IllumiBrew

Be among the first to see Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum while you sample seasonal beers, ciders, and meads from popular Chicago-area breweries.

At IllumiBrew on Friday, November 13, be among the first to see Illumination while you sample seasonal beers, ciders, and meads along the trail.

Snacks and hot beverages will be available for purchase at a warming concession tent with cozy fires along the Illumination trail until 9:30 p.m.

Indoor dining and to-go orders will be available from the Ginkgo Restaurant until 8:00 p.m.

Tickets

Tickets must be purchased in advance, either online, by phone, or in person at the Visitor Center. We recommend purchasing tickets to this popular event as early as possible to ensure availability.

IllumiBrew tickets will be available to Arboretum members on Thursday, October 1, at 9:00 a.m.

IllumiBrew tickets will be available to all on Thursday, October 15, at 9:00 a.m.

Become a member to get early access and the best price on IllumiBrew and Illumination tickets.

About Illumination

Be surrounded by color as you walk a one-mile paved path amid interactive lighting effects that emphasize the beauty of trees in winter. You will be awed and delighted to see returning favorites and surprising new sights. Enjoy seasonal music, marvel at ever-changing, captivating lighting designs, warm up by a crackling fire with a cozy drink, or roast marshmallows for s’mores.

Illumination highlights the many gifts of trees—natural beauty, feelings of peace and calm, homes for wildlife, and oxygen in the air we breathe.

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Food and Drinks

A concession tent along the Illumination trail will serve snacks, hot beverages, alcoholic drinks, and s’mores kits. The concession tent will be open from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. during IllumiBrew.

A concessions and bar menu will be announced closer to the event date.

Signature Hot Chocolate

Bring home the memories of Illumination with a special hot chocolate served in a limited-edition Morton Arboretum mug.

Ginkgo Restaurant

A full dinner and beverage menu including freshly-made sandwiches, salads, burgers, and assorted alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages is available until 8:00 p.m. from the Ginkgo Restaurant, located inside the Visitor Center.

Accessibility

Lea en español.

The Illumination trail is a one-mile paved path that is ADA-compliant for those with limited mobility. The exhibition is not accessible by car.

The Arboretum has a small number of nonmotorized wheelchairs available for loan free of charge in the Visitor Center on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guests must leave a driver’s license or other photo ID to check out a wheelchair. Because the supply is limited, we recommend bringing a personal wheelchair to the Arboretum if one is needed. Personal mobility scooters may also be used on the trail.

Arboretum staff make their best efforts to clear the path of ice and snow.

Sensory Needs

Please be aware that Illumination features moving and flashing lights along the trail. There are no strobe lights in the exhibition. Laser features are directed away from guests and follow International Laser Display Association safety standards.

Guests may borrow sensory supports such as headphones, sunglasses, fidgets, or a copy of the Illumination social story (English, Spanish) when they arrive at the Sycamore Room. Guests can use the social story to help prepare for their visit. Any loaned items should be returned to the Information Desk in the Visitor Center before departure.

Service Animals

The Morton Arboretum welcomes visitors with task-trained service animals to Illumination. Please note that pets are not permitted at Illumination except on specially designated Illumination Dog Admission Nights, December 3, 10, and 17.

Parking

Parking is available near the entrance for those with a disability placard on their vehicle; please notify the parking attendant as you drive in. Otherwise, parking is first come, first serve, and is directed by parking attendants.

Guests directed to a secondary lot (parking lot P-21) near the Thornhill Education Center on the Arboretum’s West Side can take advantage of a shuttle bus that will transport them to the main event area. Please note that this is the only shuttle bus during Illumination and it only runs between parking lot P-21 and the Visitor Center. The bus does not have a wheelchair lift.

If you do not have a disability placard and someone in your party has mobility concerns, you are also welcome to drop off passengers in the circle drive adjacent to the Visitor Center before you park. Please notify the parking attendants and they will direct you accordingly.

What food will be available?

Food and beverages will be available to purchase along the Illumination trail until 9:30 p.m.

Indoor dining and to-go orders will be available from the Ginkgo Restaurant until 8:00 p.m.
Are designated driver tickets available?

Yes, designated driver tickets will be available for this event. This ticket type includes IllumiBrew admission and a hot chocolate or cider. Designated drivers must be 21 or older.
Can I purchase additional samples?

No, additional samples will not be available for purchase. Each ticket purchase includes 18 three-ounce samples; samples of beverages with a higher ABV, such as meads, may be less than three ounces.