepper Family Wildlife Center to see Santa and the zoo’s holiday tree.
Back again this year are the light maze, live ice carvers, a light tunnel and a Ferris wheel, one of the rides and special attractions that requires additional tickets. A pop-up bar will offer festive cocktails, warm drinks and firepits where you can roast s’mores.
This is one of the most affordable holiday events on our list, and admission is free on Mondays. Other notable nights are a sensory-friendly evening (Dec. 6), when lights will mostly remain static; a jazz tribute by the Chris White Trio to “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (Dec. 10) and an adults-only evening featuring a DJ (Dec. 14).
Through Jan. 7, 2024, 4:30-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 4:30-10 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Thanksgiving Eve and New Year’s Eve. ZooLights will be closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. At the Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive; tickets are $7 or $10 on Fridays, Saturdays, Thanksgiving Eve and New Year’s Eve; free admission on Mondays. More information at lpzoo.org/event/zoolights
Lightscape
The fifth year of the holiday lights celebration at Chicago Botanic Garden has lots of new installations and an all-new path that includes parts of the garden that weren’t previously featured in Lightscape, such as Evening Island.
Even if you’ve been to this exhibit before, it will be a new experience since about 80% of the show changes every year, said Jodi Zombolo, the garden’s associate vice president of visitor events and programs.
Of this year’s approximately 22 installations, many are by international artists from the United Kingdom, France and Australia, she said. Each installation is paired with music.
The roughly 1.3-mile long path, which is designed by Culture Creative, also takes visitors on an emotional journey. Zombolo said that the start of Illumination may be quiet and contemplative while installations later in the path will bring you up and get you dancing.
“It’s very intentional in how it’s designed,” she said. “There’s never just a plateau or you’re just feeling the same thing the whole time.”
The trail kicks off with a colorful bang. Called “Electric Ribbon Tunnel,” visitors wander through a walkway filled with colorful lighted ribbons. Another beautiful new display is UK artist Jigantics’ “Lilies” with 5-foot glowing flowers floating in the water on both sides of a bridge.
The event takes place rain or shine, and the evening we attended was a soggy one, but it was still magical with all of the twinkling lights.
“Even if it’s raining a little bit, don’t worry you can still have fun, it’s still beautiful in the rain,” Zombolo said. “Some of the shows are beautiful in the rain because they sparkle.”
Despite all the changes this year, some fan-favorite installations do return, including the “Fire Garden,” though this fiery installation has been revamped this year, and of course the “Winter Cathedral” closes the show with the opportunity for some dramatic photos.
Tickets for some dates are already going fast, especially the busier Friday and weekend dates.
Through Jan. 7, 2024, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe; tickets are $34 for adults, $19 for children ages 3-12, children ages 2 and under are free. Parking is an additional $25 per vehicle ($15 if purchased in advance). More information at chicagobotanic.org/lightscape
Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light
To get a taste of different holiday traditions from around the world, check out this indoor exhibit boasting more than 50 trees representing different countries at the Museum of Science and Industry. This tradition started in 1942 with just one tree, and now includes a four-story Grand Tree as its centerpiece showstopper.
This year’s exhibit will explore the science behind snow and include an exhibit of snowflake photographs by Caltech physicist Ken Libbrecht. Plus guests will be able to experience the magic of (fake) snow while surrounded by the Christmas trees in the museum’s North Court.
Fridays through Sundays in the weeks leading up to Christmas and every day from Dec. 15-24, Santa will be at the museum and available for photos. Packages are also available for photos in front of the Grand Tree.
Through Jan. 7, 2024, at the Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive; tickets are included with museum entry at $26 for adults, $15 for children ages 3 to 11. More information at msichicago.org
Illumination
Stroll down a one-mile paved path through the Morton Arboretum as lighting effects show off the beauty of trees in the winter while festive music plays. This season will have 18 displays, including the new “Winter Radiance” display, which will include LED grasses that pay homage to an indigenous Midwest plant species, while the “Starlit Trail” will surround visitors in sparkling stars.
John Featherstone of Lightswitch is marking his 11th year designing the Illumination experience.
“Everything we do at Illumination is in service of the trees, we want to make sure that everything we’re doing is bringing the wonder of the natural environment at the holiday season to the forefront,” Featherstone said.
He takes inspiration from the way light plays off trees, playing with the unexpected things we can discover from lighting trees and the natural environment in different directions, with different colors and with different quality of light.
New this year is a fully ADA-compliant trail, as well as a reversed pathway. The route in previous years had a steep incline in one portion and the new path is now easier to traverse, said Amy Scott, head of exhibitions at Morton Arboretum.
“The reversed route really lends itself to a more immersive experience,” she said. “In the past, while you may have walked past Golden Glade, which is this beautiful meadow of these golden grasses, this year you’ll be able to be walking right through the middle of it.”
“We’re exploring the arboretum in a totally different way,” Featherstone added. “There’s a couple of really amazing vistas, there’s one from the top of a hill in the experience where you look down and you see a canopy of giant ornaments spread out before you and the lake glistening in the distance. It’s a vista that’s been literally behind people’s backs for most of the years of Illumination.”
