Where to Find The Best Chicago Christmas Lights This Year

The weather is getting colder. The sun is setting earlier. So, you know what that means! Time to throw on your warmest hat and gloves and find the most sparkling Chicago Christmas lights to get you and your loved ones into the holiday spirit.

Chicago Holiday Lights for 2024

• Museum of Science and Industry
• Chicago Botanic Garden
• Lincoln Park Zoo
• Art on theMART
• Roscoe Village
• Macy’s & the Walnut Room
• The Magnificent Mile
• Light Up the Lake at Navy Pier
• Maggie Daley Ice Skating Ribbon

Chicago Suburbs Christmas Lights

• Joliet Glow (new)
• Willow Hill Lights in Northbrook
• Cosley Zoo in Wheaton
• Christmas at Cantigny in Wheaton
• Morton Arboretum in Lisle
• Aurora Festival of Lights
• Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo
• Naper Lights in Naperville
• Holiday Lights in Lilacia Park in Lombard
• Sparkle Light Fest in Rosemont
• Guaranteed Rate Field Lights

Read below for dates and more details.

Museum of Science and Industry

Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light celebrate the season with one mega tree and 50 surrounding trees, each one representing different cultures from the various communities that make up the city.

The annual celebration started in 1942 with one tree and has turned into a yearly tradition for many Chicagoans.

Admission is included with a regular Museum Entry Ticket.

Dates: November 16th – January 6th.

Chicago Botanic Garden

Lightscape is an after-dark walking trail of dazzling Chicago lights, singing trees, and festive exhibits.

The garden is bringing back some favorites like the Winter Cathedral of Light but also adding a new path to jazz up this year’s display. 

On the Evening Island, you’ll discover new works like illuminated 5-foot lilies and a sea of lights, created just for the Garden by international artists. 

The Chicago Botanic Garden Christmas lights are implemented as a one-way trail, outdoor-only displays, no interactive exhibits, and a separate entrance and exit.

Tickets are on sale now and weekends typically sell out fast.

Dates: November 15th – January 5th.

Prices vary based on advance purchases or the day of ticket sales.

Advanced Prices: Adults $32 member / $34 nonmember. Children (3-12) $17 member / $19 nonmember. Children 2 and under are free.

Lincoln Park Zoo

For the 30th year, Lincoln Park Zoo Lights Chicago is returning this winter. I’ve been a few times over the years and it is very well done.

It turns one of the most popular attractions in the city into a winter wonderland for families, couples, and friends.

Grab a hot chocolate or mulled wine, and wander around the grounds. Prepare to be thrown into the holiday spirit immediately!

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Tickets need to be purchased in advance online. Tickets are on sale now.

The Zoo Chicago Lights is $7-$10 per person admission for all ages Tuesday-Sunday and tickets are free on select Mondays with limited capacity.

Reservations are required for free nights as well.

Dates: ZooLights runs from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Nov. 15-17, 20-24, 27, 29, 30, Dec. 1, 5-8, 11, 13-15, 18-23, 26-29, and Jan. 1-5th.

Art on theMART

2024 TBD. Have you heard someone talk about the Chicago light show on a building and wondered what they were talking about?

Art on theMART isn’t your typical Chicago lights display. The innovative digital art projection is a 25-story-tall video installation on the side of the Merchandise Mart building facing the Chicago River.

New this winter is the ‘Season of Light,’ an exciting collaboration with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and Yorgo Alexopoulos, an SAIC alum known for immersive video installations.

The winter program will also incorporate ‘Analog,’ 13 different projections from students at SAIC and ‘The Geometry of Thought,’ by Charles Atlas.

Dates: 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm every evening, November 16th – December 30th.

TIP: Best seen from the riverwalk between Wells Street and Franklin Street.

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Roscoe Village

Take a self-guided walking tour of Roscoe Village, a northwest neighborhood in Chicago. Every year the residents and local businesses take part in a holiday decorating contest.

2024 Winterfest is scheduled for December 7th and 8th. Saturday at 5 pm is the tree lighting and caroling and Sunday at 1:00 pm is the Winterfest Family Day.

