Chestnuts roasting over an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose and Christmas lights! Nothing quite embodies the holiday season like driving home when the sun has set and seeing houses bursting with Christmas lights and decorations. This season, neighborhoods are not the only places lit up with the holiday spirit. Multiple locations and festivals create wonderful light shows all over Illinois during December and January. Embrace the holiday season and make memories with loved ones by visiting these colorful and bright light shows. Here are some of the best Christmas light displays to visit in the state:
- Pathway of Lights – At Aikman Wildlife Adventure, Arcola, each Sat. from Nov. 12 – Dec. 17
- Holiday Glow – In Allerton Park, Monticello, Dec. 2 – 23, Dec. 27 – 30, Jan. 6 – 7, Jan. 13 – 14
- Light Up the Park – In Chatham Community Park, Chatham, Nov. 25 – Dec. 25
- Wonderland in Lights – In Effingham Community Park, Effingham, Nov. 24 – Jan. 1
- The Festival of Lights – In Forest Park, Shelbyville, Nov. 18 – Jan. 1
- Candlestick Lane – At Grant Place & Eastern Lane, Urbana, Dec. 10 - Dec. 31
- Christmas in the Park – In Manner’s Park, Taylorville, Dec. 9 – 25
- Lightworks – In Peterson Park, Mattoon, Nov. 18 – Dec. 26
- Christmas Wonderland – In Rock Spring Park, Alton, Nov. 30 – Dec. 27
- Festival of Lights Winter Wonderland – In Veterans Park, East Peoria, Nov. 24 – Jan. 2
- Holiday Festival of Lights – In Aurora, Nov. 25 – Dec. 25
- Christmas Around the World & Holidays of Light – At the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago, Nov. 30 – Jan. 8
- Illumination – At the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Nov. 19 – Jan. 7
- Lincoln Park ZooLights – In Lincoln Park, Chicago, Nov. 19 – Jan. 1
- Brookfield Zoo's Holiday Magic – In Brookfield, Dec. 1 – 4, Dec. 14 – 18 and Dec. 26 – 31
- CTA Holiday Train – In Chicago. Follow the train to see if you can catch a ride!
