Giveaway! Illumination at The Morton Arboretum 2026

Illumination at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle is back for its 14th season, and this year it leans all the way into fairies, forests and woodland magic. There are four brand-new large-scale light installations, a new model train walk-through, and plenty of returning favorites along the mile-long trail. It’s a highlight on our list of Christmas light displays and shows around Chicagoland.

The Morton Arboretum invited us to preview Illumination before opening night so we could give you an inside look, and they also gave us 16 tickets to give away to Kidlist readers and followers. These tickets work on any night Illumination is open, even sold-out nights, and you don’t need a reservation.

New this year: Kidlist Deluxe members get first dibs on the giveaway! Keep reading for a sneak peek of Illumination 2026, what’s new, and how to enter at the end.

What is Illumination at The Morton Arboretum?

Illumination is a one-mile, paved walking trail through the Arboretum after dark with 22 light displays. Some are interactive, and others you’ll just want to stop and take in. Light, color and music transform the trees, meadows and Meadow Lake into a winter wonderland.

What’s New at Illumination 2026

Northern Lights

This canopy of light stretches more than 400 feet over the path and was inspired by the aurora borealis. It’s only here for the 2026-2027 season, so this is the year to see it. Honestly, video doesn’t do it justice. The light shimmers in a way that’s hard to capture on camera. We caught ourselves gasping when a light breeze moved the canopy and created new patterns overhead, and it was clearly a favorite with the other families there that night, too.

Lightwave

Lightwave is a 165-foot tunnel of chrome spheres, some fixed and some moving, inspired by rain and morning dew. The fixed spheres are a little tricky to see in the dark, but the moving lights overhead are stunning as they change colors and shift with the music. On a busy night you’ll be walking through with a crowd, so slow down and look up if you can.

Cosmic Garden

This one is so peaceful. A hillside of 25 glowing orbs and circles of light on the ground slowly change colors to create new patterns, inspired by meditative sand gardens. The orbs line both sides of the path with tall forest trees in the background.

Fairy Forest

Glowing orbs and illuminated mushrooms are meant to look like floating fairies and giant fireflies. It looks small at first, but the farther you walk, the more little color-changing orbs you discover, and then mushroom-shaped lights start popping up, too. We pretended fairies lived there and lowered our voices so we wouldn’t disturb them.

Pine Whistle Railroad

The new model train walk-through inside the Firefly Pavilion has nearly 1,000 feet of track winding past tiny fairy and gnome houses, oversized mushrooms and lit-up details. Some trains run at eye level and some go right over your head. Our 5-year-old spotted the little houses before we did, and then we spent the whole time pointing out our favorites to each other. There aren’t color-changing lights here, but the fairy theme carries through and it feels really magical. Train lovers especially will enjoy it.

Pine Whistle Railroad is an add-on ticket: $9 for nonmembers and $7 for members, and kids 3 and under are free. It’s also open during the day with general admission through February 13, 2027.

Inside the pavilion is the Ginkgo Express Club Car, which wasn’t open yet when we visited. According to the signs, it will serve hot chocolate, a Whiskey Acres maple bourbon cream white hot chocolate for the grown-ups, train cookies and cherry hand pies, plus train-themed treats and souvenirs for kids.

Returning Favorites

Woodland Wonder isn’t new, but it’s still one of our favorites, and it was our daughter’s favorite this year. It’s mesmerizing, and we took more photos and videos here than anywhere else.

Shadow Play is an interactive display where kids and grown-ups can make shadows and play. Our whole group had fun with this one.

Also back: Treemagination, Golden Glade, Symphony Woods, Celebration Circle, Hug-a-Tree (hug a tree and watch it change color!) and the four lit-up Vivid Creatures sculptures. The walk ends with a light and music finale over Meadow Lake.

We loved how the fairy and woodland theme carried through so many displays this year. Everything was beautiful, and we had a lot of fun.

Where to Warm Up and Get Food at Illumination

The concessions tent along the trail is open 4:30-9pm with hot chocolate, snacks, alcoholic drinks and s’mores kits you can roast at the outdoor fires. New this year is the Ultimate Blizzard Hot Cocoa, served in a limited-edition Arboretum mug and only sold at the concessions tent. Taking a hot cocoa and s’mores break is a great way to slow down and enjoy the experience together.

The Ginkgo Restaurant in the Visitor Center serves hot meals overlooking Meadow Lake and is open until 8pm.

When is Illumination?

Illumination runs November 14, 2026 through January 2, 2027. It opens each evening at 4:30pm. When you buy tickets, you’ll pick an entry time, and you have 30 minutes after that time to enter.

If severe weather is expected, the Arboretum will decide by 3pm that day whether to cancel or close the evening.

Special Events at Illumination

IllumiBrew (21+)

IllumiBrew is a 21+ preview night with seasonal beer, cider and mead along the trail on Friday, November 13, from 5:30-10pm. Tickets are $95 for nonmembers and $85 for members. Designated driver tickets are $50 for nonmembers and $45 for members.

Sensory Night

Sensory Night is Tuesday, November 17, from 4:30-9:30pm, with the last entry at 8pm. The lights stay static, the music is played at a lower volume, and tickets are limited to keep the crowd smaller.

Dog Admission Nights

Bring your pup on December 2, 9 and 16, and January 1. Dogs need a $10 dog ticket, and everyone in your group still needs a regular Illumination ticket.

IllumiDome Rentals

Starting November 27, you can rent a private, enclosed, see-through dome for up to 8 guests for two hours on Thursday through Sunday evenings. Warm drinks, s’mores kits and a holiday treat basket are included. Illumination tickets are sold separately, and you can reserve a dome by calling 630-719-2457 or through the inquiry form on the Arboretum’s website.

Accessibility

The one-mile trail is paved and ADA compliant. The Arboretum has a small number of free wheelchairs to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis, so bring your own if you can. Personal mobility scooters are allowed.

There are no strobe lights, and lasers are pointed away from guests. If your family has sensory needs, you can borrow headphones, sunglasses and fidgets, or a social story, when you arrive. Don’t forget about Sensory Night on November 17, too.

Weeknights are usually less crowded, which can make the trail easier to navigate.

Tickets and Discounts

As of publishing, Illumination tickets start at $22 for nonmembers and $17.60 for members. Prices change depending on the date and time, and buying early saves you the most. Kids 3 and under are free. Members get 20% off all season.

• ComEd discount: Use code COMEDLIGHTS2026 for $5 off each nonmember ticket (up to 4 tickets per order, while supplies last). It doesn’t apply to IllumiBrew, dog tickets or Pine Whistle Railroad.
• Museums for All: On select nights, guests with an EBT, LINK or WIC card can get tickets for $10 per adult and $5 per child.

You can buy tickets online, by calling the ticket hotline at 630-725-2066, or in person at the Visitor Center.

Flexible Ticket Rebooking

If the weather doesn’t cooperate, you can move your tickets to another evening any time before your reservation’s start time. Once your start time passes, tickets can’t be exchanged.

Illumination Ticket Giveaway

We have 16 Illumination tickets to give away to Kidlist readers and followers! These are the best tickets because you can use them any night Illumination is open, even when it’s sold out. Just check the Arboretum’s website to make sure it’s open the night you want to go. No reservation needed.

Kidlist Deluxe Members Get First Dibs

This year, Kidlist Deluxe members get first dibs. The first two Deluxe members to enter the giveaway will each get Illumination tickets for their immediate family (you and/or your spouse and your kids). The rest of the tickets go into the giveaway drawing, where everyone gets one entry, Deluxe members included.

All winners, including the two Deluxe families, will be notified on Wednesday, November 18 at noon.