Morton Arboretum’s “Illumination” opens Saturday in Lisle
Posted November 13, 2026 12:03 pm
Cosmic Garden features a hillside landscape of glowing orbs and shifting patterns inspired by meditative sand gardens at the Morton Arboretum’s annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
The Crown of Light display lights up the woods at the Morton Arboretum’s annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
Visitors walk under the Northern Lights display during a preview of the Morton Arboretum’s annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. It’s the first, and possibly only, year for the aurora borealis inspired display. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
The Morton Arboretum’s annual Illumination holiday light display opens Saturday, Nov. 14. A preview for the event was held iin Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
People pose for pictures in Celebration Circle during a preview of the Morton Arboretum’s annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
The Morton Arboretum’s Pine Whistle Railroad features both ground level and elevated tracks in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. The display is an add-on attraction at the annual Illumination holiday light show. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
A train emerges from a tree tunnel at the Morton Arboretum’s Pine Whistle Railroad display Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. The attraction is an add-on at the annual Illumination holiday light show. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
Al Smith of Naperville stops to take pictures during a preview of the Morton Arboretum’s annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
Nearly 1,000 feet of track winds through detailed miniature scenes at the Morton Arboretum’s Pine Whistle Railroad, an add-on attraction at the annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
Nearly 1,000 feet of track winds through detailed miniature scenes at the Morton Arboretum’s Pine Whistle Railroad, an add-on attraction at the annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
Visitors pass through Lightwave, an immersive tunnel of moving and fixed chrome spheres inspired by rain and dew, during a preview of the Morton Arboretum’s annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
Lights and reflections in Meadow Lake are featured near the end of the trek at the Morton Arboretum’s annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
Symphony Woods is an annual staple of the Morton Arboretum’s annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
Visitors walk under the Northern Lights display during a preview of the Morton Arboretum’s annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. The aurora borealis-inspired canopy stretches more than 400 feet overhead. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
Guests take pictures of as disco balls reflect light in Woodland Wonder during a preview of the Morton Arboretum’s annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
Visitors pass through Lightwave, an immersive tunnel of moving and fixed chrome spheres inspired by rain and dew, during a preview of the Morton Arboretum’s annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
Cosmic Garden features a hillside landscape of glowing orbs and shifting patterns inspired by meditative sand gardens at the Morton Arboretum’s annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
The Morton Arboretum’s Vivid Creatures are part of this year’s annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (Rick West/Daily Herald)
A breeze gives motion to the Northern Lights exhibit at the Morton Arboretum’s annual Illumination holiday light display in Lisle Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. The aurora borealis-inspired canopy stretches more than 400 feet overhead. (Rick West/Daily Herald)