TIP: Click here for the Roscoe neighborhood map.

Dates: The contest runs during the month of December.

Macy’s and the Walnut Room

Growing up just a train ride away from downtown, heading to Macy’s (well, it was Marshall Field’s back in my day) was an annual event.

And just like the decades before, the holiday windows will be decorated, the iconic trumpets will hang above State Street, and the elaborate and extravagant Great Tree will stand tall.

Reservations are required (click the link above to see more information regarding reservations etc.) and your time is limited to 90 minutes. Reservations open October 28th.

If you forget to make reservations or are visiting during a last-minute trip, a limited number of high-top seating will be available at the Wine Bar for walk-ins with a full menu available.

Breakfast with Santa Dates: December 8th (8am – 11am), 15, and the 17th (8:30am – 11am).

Fairy Princesses Breakfast: Every day.

Dates: November 2nd – January 12th.

DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE A TON OF THINGS TO DO IN ORLANDO DURING THE HOLIDAYS BESIDES THE THEME PARKS? 

The Magnificent Mile

The Magnificent Mile Chicago Lights Festival is an annual event that is returning on November 23rd, the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

A spirited parade with Grand Marshals Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse kicks off the event at 5:30 pm before lighting up the Chicago Christmas tree.

“The parade features more than 60 minutes of fabulous floats, giant helium balloons, exciting marching bands, celebrities, musical performances, Santa Claus, and more, all helping to illuminate more than 1 million lights along The Magnificent Mile. The event draws to a grand conclusion with spectacular fireworks over the Chicago River at the DuSable Bridge at 7:00 p.m.”

Dates: The Magnificent Mile lights will continue to glow from November 24th – December 31st.

Light Up the Lake at Navy Pier

For another year, Navy Pier is hosting Chicagoland’s biggest indoor and outdoor light garden.

The winter escape features giant light sculptures, an outdoor ice rink, axe throwing, Santa’s Merry Main Street and gift market, and a kiddie train.

Plan your visit around free live music, breakfast with Santa, one-of-a-kind holiday pop-ups and fireworks, 

Tickets are now available and it is a paid event. 

Dates: November 29th – January 5th. 

Maggie Daley Ice Skating Ribbon

The Maggie Daley Ice Skating Ribbon isn’t your average Chicago lights display, but it is a truly unique experience!

Last year, Immersive Van Gogh and the Chicago Parks District worked together to create an exciting quarter-mile strip just east of Millennium Park where skaters can glide across bold starry night brushstrokes and colorful sunflowers. This year’s collaboration has yet to be announced.

Dates: November 15th – March 9th.

Sessions are open seven days a week with four a day; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

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Christmas Lights Chicago Suburbs

Not wanting to head downtown this year? Here are festive light displays including neighborhoods and drive-through Christmas lights in the Chicago suburbs.

GLOW Holiday Festival in Joliet

The Joliet Slammer’s stadium is getting a makeover this winter season! The ballpark will be transformed into a glowing yuletide setting. 

A few features include an enchanted forest, penguin playground, fairytale castle, Santa’s shack, and more. We can’t wait to check this new Christmas light display out!

Dates: November 27th – January 5th.

Willow Hill Lights in Northbrook

The 1.6-mile driving loop dazzles with over one million lights, a 30-foot Christmas tree, and three drive-through tunnels.

Experience holiday favorites like Twelve Days of Christmas and wave hello to old friends like Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman.

2024 Price TBD. Open daily from 5pm – 10pm with hour slots to reserve for $40 per standard car at 1350 Willow road.

Dates: November 22nd – January 5th.

Cosley Zoo in Wheaton

Not only can you pick up your Christmas tree at Cosley Zoo’s Festival of Lights and Tree Sales, but you can also see 20,000 twinkling lights.

Arrive early to visit with the farm animals and native Illinois wildlife. Advanced reservations are not required.

Hot Chocolate Hours: Monday – Friday 3 pm to 9 pm, Saturday & Sundays 9 am to 9 pm.

Dates: Free event with the price of admission, but donations are appreciated. November 29th – December 30th, lights come on at 3 PM.

