Morton Arboretum's 'Illumination' light show mixes trees with tech

You'll see holiday lights in an unexpected place at Morton Arboretum's “Illumination” this year: around your neck.

The popular holiday lights display is offering new “Illu-medallions” - plastic, snowflake-shaped pendants that change color and flash along with the displays. Walk past the dancing lights on the lake, and the medallions change color to match the lights. They flash to the music at certain stops and blink at noises at other points.

Friends Samantha Morgan, of Warrenville, and Kristen Kemp, of Winfield, gave them a try recently and liked them, saying the medallions added something extra to the experience.

“It makes it more Christmas-y,” said spectator Thea Hinck, of Wheaton.

“Illumination” is believed to be the only place in the Midwest - and possibly the U.S. - to use this type of interactive technology for a holiday lights display.

The exhibit uses short-range infrared light to connect with emitters set up around the displays. The technology is similar to what was used during Taylor Swift's “1989” tour (when the crowd's bracelets flashed and changed color along with the music), and at some theme park attractions.

“We wanted to have guests be part of the show, not just a spectator,” said John Featherstone, lighting designer and creative director of “Illumination,” and also the principal of the Chicago company, Lightswitch. “When you see groups of people with it ... it almost becomes a visual percussion element.”

The Illu-medallions cost an additional $10 per person ($9 for members) on top of the admission price. Its battery will last four to five hours, and the medallion is yours to keep and bring back next year. The arboretum will replace the batteries next year at no charge.

“If you buy it this year and bring it back next year, it will work again. It's durable. and more environmentally friendly to reuse it,” Featherstone said.

Now in its fifth year, “Illumination” draws more than 150,000 people to walk the milelong, handicap-accessible path along a lake and through a forest, with different scenes and attractions along the way. Among the most popular displays are Symphony Woods, where lights dance in the trees to songs from “The Nutcracker,” and Crystal Promenade, where 24 glowing chandeliers hang high in the Douglas fir and spruce trees.

“Every year, we like to change it up a little and keep it fresh,” said Sarah Sargent, manager of interpretation and exhibits.

“Illumination” runs through Jan. 1 at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, in Lisle. For tickets and more information, see mortonarb.org.