Chicagoland Holiday Lights 2019: New Displays, Old Favorites

CHICAGO, IL — Some of the Chicago-area's most popular holiday lights displays have opeend for the season. New this year, the Chicago Botonic Garden is introducing its Lightscape display while old favorites, including Illumination Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum and Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo are expected to again draw crowds.

Take The Illinois Patch 2019 Holiday Tour O' Lights

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

Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum

Attendees are surrounded by color as they walk a one-mile paved path amid interactive lighting effects that highlight the beauty of the arboretum's 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 drink or roast marshmallows for s'mores.

• Location: Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53
• Schedule: Nov. 23 through Jan. 5. Illumination is closed on December 2, 9, 16, 24 and 25
• 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 38th year, Brookfield Zoo lauds itself as the Chicagoland's largest and longest running lights festival with over one million 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 that will remain open late (until 8 p.m.) for visitors to check out.

• Location: 8400 31st Street, Brookfield
• Schedule: Nov. 30, Dec. 1, Dec. 7, Dec. 8, Dec. 14, Dec. 15, Dec. 21, Dec. 22 , and Dec. 26 through Dec. 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 25 years, the zoo boasts 2.5 million lights and features 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.

• Location: 2001 N. Clark Street
• Schedule: Open from 430 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 29 to 30, Dec. 1, Dec. to 8, Dec. 13 to 23, and Dec. 26 to 31 (the zoo lights turn off early on Dec. 31 at 8 p.m.). Jan. 1 to 5.
• Cost: Free

Chicago Botanic Garden's Lightscape

The Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe has upped its holiday lights' game this season. Direct from London, Lightscape is making its U.S. debut at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Those attending can meander down a mile-long path lit up with immersive ribbons of lights, a sparkling lit-up tunnel, and singing trees. There will also be marshmallows to toast over a fire.

• Location: 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
• Schedule: Nov. 22 through Jan. 5
• Cost: Ticket prices range from $17 to $25 for adults and from $8 to $13 for children.

• City of Chicago Christmas Tree at Millennium Park: The giant 55-foot blue spruce will be lit up daily through Jan. 6. More via the city of Chicago's website.
• Aurora's Festival of Lights in Phillips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive in Aurora. You can drive through the free display starting on Nov. 29. More information via the Aurora Festival of Lights website.
• Holiday Lights in Lilacia Park, 150 S. Park Ave. in Lombard. The display opens on Dec. 7 and remains open on weekends through Dec. 22. More information is available on the Lombard Park District website.
• Holiday Lights in Rosemont opens on Nov. 29 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. More information is available here.
• Festival of Lights & Christmas Trees at Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Cosley Ave. in Wheaton. The display will be on from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 29 through Dec. 30. Cosley Zoo is closed on Christmas and New Year's Day. The zoo is open from 9 a.m. to noon on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. For more information, visit here.
• Naper Lights at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St. in Naperville. Water Street will be converted into a winter wonderland with a combination of holiday displays and music. From 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily from Nov. 26 through Dec. 27. More via the Naper Lights website.
• Goebbert's Holiday Lights: Sure, everyone knows about Goebbert's fall festival fun, but the business also now has a Christmas Ligh Show. Located at their farm at 42W813 Reinking Road in Pingree Grove, the drive-through light show will run from Dec. 22 through Jan. 5 but is closed on Mondays. More via the Goebbert's website.
• Santa's Rock N' Lights: Located at the Lake County Fairgrounds, tickets are available for the daily drive-through show. The cost is $24.99 per vehicle that has up to six passengers. More via the Santa's Rock N' Lights website.