During the holiday season, there are so many magical ways to experience Chicago. One of those ways is taking in all the holiday light displays across the city, such as Navy Pier’s month-long Light Up the Lake 2024 festivities. In case you missed the iconic Wintrust Mag Mile Lights Festival that lit up all of downtown, here are a few other holiday light displays locals and visitors won’t want to miss.
ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
Presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ, ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo is a Chicago holiday tradition unlike any other, and this year, the zoo is celebrating 30 years of the light display. Already underway, Zoolights began mid-November and will continue until Sunday, January 5. Zoolights features over 3 million lights and hundreds of LED displays. Guests can walk through the holiday light tunnel or take a ride on the Ferris wheel for an epic view of all the zoo’s lights.
On Fridays and Saturdays, professional ice carvers will provide entertainment, and on Sundays, carolers will stroll through the zoo providing holiday cheer. Guests will be able to roast s’mores over an open fire and sip on hot cocoa or mulled wine.
Tickets range from $7-$10, with free admission on select Mondays.
Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum
The Morton Arboretum is now putting on Illumination: Tree Lights, a one-mile festive path, through Saturday, January 4. This fascinating lights exhibit will feature 17 displays of light and music that celebrates nature’s beauty in winter. Celebration Circle is a new interactive light display this year inside the Gerard T. Donnelly Grand Garden. The new display will feature four sets of illuminated tree-shaped installations synced to the music of a different instrument.
On three special weekends, guests can experience Electric Illumination, which will offer different themes and a curated playlist of music for its sychronized light displays. This unique experience will take place Friday, November 29 - Saturday, November 30, Friday, December 6 - Saturday, December 7, and Friday, December 13 - Saturday, December 14.
Tickets start at $21 and increase depending on the day.
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry’s Light Exhibit
The Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light annual holiday exhibit is now open through Monday, January 6 at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. Guests will be able to experience holiday traditions from around the globe during this exhibit that first started in 1942. The museum boasts a four-story Grand Tree, surrounded by 50 smaller trees that represent holiday traditions from various cultures.
This tradition began during World War II as a wartime tribute to the Allies; a single tree was decorated daily for 12 days in order to represent all the different countries fighting alongside America. According to the museum, the tree was a symbol of hope during uncertain times and served as a reminder to the various countries of the importance of joining together.
Get tickets to the exhibit on the museum’s website.
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