One of Scott’s favorite exhibits is “Radiant Reflections,” where 12 towers sit on Meadow Lake and float with the wind. The towers have mirrored surfaces that reflect the surrounding lights. And this year, it’ll all be synced to music.
“I think it’ll be very cool and very dramatic and exciting,” she said.
Featherstone’s personal favorite installations are “Hugger Tree,” “Treemagination” and “Symphony Woods.” But his wish for guests who visit? Slow down.
“One of the things that I enjoy the most about watching when guests come and interact with Illumination is frankly watching people slow down,” he said. “Maybe they take a couple of deep breaths, especially in the parts of the trails that have evergreens and you get that beautiful fir tree, evergreen smell, which is so evocative of the holiday season.”
Our tip is to venture out on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, when crowds are typically smaller. Scott encourages all visitors to make sure to dress for the weather and to wear comfortable shoes, since she estimates that it could take around an hour to an hour and a half to walk the path.
Electric Illumination is back for a second year (Dec. 8, 15, 22 and 29). Adults ages 18 and older can enjoy the light displays as a mix of trance and processive house music plays. A special ‘80s-themed evening on Dec. 29 will feature classics like Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Through Jan. 6, 2024, at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle; more information at mortonarb.org
Holiday Magic
The area’s longest-running lights festival is back for its 42nd year at Brookfield Zoo with more than 2 million sparkling LED lights. The zoo will be decked out in huge light displays shaped like animals and almost 900 trees will be lit up. Plus, you can stroll through two light tunnels as seasonal songs play.
Entertainment includes juggling elves, roaming carolers and ice carving. You can participate in dance parties on the plaza, go for a spin on a carousel or check out the zoo’s seasonal virtual reality experience.
There will be plenty of holiday-themed photo ops, including a 16-foot-tall 3D gingerbread house and a 41-foot-tall tree draped with colorful lights. And of course, there’ll be pictures with Santa.
Select dates through Dec. 31 at Brookfield Zoo, 8400 W. 31st St, Brookfield; tickets are $29.95 for adults, $20.95 for kids ages 3-11 and $24.95 for seniors 65 and older. Parking is $17-$20. More information at czs.org/holidaymagic
Sparkle Light Festival in Rosemont
Visitors can stroll through five different villages decked out in millions of lights at this holiday event. See Santa, hop on a free train ride or enjoy tubing down the Alpine slide for an additional $22. New this year is an ice-skating rink.
Through Dec. 31 at Impact Field, 9850 Balmoral Ave., Rosemont; tickets are $24 for adults and $18 for children ages 2 through 12, parking is $5 per vehicle. More information at sparklerosemont.com
City of Chicago Christmas Tree
Downtown Chicago is also getting decked out for the holidays, with this 45-foot tree wrapped in lights being one of the main attractions. This year’s tree, a Colorado Blue Spruce, was donated by the De La Cruz family of Darien, Illinois. Millennium Park will also have other holiday offerings, including an ice rink, a holiday art market and singalong evenings.
Through Jan. 7, 2024, in Millennium Park near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Washington Street; free, more information at chicago.gov/holiday
Illuminated in Rockford
Experience the Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford in a new light during Illuminated, where trees will be dramatically presented with colored up-lighting and string lights. There’ll be a rotating selection of food trucks, as well as made-to-order pizzas and hot chocolate available every night. Be sure to check the garden’s website and Facebook page for weather-related closures; the show will close if the temperature if below 15 degrees Fahrenheit at 3 p.m.
5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays Nov. 30-Dec. 10 and daily Dec. 14-30 (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) at the Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford; tickets are $13 for adults, free for children ages 5 and under. More information at andersongardens.org/illuminated
Light up the Lake
This event that transforms Navy Pier into a sparkling winter wonderland has a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, including an ice rink, fire pits for marshmallow roasting, an artisan market and a gallery walk. Enjoy free live musical performances Fridays through Sundays. Plus you can catch a fireworks show on Saturdays at 9 p.m.
Through Dec. 31 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.; free, some activities are ticketed, more information at navypier.org/light-up-the-lake
Forest of Lights in Indiana
Drive over to Indiana to take a stroll through the Forest of Lights on the Fair Oaks Farms Nature Trail. See the changing light scenes, interactive color displays and warm up near bonfires with s’mores, warm drinks and beverages for adults.
This lights display is not as well-known as other Chicagoland staples, so chances are the crowds will be less overwhelming if you’re willing to trek 75 miles south of Chicago. The stone trail can accommodate strollers and wheelchairs with thick, sturdy tires. Dogs on leashes are also welcome on the nature trail.
Through Dec. 31, weather permitting at Fair Oaks Farms, 856 N. 600 E, Fair Oaks, Indiana; tickets are $12 for ages 13 and older, and $8 for children ages 3-12, and children ages 2 and younger are free, more information at fofarms.com/forest-of-lights
