BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.4.12//EN TZID:America/Chicago X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Chicago BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6745@dscc.uic.edu DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago;VALUE=DATE:20270103 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago;VALUE=DATE:20270104 DTSTAMP:20261110T164100Z URL:https://dscc.uic.edu/events/illinois-holiday-light-displays-2026/ SUMMARY:Illinois Holiday Light Displays 2026 DESCRIPTION:'Tis the season for festive light displays!\n\nThis list highli ghts a mix of drive-thru and outdoor displays lighting up communities acro ss Illinois.\n\nEvent hours and dates of operation are subject to change. Some displays also offer sensory-friendly nights or times. Before heading out\, please check the display's website or social media page for any upda tes\, changes and special family-focused festivities.\n\nThe displays are organized into three areas spanning northern\, central and southern Illino is.\nNorthern Region\n\n Illumination 2026 at the Morton Arboretum\, 4100 Illinois Route 53\, Lisle\n\n A spectacle of color\, light and music alo ng a 1-mile paved walking path. Sensory-Friendly Night is on Nov. 17 from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. The display runs through Jan. 2 from 4:30 to 9 p.m. You must buy tickets online in advance.\n\n\n Aurora Festival of Lights\, Phi lips Park\, 1000 Ray Moses Drive\, Aurora (enter on Smith Boulevard at Fif th Avenue)\n\n Enjoy a mile of spectacular lighted displays from the comf ort of the car while listening to holiday songs on the radio. The free dis play runs each night through Dec. 27 from 5 to 9 p.m.\n\n\n Festival of L ights in Sinnissippi Park\, 1401 N. Second St.\, Rockford\n\n A holiday t radition that  features more than 85 displays. It runs through Dec. 31 on most nights from 5 to 10:30 p.m. (Please check the website for all dates and times.) Also nearby is All Aglow at the Nicholas Conservatory and Gard ens\, 1354 N. Second St. All Aglow runs through Jan. 10. The lights are on from dusk to dawn. The park closes at 10 p.m. Both of these displays are free\, but donations are welcome.\n\n\n Celebration of Lights at Rotary P ark\, 2845 E. Fifth Road\, La Salle\n\n With more than 400 unique and ori ginal displays\, this is one of the biggest multi-mile drive-through light celebrations in North Central Illinois. You can reserve carriage rides fo r $25 per person. The display runs nightly from 5 to 9 p.m. through New Ye ar's Day.\n\n\n East Peoria Festival of Lights (FOLEPI)\, 123 Par 3 Lane\ , East Peoria\n\n FOLEPI’s Winter Wonderland runs through Jan. 3. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Satur day. From Dec. 26 through Jan. 3\, hours are 5 to 9 p.m. nightly. Admissio n is $10 per car. No tickets are sold online. \n\n\n\nCentral Region\n\n Shelbyville Festival of Lights\, Forest Park off Ninth Street\, Shelbyvil le\n\n Enjoy the Victorian Village\, Santa's Shop\, the North Pole\, Beth lehem and more. The Historic Chautauqua Auditorium Building comes alive as a carousel. The event runs through Jan. 3 from 5 to 9 p.m. (Friday and Sa turday until 10 p.m.).  Admission is free. The event accepts donations.\n \n\n Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve Night Lights\, Mabery Gelvin Botan ical Garden\, 650 N. Lombard St.\, Mahomet\n\n Enjoy a dazzling outdoor d isplay featuring thousands of lights throughout the botanical garden. The display runs every Friday and Saturday evening from 4 to 8 p.m. through De c. 19 with additional dates on Dec. 24  Dec. 26. The display is free. You do not need to register to attend.\n\n\n Christmas in the Park in Taylor ville\, Manners Park\, 18 Manners Park Road\, Taylorville\n\n Enjoy drivi ng through 55 acres of beautiful Manners Park and viewing over 100 illumin ated displays. You can also enjoy a variety of family-focused events at th e park throughout the holidays.\n\n\n Light up the Park 2026\, Chatham Co mmunity Park\, 698 S. Park Ave.\, Chatham\n\n Enjoy a mile-long drive thr ough dazzling\, large-scale\, hand-built displays and themed nights. The d isplay is open through Dec. 27\, Thursday to Sunday\, from 6 to 9 p.m.  A $5 donation is suggested.  \n\n\n\nSouthern Region\n\n\n Effingham Won derland in Lights\, Community Park\, East Temple Ave.\, Effingham\n\n See a variety of whimsical holiday scenes\, including reindeer flight school\ , a gingerbread house\, Santa and his reindeer and more. This free\, drive -thru display runs daily through Jan. 1 from 5 to 9 p.m.\n\n\n FairGlow a t the Adams County Fairgrounds\, 2010 E. 1250th St.\, Mendon\n\n FairGlow includes drive-thru\, carriage rides\, special event nights\, and a walk- through night options (The GlowWalk and carriage rides require reservation s). The drive-thru display runs Thursday through Sunday\, from 5 to 9 p.m. through Dec. 31. Admission starts at $15 per vehicle.\n\n\n Christmas Li ghts in Carlyle City Park\, 1090 Lake Road\, Carlyle\n\n Drive through th ousands of bulbs shining brightly and tune your radio to 90.1 FM to fully enjoy the animated dancing trees. The event runs through Jan. 6 from dusk to 11 p.m. The display is free\, but donations are appreciated.\n\n\n Du Quoin Holiday Lights Fair\, State Fairgrounds on Route 51\, Du Quoin\n\n This annual display features more than 3 miles of lighted displays. The ev ent runs nightly through Dec. 31 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Entry is $10 per c ar.\n\n\n Discover Downstate Illinois holidday light listings details a w ide range of colorful light displays and events throughout Southern Illino is and the St. Louis area.\n\n Events include the 2026 Olde Tyme Christma s Festival of Trees: Stars\, Stripes and Holiday Lights in Vandalia\, The Lights at Cedarhurst in Mount Vernon\, Wonderlights Christmas Display in M adison and more. Please check the listings for dates and event hours.\n\n\ n Christmas Wonderland\, Rock Spring Park\, 2116 College Ave.\, Alton\n\n Turn off your car headlights to enjoy cascading waterfalls\, lighted tre es and hundreds of light displays. The display runs through Dec. 27 from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday\, and from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Su nday. The cost is $10 for cars or $1 per person for vehicles with 10 or mo re people.\n\n\n\n\nMidwest Living also provides a list of light displays in neighboring states.\n\nPlease note: The University of Illinois Chicago ’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) is not involved in o rganizing or scheduling these holiday events. If you have questions about a specific event\, please contact the event sponsor or organizer. ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dscc.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ cole-ciarlello-PFVUDmoW9S0-unsplash-scaled-e1640303599115.jpg CATEGORIES:Special Event END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago X-LIC-LOCATION:America/Chicago BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20261101T010000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR