BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.2.3.1//EN TZID:America/Chicago X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Chicago BEGIN:VEVENT UID:5936@dscc.uic.edu DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251225T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251225T230000 DTSTAMP:20260126T170144Z URL:https://dscc.uic.edu/events/merry-and-bright-holiday-light-displays-ac ross-illinois/ SUMMARY:Merry and Bright Holiday Light Displays Across Illinois DESCRIPTION:\n\n\nMany communities throughout Illinois are hosting spectacu lar light displays this holiday season.\n\nThis list highlights a mix of d rive-thru and outdoor displays lighting up communities across Illinois.\n\ nEvent hours and dates of operation are subject to change. Before heading out\, please check the display's website or Facebook page for any updates\ , changes or special family-focused festivities.\n\nThe displays are organ ized into three areas spanning Illinois' northern\, central\, and southern regions.\n\nNorthern region:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Illumination: Lights at Morto n Arboretum\, 4100 Illinois Route 53\, Lisle - A spectacle of color\, ligh t and music on a one-mile paved walking path. Wheelchairs are available fr ee of charge on a first-come\, first-served basis\, or guests may also bri ng their own. You can use personal mobility scooters on the trail. The dis play runs through Jan. 8 from 4:30 to 9 p.m. You must buy tickets online i n advance.\n Aurora Festival of Lights\, Philips Park\, 1000 Ray Moses Dr ive\, Aurora (enter on Smith Boulevard at Fifth Avenue) - Enjoy a mile of spectacular lighted displays from the comfort of the car while listening t o holiday songs on a closed-circuit radio station. The free display runs e ach night through Dec. 28 from 5 to 9 p.m.\n Festival of Lights in Sinnis sippi Park\, 1401 N. Second St.\, Rockford - A 36-year tradition that now boasts over 85 displays. It runs most nights through Dec. 31 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 Gardens on 1354 N. Second St. All Aglow runs through Jan. 11. The lights are on from dusk to dawn. The p ark closes at 10 p.m. Both of these displays are free\, but donations are welcome.\n Celebration of Lights at Rotary Park\, 2845 E. Fifth Road\, La Salle - This multi-mile drive-through light show features over 400 unique displays and only gets bigger and brighter every year! It runs nightly fr om 5 to 9 p.m. through New Year's Day.\n East Peoria Festival of Lights ( FOLEPI)\, 123 Par 3 Lane\, East Peoria - "FOLEPI’s Winter Wonderland" ru ns through Jan. 4 from 5 to 9 p.m. (Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m.). En joy special event nights Sunday through Thursday. Admission is $10 per car . No tickets are sold online. \n\nCentral region:\n\n Shelbyville Festiv al of Lights\, in Forest Park off of Ninth Street\, Shelbyville - Enjoy th e Victorian Village\, Santa's Shop\, the North Pole\, Bethlehem and others . The Historic Chautauqua Auditorium Building comes alive as a carousel. T he event runs through Jan. 1 from 5 to 9 p.m. (Friday and Saturday until 1 0 p.m.).  Free admission. Donations accepted.\n Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve Night Lights\, Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden\, 650 N. Lombard S t.\, Mahomet - Enjoy a dazzling outdoor display featuring thousands of lig hts throughout the botanical garden. The display runs every Friday and Sat urday evening\, and on Dec. 24 through Dec. 27 from 4 to 8 p.m. The displa y is free. You do not need to register to attend.\n Christmas in the Park in Taylorville\, Manners Park\, 18 Manners Park Road\, Taylorville - Enjo y driving through 55 acres of beautiful Manners Park and viewing over 100 illuminated displays. You can also enjoy a variety of family-focused event s at the park throughout the holidays.\n Light up the Park\, Chatham Comm unity Park\, 731 S. Main St.\, Chatham - Enjoy a mile-long drive through d azzling\, large-scale\, hand-built displays and themed nights. The display is open through Dec. 25\, Thursday to Sunday\, from 6 to 9 p.m.  A $5 do nation is suggested.  \n\nSouthern region:\n\n Effingham Wonderland in Lights\, Community Park\, East Temple Ave.\, Effingham - See a reindeer fl ight school\, nativity scene and more! This free\, drive-thru display runs through Jan. 2 from 5 to 9 p.m.\, Sunday through Thursday\, and from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.\n Festival of Lights at Moorman-Wavering Pa rk\, 1200 N. 36th St.\, Quincy - The festival is a family tradition for ma ny families. It runs through Dec. 31 from 5 to 9 p.m. every night. Admissi on is $20 per car up to eight passengers\, $30 for a van/limousine\, and $ 40 for a small bus (up to 15 passengers).\n Christmas Lights in Carlyle C ity Park\, 1090 Lake Road\, Carlyle - Drive through thousands of bulbs shi ning brightly and tune your radio to 90.1 FM to fully enjoy the animated d ancing trees. The event runs through Jan. 4 from dusk to 11 p.m. The displ ay is free\, but donations are appreciated.\n Du Quoin Holiday Lights Fai r\, State Fairgrounds on Route 51\, Du Quoin - This annual display feature s over 3 miles of delightful lighted displays. The event runs nightly thro ugh Dec. 30 from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Entry is $15 per car Monday through Thursd ay\, $20 per car Friday and Saturday. Entry for a bus or van is $1 per per son.)\n Olney Christmas Light Display\, Olney City Park\, 502 White Squir rel Circle\, Olney - Enjoy the colorful lights and sounds of the season fr om Nov. 27 to Jan. 1. The lights will be aglow from 5 to 9 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and from 5 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.\n Chri stmas Wonderland - Rock Spring Park\, 2116 College Ave.\, Alton - Turn off your car headlights to enjoy cascading waterfalls\, lighted trees and hun dreds of light displays. The display runs through December 28 from 6 to 9 p.m.\, Monday through Friday\, and from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday . The cost is $10 for cars and small vans and$1 per person for passenger v ehicles with 10 or more people.\n\n\nPlease note that the University of Il linois Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) is not involved in the organization or scheduling of these holiday events. If yo u have questions about a specific event\, please contact the event sponsor or organizer.\n\n 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:20251102T010000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR