Holiday light shows add sparkle to the season

Holiday light shows across the suburbs are lighting up the night almost every day of the week throughout December.

Many have proved so popular that they're already selling out. So, check the website or call ahead to make sure tickets are still available.

Aurora Festival of Lights

5-9 p.m. nightly through Dec. 26 at Phillips Park, South Smith Street and Fifth Avenue, Aurora. Presented in partnership with Rotary Club of Aurora and the City of Aurora, the drive-through event features over a mile of lighted displays, including the new helicopter display. Free; donations welcome. Reserve time at www.aurorafestivaloflights.com.

Festival of Lights

9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through Thursday, Dec. 30, at Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton. See thousands of twinkling lights, plus a selection of Christmas trees, wreaths, greenery, hot chocolate and holiday gifts available for purchase. Lights turn on at 3 p.m. Open from 9 a.m. to noon on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Closed on Christmas and New Year's Day. Free admission; donations are appreciated. cosleyzoo.org.

Holiday Magic

2:45-9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 16-19, and Sunday through Friday, Dec. 26-31, at Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. Note: Tickets for nonmembers are sold out on Dec. 18-19, with availability low on other days. More than two million twinkling LED lights, a 600-foot Tunnel of Lights, skating rink, photo ops and more. Secure admission and parking tickets in advance of arriving at the zoo. czs.org/HolidayMagic.

Holiday Lights in Lilacia Park

4:30-10 p.m. nightly through Jan. 2 in Lilacia Park, 150 S. Park Ave., Lombard. Magical light shows, tree decorations, a gingerbread house and more. New this year, bring a new, unwrapped toy for donation. Free visits with Santa from 6-8 p.m. this weekend, including a Magical Elf Hunt Dec. 17; caroling and s'mores around a fire Dec. 18; and Polar Express Night Dec. 19. lombardparks.com/holiday-lights/.

Light Up the Lake

3-9 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays through Sunday, Dec. 19, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, Dec. 20 through Jan. 2, at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. An indoor, temperature-controlled experience featuring large-scale light sculpture displays showcasing more than 600,000 twinkling lights, a regulation-size Alpine ice rink, holiday beer garden, train rides, Santa's Village, gift market and other family-friendly events. The event will close at 5 p.m. Christmas Eve and 8 p.m. New Year's Eve, and will be closed on Christmas Day. Tickets are $26 for adults, $21 for kids 3-12, and free for ages 3 and younger. navypier.org.

ZooLights

4-10 p.m. daily through Jan. 2 at the Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago. Includes a holiday lights experience on the Main Mall and a light show on the South Lawn. New this year: sensory-friendly visit times and an 18-foot holiday tree. $5; free on Mondays and Tuesdays. lpzoo.org.

Illumination: Tree Lights

Tickets sold out through Dec. 30; tickets available from 4:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 31-Jan. 2 at The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. The ninth annual spectacle of color, light and sound returns on a 1-mile walking trail with five new features, including the Human+Nature sculpture Hallow lit up at night. Tickets are $7-$19 for members and $13-$24 for nonmembers. Advance ticket purchase is recommended. mortonarb.org.

Let It Shine Lightshow

4:30-11 p.m. daily through Jan. 9 at Northbrook Court, 1515 Lake-Cook Road, Northbrook; Fox Valley Mall, 195 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora; and Wintrust Field, 1999 S. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg. A drive-through wonderland of light displays synchronized to holiday classics. Online ticket purchase required. $29.99 per vehicle weekdays, $39.99 weekends and holidays, $20 add-on for Fast Pass. shinelightshow.com.

Willow Hill's Winter Magic Drive-Thru Christmas Lights Event

4:30-10:30 p.m. daily through Jan. 2 at Willow Hill Golf Course, 1350 Willow Road, Northbrook. Features more than one million lights adorning displays of characters, Christmas trees, drive-through light tunnels and more. $45-$50. Buy tickets at willowhillswintermagic.com.

Winter Lights

4:30-9:30 p.m. daily through Jan. 9 at Central Park, Jorie Boulevard and Forest Gate Road, Oak Brook. A free, half-mile, illuminated walk along paved pathways. Closed during inclement weather. The Cocoa Cabin will be selling cookies, candy canes, hot cocoa, coffee and tea in the Central Park West building from 5-9 p.m. Thursdays, Dec. 16 and 30 and Jan. 6. obparks.org/winterlights.

