Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum

Sat Nov 15, 2025 - Sat Jan 3, 2026
- see all dates
Repeating every week — Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through January 3, 2026
Except November 27, 2025; December 24, 2025; December 25, 2025.
4:30pm to 10:00pm CT
Age: All ages
Price: Prices TBA
Location:
The Morton Arboretum
Invite a friend
Choose a date and calendar type to add this activity:
Website

Visitors walk a one-mile path with thousands of lights in displays illuminating the trees, accompanied by music. An awe-inspiring display illuminates the new Grand Garden. Visitors can enjoy some old favorites and new displays. New this year—Illumination features four colorful animal sculptures from The Morton Arboretum’s newest exhibition Vivid Creatures, by artists Heather BeGaetz and Fez BeGaetz. See these colorful sculptures lit up for the holidays and transformed for the Illumination experience. Stop along the way to roast s'mores around a campfire or drink a hot beverage from concession stands. 

Prices vary for members and nonmembers and time of admission. Illumination opens each evening at 4:30pm, with the last entry at 8:30pm. Lights go out at 9:30pm. The event is closed November 28 (Thanksgiving),; December 24 (Christmas Eve), and 25 (Christmas Day).

** Activity dates/times are subject to change. Please click through to the activity website to verify.