Christmas at Cantigny

We love the Cantigny Gardens in the spring, summer and fall, but now even the winter is beautiful! The house and estate are decorated and lit up for a festive experience.  

Dates: November 22nd – January 4th.

Morton Arboretum in Lisle

The twelfth annual Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum returns as a one-of-a-kind walking experience.

The Arboretum has a mile-long paved path of dancing lights, festive music, and magical trees inside its beautiful fifty acres. A few new exhibits will be on display along with returning favorites like Hug-a-Tree, Treemagination, and two of the Human+Nature larger-than-life sculptures.

Don’t miss the early IllumiBrew event on November 15th where those 21 and older can taste craft brews along the illumination trail.

What’s continued this year? An added ’’80s-themed Electric Illumination night, a fully ADA-compliant trail, and new and reimagined displays that immerse guests among festive lights and music that celebrate the Arboretum’s tree collections.

The Electric Illumination, an exciting event for the 18+ crowd, returns on November 29th & 30th, December 6th, 7th, 13th, and 14th. Get your glow sticks ready for a night of synchronized Trance and Progressive House music.

Advance purchase is recommended.

Dates: November 16th – January 4th.

Aurora Festival of Lights

Head over to Phillips Park to drive through one of the largest free outdoor light displays in Northern Illinois.

You’ll see glowing trees, elves, reindeer, holiday trains, and more on the one-mile drag.

Dates: November 29th – December 29th, 5 pm -9 pm.

Another Christmas event in Aurora you might be interested in is the Christkindlmarket running from November 22nd through December 24th from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm on Thursdays, 11:00 am to 9 pm Friday through Saturday, and 11:00 am to 6 pm on Sundays.

Photo Credit: Aurora Festival of Lights

Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo

‘Tis the season with over one million dazzling LED lights at Brookfield Zoo. Giant colorful LED animal sculptures decorate the lawn next to the real animals.

Walk through a dancing 600-foot-long tunnel synchronized to music, take a selfie in a giant orb, and see the 41-foot-tall Christmas tree.

You’ll also find a dance party at the Polar Plaza, roaming carolers, an Elf Power virtual reality experience, and ice sculptures. 

Advance tickets strongly encouraged for North Gate, required for South Gate.

Dates: Friday – Sunday, November 22-24, Wednesday – Sunday, November 29-30, December 1, 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, 26-31.

Naper Lights in Naperville

Naperville turns up the charm during the holidays. Head over to their beautiful Riverwalk to stroll among the illuminating lights.

You can catch Santa on Friday and Saturday evenings (weather permitting) for pictures next to the Great Christmas Tree.

Dates: Thanksgiving through New Years, 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Holiday Lights in Lilacia Park in Lombard

Animated light shows, moving displays, and festive decorations bring this local park to life during the holidays.

You can bring the kids to visit Santa and enjoy complimentary hot cocoa and cookies every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in December from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.

The holiday lights display is free admission, but feel free to bring an unwrapped and unused toy for donation.

Dates: December 8th – January 1st from 4:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

Sparkle Light Festival in Rosemont

2024 Dates TBD. The Sparkle Light Festival in Rosemont deserves a spot on your holiday bucket list. 

Impact Field turns into an illuminated dreamscape featuring captivating light installations designed to transport visitors into a magical winter wonderland realm.

Guests can hop on a train ride, enjoy a selection of festive food and beverages, or take a ride on the 2-story ice slide. 

This festive event is a must-visit for families, couples, and friends seeking an enchanting experience in northwest Chicago. 

Dates: November 17th – December 31st. 

Light of Christmas Drive Thru in Chicago 

Did you know Guaranteed Rate Field isn’t just home to the White Sox? Visit during the holidays and it is also home to Chicago’s only drive thru Christmas light show!

Dates: November 21st – January 5th from 5 pm – 9 pm. Admission: $39.99 plus fees. 

Other Things to Do in Chicago

• Take a Drive on the Legendary Route 66
• Speakeasies Bus Tour (affiliate link)
• Craft Brewery Tour by Barrel Bus (affiliate link)

Do you know of any other Chicago Christmas lights 2024? Share in the comments below!