Illumination: Chicago’s most dazzling Halloween party takes its final flight

If Halloween is your excuse to get dressed up, get a little wild and see Chicago from a whole new perspective, this may be your last chance to experience one of the city’s most dazzling parties. Illumination: A Halloween Gala of Light, Life, and Hope celebrates its 10th anniversary and final year on Saturday, Oct. 24, transforming Vertiport Chicago into an immersive playground of light, art, music and Halloween revelry.

The party runs from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., with interactive light installations, illuminated characters, glowing processions, fiery parades, musical performances and DJs creating a one-of-a-kind late-night spectacle. And because this is Vertiport, guests can also take to the skies with helicopter rides offering views of Chicago and Lake Michigan, adding an entirely different dimension to the evening. 

The party itself includes multiple open bars with specialty cocktails, wine and beer, along with immersive installations, entertainment and plenty of surprises. VIP guests get access to an exclusive lounge and a special light installation, while a separate dinner experience begins earlier in the evening. 

But the real reason behind all that illumination is far more serious. Illumination benefits the Clayco Foundation’s efforts to find a cure for Retinal Vasculopathy with Cerebral Leukodystrophy, or RVCL, an ultra-rare and fatal genetic disease that affects small blood vessels in the brain and eyes. The foundation says it has raised $14 million for cutting-edge RVCL research through its efforts. (Illumination Rare Disease)

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RVCL can cause vision loss, strokes and progressive neurological problems, making research and awareness especially important. The foundation points out that rare diseases affect approximately 30 million people in the United States, nearly one in 10 Americans.

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The setting should make the 2026 finale even more memorable. Vertiport Chicago, 1339 S. Wood St., is a helicopter facility with indoor and outdoor event space and a large tarmac overlooking the Chicago skyline. The venue also offers helicopter tour experiences featuring views of the skyline and lakefront. (VERTIPORT CHICAGO)

And then there’s the fact that this is the final Illumination. After 10 years of turning Halloween into an art form while raising money and awareness for rare disease research, the 2026 event marks the end of the series. That makes this year's party not simply another Halloween night out, but the final opportunity to experience Illumination in all its glowing, flying, fire-filled glory.

Illumination: A Halloween Gala of Light, Life, and Hope takes place Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Vertiport Chicago, 1339 S. Wood St. Tickets and additional information are available at Illuminate Chicago.