Holiday light shows dazzle across the suburbs

If you haven’t seen one of the many light shows happening across the suburbs this season, now is the time. Here are the shows currently on display or opening soon.

Thursday, Dec. 11

Big & Bright Trail of Lights Festival: 5-9 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, Dec. 11-20, and 5-8 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 14 and 21, at Sonny Acres, 29W310 North Ave, Barn 1, West Chicago. A Christmas light show with millions of twinkling lights and larger-than-life holiday displays. $8 for 16 and older, $4 for kids 3-15; group of four adults is $30. Tickets for the Holiday Light Show and Photos with Santa are sold separately. Tickets: sonnyacres.com.

Friday, Dec. 12

Holiday Lights in Lilacia Park: 4:30-10 p.m. daily through Jan. 5, at Lilacia Park, 150 S. Park Ave., Lombard. Charming holiday displays light up Lilacia Park with a magical array of animated light shows, decorated trees, a gingerbread house, and more. Visit with Santa Claus and other holiday characters, free hot cocoa and cookies. Caroling and s’mores around the fire Friday, Dec. 12; Randolph & Friends Saturday, Dec. 13; Mrs. Claus Sunday, Dec. 14; free visits with Santa with magical Elf Hunt Dec. 19 and 20; and Polar Express Night Dec. 21. lombardparks.com/holiday-lights/.

Holiday Express: 5-8 p.m. Fridays, Dec. 12 and 19, and 2-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 13-14 and 20-21, Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. Transformed into a winter wonderland with thousands of twinkly lights and festive holiday music. Highlights: Ice carver from 2:30-4 p.m. Dec. 13; World’s Tallest Toy Soldier from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 14; Olaf from 4-6 p.m. Dec. 20; and World’s Tallest Elf: 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 21. It includes all attractions, such as the steam engine train ride that runs a three-quarter-mile loop around Lake Gregory for “Destination: Virtual North Pole.” Or hop on the holiday hay wagon. Both the train and hay wagon are ADA-accessible. $10 for ages 1 or older. Tickets: blackberryfarm.info/special-events/holiday-express/.

Santa’s Village Magical Christmas Drive-Thru: 5-9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Dec. 12-14; and Fridays through Tuesdays, Dec. 19 through 30, at 601 Dundee Ave., East Dundee. See the light displays synchronized to holiday music from your car. Visit with Santa at the end. $29.99 per vehicle, $5 discount for season-pass holders. (847) 426-6751 or santasvillagedundee.com.

Saturday, Dec. 13

Happy Holiday Railway: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 13 and 20; Sundays, Dec. 14 and 21; and Monday, Dec. 22; and 4-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at Illinois Railway Museum, 7000 Olson Road, Union. Embark on a 40-minute train ride through the winter countryside with Santa Claus himself featuring an animated light show and holiday songs. Treats and hot chocolate will be served. Quiet car #7658 will just feature traditional lights and decorations. Also, holiday lights throughout the campus, including animated snowplow display and holiday light tour in Barn 6, available for viewing day or night. Stop by the indoor, heated model railroad exhibit. See historic trains in the museum’s display barns 3, 7 and 9. Rides on historic Chicago streetcars included with ticket. Trips at 11:30 a.m., 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 4, 5 and 6 p.m. Arrive at least 30 minutes before. $25. Tickets: irm.org/event/happy-holiday-railway/.

Lights & Flights Craft Brew Fest: 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Road, Geneva. Part of the Winter Wonder Lights. Ages 21 or older can join the park district’s first winter celebration with holiday lights, craft beer tastings and food. Each guest will receive 15 sample pours along with a commemorative glass to take home. VIP tickets ($70) with early access and commemorative pint glass. $55 or $15 for designated driver. Tickets: genevaparks.org.

Sunday, Dec. 14

A Wickedly Popular Christmas Light Show: 4:30-9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. This special light show features music from your favorite wicked witch and her bubbly best friend. Advance tickets: $25 or $15 for ages 3 to 15; at the gate: $19-$30. Tickets: cantigny.org.

Dec. 26 to Jan. 4

Lights! Camera! Action!: Dec. 26 to Jan. 4, at Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Cantigny flips the switch to a movie themed light show backed by movie soundtracks, from epic scores to sing-along hits. After you’ve strolled the half mile, fully accessible path, check out the historic McCormick House, decorated for the holidays, including Freedom Hall and its 20-foot Christmas tree. Upstairs, the Noel Lounge offers chef-crafted small plates, curated wines, and craft cocktails in a cozy, elegant setting. Or try out the 100-by-40 foot ice skating rink ($7 admission; $3 rentals), then warm up in the heated hospitality tent. Warm up with a hot beverage and snack in Le Jardin. $15 in advance or $20 for ages 16 or older, $10-$15 for ages 3 to 15. Closed on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Tickets: cantigny.org/events/.

Ongoing

Christmas at Cantigny Light Show: 4:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, through Dec. 20, and 4:30-9 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, Dec. 21-23, at Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Third annual event adds interactive elements and more illuminated gardens, including a new Northern Lights display in the Rose Garden. Explore the first floor of Col. McCormick’s decorated mansion and the display of hundreds of poinsettias. Sip hot cocoa or a festive cocktail at the hidden bar. Add the Christmas Spirits upgrade ($40), which includes three festive cocktails, each served at stations along the walk, including a special drink in the McCormick House Freedom Hall Bar, and take home a commemorative mug. Advance tickets: $15-$25 or $19-$30. Register: cantigny.org/event/light-show-11-21.

Randall Oaks Zoo Winterfest: Noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 21 at Randall Oaks Zoo, 1180 N. Randall Road, West Dundee. Holiday lights, community decorated trees, Santa visits, bonfire and visit the animals in the new World of Wonders heated animal building. $6, free for kids 1 and younger and U.S. military with ID. dtpd.org/winterfest.

