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IllumiBrew

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

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Friday, November 18 is sold out.

Craft beer lovers won’t want to miss IllumiBrew, November 17 and 18. Be among the first to see the 10th annual Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum while you sample seasonal beers, ciders, and meads from popular Chicagoland breweries stationed along the Illumination trail (see the IllumiBrew program for a map and list of vendors along the trail).

This event is for ages 21+ only.

Each tasting ticket includes:

  • 15 – 3 oz beer samples
  • Light-up tasting glass
  • Entrance to the Arboretum and Illumination on either Thursday, November 17, or Friday, November 18

About Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum 

Be surrounded by color as you walk a one-mile paved path amid interactive lighting effects that highlight 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, and warm up by a crackling fire with a cozy drink or roast marshmallows for s’mores. Illumination will highlight the many gifts of trees: natural beauty, increased feelings of peace and calm, homes for wildlife, and the air we breathe.

For Your Enjoyment

Warming areas
Enjoy a cozy fire at one of the warming areas along the Illumination path.

Food and beverage
Snacks and hot beverages are available for purchase in concession tents along the Illumination trail.

Designated driver tickets are available and include admission into IllumiBrew and a complimentary hot chocolate or cider from the concessions stand or the Ginkgo Restaurant. Designated Drivers must also be 21+.

Discount pricing Thursday, November 17: $35 for members, $40 for guests
Standard pricing Friday, November 18: $40 for members, $45 for guests

 

2 Fools Cider
Black Raspberry – Cider
Apple Sauced – Cider

93 Octane Brewing
Swing Lube – Kölsch
Mango Sour – Fruited Sour

Around the Bend Beer Co.
Vixen Pistachio Cream Ale – Cream Ale
Juice Trails – Hazy IPA

Black Horizon Brewing Company
Crimson Pact – Imperial Porter
Endless Brilliance – Blonde Ale

Bubblehouse Brewing Company
Cran Box – Sour Ale
Flitterwochen – Kölsch
Drastically Unrealistic – Imperial Stout

Casa Humilde Cerveceria
Media Naranja – American Pale Ale
Cafecito – Coffee Porter

Church Street Brewing Company
Cerbierus #3 – IPA
Blackberry Vanilla Sour – Sour Ale
Itascafest – Märzen
Holy Water Blueberry Strawberry Lemonade Seltzer – Hard Seltzer

Cruz Blanca Brewery
Mexico Calling – Lager Especial
Three Kings – Christmas Punch Ale

Dry City Brew Works
12 Fugitives – Lager
Pumpkin Pyro – Smoked Pumpkin Porter

Elmhurst Brewing Company
Barrel-Aged Smooth Jammies – Oatmeal Stout
Julius Squeezer – Hazy IPA

ERIS Brewery and Cider House
Berri Mint – Cider
Peach and Bong – Cider

First Forest Brewing
Reaper Repair – Imperial IPA
Dylan the Pilot – Wheat Beer

Ike & Oak Brewing Co.
Mt Fansipan – Smoothie IPA
Glacier Bay – Cold IPA

Illuminated Brew Works 
Der Zauberstab – Kölsch
War on XMAS! – Imperial Stout

Kishwaukee Brewing Co.
Brown Ale – Brown Ale
Kish IPA – IPA

Liquid Love Brewing
Occupied Space – Milkshake IPA
She Said Yes – Pilsner
Fly By Night with Toasted Coconut – Milk Stout

Metropolitan Brewing
Arc Welder – Rye Beer

Midwest Coast Brewing Co.
Fire Watch – Oatmeal Stout
Liberty Two Four – American Pale Ale
Friendsgiving – Spiced Beer

Midwest Meadwerks
Triskellion – Mead
R. Maximus – Mead

Misbeehavin’ Meads
Caramel Apple Cider – Mead
With a Baseball Bat – Mead

Miskatonic Brewing Company
Mountain King – Hazy IPA
Watcher in the Woods – Munich Dunkel

