Impressive Holiday Lights in the Chicago Suburbs

Holiday Light Displays Including Awesome Home Displays in the Chicago Suburbs

It is that sparkly time of year again! Here are my favorite spots to check out the holiday lights in the Chicago suburbs including some home displays. I will be adding to this list if I learn of new ones. Please let me know if you of others. I would love to add them so we can help all of these events and help those that are collecting for food pantries.

Light Displays

• Illumination at Morton Arboretum in Lisle, November 17-January 1, an interactive light experience in the trees, check website for ticketing and times; recommendation -- reserve tickets because this event sells out
• Santa's Rock N Lights, Lake County Fairgrounds, Grayslake, drive through light show of nearly 1000 elements, November 29-December 31; 4:45PM-11PM, currently $16 weekday ticket, $19 weekend, see website for more info and ticket price changes
• Holiday Magic, Brookfield Zoo in it's 37 year of 1 million twinkling lights, also a talking tree, ice carvers and more, Saturdays & Sundays in Dec, also Dec 26-31, check website for times and prices
• Festival of Lights Cosley Zoo Wheaton; November 23-December 31 3PM-9PM, 20,000 twinkling lights transform the zoo with displays; Christmas tree sale as well; free; closed Christmas; 9AM-12PM December 24&31;  check website for specific times (closed days), free but donations appreciated
• Holiday Festival of Lights, Phillip's Park Zoo, Aurora, drive-thru display in its 12th year, November 23-December 26, 5PM-9PM Sun-Thurs, 5PM-10PM Fri & Sat, free but donations accepted.
• Holiday Lights Lilacia Park, Lombard, December 1-January 2, check for special events like train rides, etc., lighting ceremony is Dec 1 5:30PM,  Dec 2 and Dec 7-23 6PM-8PM, Santa visits on weekends (Fri, Sat, Sun); lights will be on through January 2
• Incredible Light Show, Randhurst Village, Mt. Prospect, starts December 8-15, free, animated projection light show, runs every half hour 6PM-8PM Saturdays, 6:30PM-8:00PM Sunday-Friday  see website for more special events including Santa and Mrs. Claus visits
• North School Park, Arlington Heights, November 23-early January (per Village), free!
• Naper Lights, Naper Settlement, November 23-December 23, Thursdays-Sundays, 4:00PM-7PM, Thursday, 4:00PM-9PM Friday&Saturday, 4:00PM-6PM Sundays, also December 17-19 every day 4PM-8PM, free!
• Rosemont Holiday Lights: Holiday Light Displays including 80,000 lights in Rosemont, November 23-January 4, daily, free, plus enjoy free ice skating (fee for rental)
• Lights Around Wheeling, Wheeling really has some great lights during the holiday season, this year's display opened on November 18, check out the website for more info on a festive drive you can take
• Goebbert's Winter Wonderland, Pingree Grove, November 22-January 5; Tuesday-Sunday; 7:30PM-11:00PM, $20 per car, purchase tickets
• Festival of Lights Show, The Promenade, Bolingbrook, November 11-December 31, 5PM-9PM on the hour, free
• Mooseheart Lights, Mooseheart, November 23-December 31, 5PM-9PM, 1.8 miles drive thru, Dec 8-9, 15-16, 22-23 see Santa and enjoy crafts in field house, $10 per car, see website for more info
• Winter on the Fox in Aurora, through January 4, 3:30PM-9PM

Impressive Home Displays

• Lights on Magnolia, Rolling Meadows, November 23-January 1, free but collecting non-perishable food items for donation, 4:30PM-midnight; show is 30 minutes long and runs on a continuous loop
• Christmas on Tiffany, Schaumburg, November 25-December 31, 3 different synchronized shows, check show times on website, free
• Manchester Lights Naperville, November 24-January 1, suggested donation to Corey's Goal helping support the emotional well-being of students
• Manchester'Lights of Aurora, December 1-January 5, suggested donation to Corey's Goal helping support the emotional well-being of students
• Christmas Lights on Cleveland Street, Wilmette, keep checking site--they have been working on it, but check to make sure it is up and running
• The Believe House Naperville -- lights are on for the holiday season but check Facebook for end date
• Flosi Family Light Show, November 22-January 5 Mon-Thurs 5PM-10:30PM; Fri & Sat 5PM-11:30PM
• South Barrington Lights, November 22-December 31, 5PM-10PM, for a special donation to Misercordia you can have a special Santa visit arranged, see Facebook page
• Schaumburg Holiday House Decorating Contest & Tour, Tours December 11 leaving from Recreation Center, 6:00PM-8:30PM, $10 per resident, $15 per non, must pre-register  -- may fill up!
• Road Rallye Christmas Lights Tour December 8 in Schaumburg; by the Wheels Rallye Team in Schaumburg, registration starts at 6PM at Woodfield west of Bank of America (see website for deets), $10 per car & unwrapped new toy worth $15 or more for Toys For Tots or $25 cash, course will take you through some of the best home and municipal light displays in the suburbs, cars head out at 7PM *cars can be in sightseeing mode!*
• Westfield Gardens area Des Plaines, a sizable cluster of festively decorated homes, between Mt. Prospect Road, Wolf Road and Dempster Street, free!
• Sauganash and Edgebrook Homes in Chicago (map link)
• In Palatine, check out the house on Eagle Lane just off of Northwest Highway. Lots of inflatables!
• Lenhertz Ave Christmas Display in Aurora see Facebook for updates on start date; large nativity scene and the story of Christmas;
• Medinah Woods Club subdivision in Itasca on Rt 53 and Medinah Dr. There is a HUGE display and many of the houses around have nice displays as well.
• Candy Cane Canyon Trail in Carol Stream, expected to start December 1, check facebook page
• Carol Stream Holiday Light Contest, November 25-December 17
• Winter Wonderland Decorating Contest in Downers Grove, December 6-9, see website -- last year they put a map on the site
• Manchester Lane in Port Barrington, 8 houses have a musical display
• Larsen Christmas Lights Show, Campton Hills, through January 5, Mon-Thurs 5PM-10:30PM; Fri & Sat 5PM-11:30PM
• Lights on Easton Carol Stream, should be up by December 1 but check Facebook
• Sandberg Christmas Display, Elk Grove Village, started November 21
• Hughes Digital Christmas, Lombard, started November 24, runs through New Year's
• Kolman Family Christmas Lights, Hainesville, starting December 1
• Chuchla Family Lights, Lemont, started, November 23
• Juniper Lane, South Elgin
• Woodland Light Show, Wheeling, through January 6
• Christmas Lights on Evergreen, Wilmette, through January 6; go to website for times
• Hughes Digital, Lombard, see website -- maybe combine with a visit to Lilacia Park
• Naper Light Show -- Naperville through 1/1/19
• Medinah Woods Club Itasca

Road Trip

• Christmas in the Country at Grand Geneva in Lake Geneva Wisconsin, indoor and outdoor light displays, gingerbread house contest, free, there are other events associated so check the website, plan ahead and you can reserve a trolley tour of the lights display for $2 per person for non resort guests.