Big Timber Brilliance

5-9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 16-19, and Tuesday, Dec. 21, through Jan. 2 (closed on Dec. 24-25 and 31) at Camp Big Timber, 37W955 Big Timber Road, Elgin. See more than 100,000 animated lights synchronized to music while walking the one-mile illuminated trail. $20 for adults, $14-$15 for kids 3-12. Buy tickets in advance at bigtimberbrilliance.org.

Holiday Lights at Mooseheart

5-9 p.m. daily through Dec. 31 at Mooseheart, off Route 31, south of Batavia. Features an 1.8-mile holiday light display through campus. Mail a letter to Santa via a Tommy Moose Mailbox at the exit of the show. Suggested donation of $20 per car to benefit Mooseheart. moosecharities.org.

Holiday in the Park Lights

Holiday Lights Drive-Thru: 5-9 p.m. Dec. 16-17, 31, and Jan. 1-2 and 6-9. Holiday in the Park Lights: 4-9 p.m. Dec. 18-23 and 26-30 at Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee. Enjoy light shows, live entertainment, seasonal snacks and holiday shopping. For tickets and details, see sixflags.com/greatamerica.

Magical Christmas Drive-Thru Experience

5-9 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays and 5-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 19 at Santa's Village, 601 Dundee Ave., East Dundee. Drive through the amusement park and enjoy more than two million lights synchronized to music, displays, holiday motifs, live animals and Santa. Tickets are $25 per vehicle at the gate, $20 online. SantasVillageDundee.com.

Amaze Light Festival

Various times daily through Thursday, Dec. 23; closed Dec. 24-25; and various times Dec. 26-Jan. 2 at Impact Field, 9850 Balmoral Ave., Rosemont. Outdoor holiday activities for all ages, including an immersive display of more than one million holiday lights, Santa's Workshop, costumed characters, holiday food and beverages, toboggan rides, thrill hill tubing, train rides, holiday market, an immersive storybook experience and more. $23 for adults, $18 for kids ages 2-12. amazerosemont.com.

Reindeer Road

6:30-9:30 p.m. through Saturday, Dec. 25, in the parking lot of Highpoint Church, 1805 Highpoint Drive, Naperville. A five-minute drive filled with displays and accompanying holiday music featuring a 40-foot Rudolph with a blinking red nose. Free hot chocolate and candy canes. Souvenir winter hats and LED light bulb necklaces will be sold to benefit The Alive Center and KidsMatter. $10 per vehicle. reindeerroad.com.

Christmas Laser Show

6-9 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, Dec. 14-17, at Calvary Church of Naperville, 9S200 Route 5, Naperville. The church's second annual outdoor laser show, including 10 minutes of lasers and lights timed to music and the Christmas story. christmasatcalvary.com.

Life of Christ display

6-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at Naperville Church of Christ, 2035 E. 75th St. See many scenes from the life of Christ light up and come to life. Park at 6 p.m. and enter the church gym for some refreshments. The lights turn on at 6:30 p.m. Guests will be able to walk through the display using the sidewalks. The display will come on every evening through Jan. 1 for cars to drive through and view it. Get your tickets via www.facebook.com/ChurchInNaperville/.

Hanson Barn Christmas Light Show

6-9 p.m. nightly through Dec. 31 at the Hanson family farm, 5107 Thorne Road, Marengo. Farm buildings have been decked out with more than 45,000 pixel LEDs, 20 stage digital multiplex fixtures, 3,000 feet of cables, and several stage lasers. The light show is synced to music, which people can tune into via a local radio station, 92.9FM. Donations are welcome at hansonbarn.com.

Christmas Tree Lane

Daily through Friday, Dec. 31, at Depot Park, 90 E. Woodstock St., Crystal Lake. The gazebo and trees in Depot Park will be decked out with lights and decorations. downtowncl.org.

Santa's Rock 'N' Lights

5-9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 5-8:30 p.m. Sundays and Tuesdays through Thursdays, through Jan. 2, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. The drive-through animated light show features more than 100,000 animated lights dancing to holiday music. $24.99-$34.99 per vehicle. santasrocknlights.com.

Winterlights at Fabyan Japanese Garden

5-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, at Fabyan Japanese Garden, 1925 S. Batavia Ave., Geneva. Stroll through an evening light display. $5; free for kids younger than 5. PPFV.org/winterlights.