Aurora Festival of Lights: 5-9 p.m. daily, through Dec. 28, at Phillips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive, Aurora. Enter on Smith Boulevard at Fifth Avenue. The largest free outdoor drive-through holiday light display in the region returns for its 19th year with dazzling displays and merry music. Features popular displays like jumping reindeer, ice skating bears, old man winter, howling wolves, the holiday golfer, Santa’s toy factory, and fields of gigantic snowflakes, along with new displays. More than 50,000 vehicles visited the festival last year. Admission is free. aurora.il.us.

Cosley Zoo Festival of Lights and Christmas Tree Sale: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through Dec. 30, except 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 24 and 31, at Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton. Closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Thousands of twinkling lights and Christmas trees, wreaths, greenery and hot chocolate for sale. Proceeds benefit Cosley Zoo. Free. Lights turn on at 3 p.m. cosleyzoo.org/festival-of-lights-tree-sale.

Home for the Holidays Lighted Christmas Trail: 5-9 p.m. through Jan. 2, in Shiloh Park, starting at Port Shiloh Pool parking lot, 1501 Shiloh Blvd., Zion. Drive through a lighted trail with over 50 displays and 100,000 lights. zionparkdistrict.com.

Christmas Around the World & Holidays of Lights: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Jan. 5 at The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. The museum’s annual celebration features a four-story, floor-to-dome Grand Tree surrounded by a forest of more than 50 trees and displays decorated to represent the holiday traditions from cultures around the globe. Museum admission: adults $25.95; kids 3-11 $14.95; free for members. griffinmsi.org.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Holiday Magic: 3-9 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays through Dec. 21, and Friday, Dec. 26, through Sunday, Jan. 4, at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. Lights festival featuring 3.5 million twinkling LED lights, a giant light-up maze, interactive light displays, light tunnels, a twinkling star walk-through experience, a Holiday Dolphin Show, Santa visits on select nights and a holiday market. $20.95-$34.95. brookfieldzoo.org/HolidayMagic.

Christmas Musical Light Show: 4-9 p.m. daily through Dec. 25 at the Bandshell on Skidmore, Antioch. Stay in your car and watch the lights on the band shell synchronized to holiday music playing on your car radio. The 20-minute shows run continuously. Free. antiochchamber.org.

Geneva Winter Wonder Lights: 5-10 p.m. daily through Jan. 1 at Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Road, Geneva. The park is transformed into a display of lights and holiday cheer. Free. genevaparks.org.

Goebbert’s Drive-Thru Light Show: 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 5-9:30 p.m. Fridays through Sundays through Jan. 4 at Goebbert’s Farm, 42W813 Reinking Road, Pingree Grove. Open 5-9:30 p.m. Dec. 22-25. The apple orchard is transformed into a glowing winter wonderland filled with synchronized lights, holiday scenes and festive music. Guests remain in their vehicles for the entire drive-thru, typically lasting 12-20 minutes, depending on traffic. Tickets: goebberts.com.

Larsen’s Light Show: 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 5-9:30 p.m. Fridays through Sundays through Jan. 4 at Goebbert’s Farm, 42W813 Reinking Road, Pingree Grove. Open 5-9:30 p.m. Dec. 22-25. A fully programmed, 30-minute show with synchronized lights, strobes, spark machines, fog effects and real fire pyro elements. Every song is choreographed to bring the entire house to life. Guests remain in their vehicles for the entire show. New this year, an outdoor viewing experience where you can watch multiple shows with a view from the new viewing pavilions. This ticket includes character appearances at Candy Cane Lane. Combo tickets for Goebbert’s Drive-Thru Light Show available on select nights. $25-$100 per vehicle. Limited access per time slot. Tickets: goebberts.com/light-show.

Naper Lights: 4-10 p.m. through Jan. 1 in downtown Naperville. Display of holiday lights and music along Water Street, Foyo Plaza, Jaycees Park and the Riverwalk. Live Santa/Kriss Kringle by the big tree from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 12-14 and 19-21, weather dependent. Free. naperlights.com.

Illumination: Tree Lights: Time slots between 4:30 and 8 p.m. through Jan. 3 at The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Displays of lights and music that highlight the beauty of trees in winter. Roast marshmallows for s’mores and enjoy a hot seasonal beverage from the concession tents along the trail. Illumination Dog Admission Nights on Wednesdays through Dec. 17. Electric Illumination for 21 and older from 4:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 12 and 19. The exhibition is closed select Mondays and Tuesdays and on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Tickets start at $20. mortonarb.org.

Lightscape: 4:30-9:15 p.m. select dates through Jan. 4 at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Take a nighttime stroll through illuminated displays. Adults: $26 for members, $29 for nonmembers; kids 3-12: $14 members, $16 nonmembers; free for kids 2 and younger. chicagobotanic.org/lightscape.

ZooLights: Time slots start at 4:30 p.m. select dates through Jan. 4 at Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago. Features more than 3 million lights, including hundreds of luminous LED displays and festive experiences. $7-$12; free on select Mondays. lpzoo.org/event/zoolights.

Santa’s Rock N Lights: Time slots vary by day but usually start at 4:45 or 5 p.m. and end at 9 or 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays through Dec. 31, plus Mondays, Dec. 22 and 29, at the Kane County Cougars Stadium, 34W002 Cherry Lane, Geneva, and 3900 N. Rockwell St., Chicago. Drive-through light show featuring a mile of lights that dance in sync with music in larger-than-life displays. $29.99-$49.99 per car. santasrocknlights.com.