More Brewing Company
Blueberry Double Marbles – Double Milkshake IPA
Morever – IPA

Niteglow Beer Company
H02 – New England/Hazy IPA
R02 – Coffee Stout

Noon Whistle Brewing
Zade’s Haze – New England/Hazy IPA
Pinkies Up – Wheat Beer

Old Irving Brewing Co.
Strawberry Della – Kölsch
Mango Beezer – New England/Hazy IPA

One Allegiance Brewing
Oreo Rambler – Pastry Stout
Campfire Lager – Vienna Lager

Oswego Brewing Co.
Midnight Harvest – Porter
Kendall Common – Historical Beer

Penrose Brewing
Goofy Boots – IPA
Lemon Seltz-Up – Hard Seltzer

Pipeworks Brewing Co
Rudolph vs Unicorn – Imperial Stout
Forest Fauna – IPA
Petrified Forest – IPA
Pumpkin Spice Latte

Ravinia Brewing
Diversey Station – Session IPA
Steep Ravine – American IPA

Short Fuse Brewing Company
Hues of Summer – Hefeweizen
Dark Gourd – Pumpkin Beer

Solemn Oath Brewery
Small Wave – Hazy IPA
We’re All Misfits – Holiday Spiced Brown Ale
City Water Pink Lemonade – Hard Seltzer

The Conrad Seipp Brewing Co.
Seipp’s Extra Pale Ale – Pale Ale

Twisted Hippo Brewing
Puffy Parka – Dark Lager
The Treasure of Crocodile Bog – Fruit Beer

Whiskey Hill Brewing Company
Pink Scales – Berliner Weisse
Outpost – Cream Ale

Wolfden Brewing Company
Banana Fiasco – Pastry Stout
Watcher – Amber Ale

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

Outdoor concessions will be available along the Illumination trail until 9:30 p.m.

The Illumination trail is a one-mile paved walking path that includes one large incline (Frost Hill) approximately halfway through the exhibition, and several smaller inclines and declines. We advise guests to keep the length and hilly nature of the trail in mind. The exhibition is not fully accessible to visitors with limited mobility.

Guests have the option to skip the second half of the exhibition, bypassing the large incline at Ornament Hill, by heading back toward the Visitor Center on the tram road.

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

Arboretum staff make best efforts to clear the path of ice and snow. Crowds are generally lighter on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday making it easier to navigate the trail.

Please be aware that Illumination features moving and flashing lights along the trail, in case a member of your party is sensitive to these effects.

The Morton Arboretum welcomes visitors with service animals to Illumination. (However, please note, pets are not permitted at the Arboretum except on special dog admission days.)

The exhibition is not visible by car. Parking is available near the entrance for those with a disability placard on their vehicle—as it will be dark outside, please notify the parking attendant as you drive in. Otherwise, parking is first come, first served, and is directed by parking attendants.

Guests directed to secondary lots can take advantage of shuttle buses which will transport them to the main event area. If you do not have a disability placard and someone in your party has mobility concerns, you are welcome to drop off passengers in our circle drive adjacent to the Visitor Center before you park. Again, please notify our parking attendants and they will direct you accordingly.

For an event map and a listing of all participating vendor locations along the Illumination trail, please see the IllumiBrew program.

Accordion List

  • Yes, a light up souvenir tasting glass will be provided to all IllumiBrew ticket holders. Designated Driver tickets do not include this glass.

  • Concessions will be available throughout the Illumination experience. The Ginkgo Restaurant will be open from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. More information about additional food options will be announced closer to the event date.

  • Yes, designated driver tickets are available and include admission into IllumiBrew and a complimentary hot chocolate or cider from the concessions stand or the Ginkgo Cafe and Restaurant. Designated Drivers need to be 21+ to attend the event.

  • Each ticket purchase includes 15, 3 oz ounce samples. In some cases, higher ABV beverages such as meads may be less than 3 oz. No additional samples will be available for purchase.

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