Electric Illumination

Electric Illumination offers a special Illumination experience on three Friday nights in December, each with a live DJ and unique theme.

Lea en español.

Enjoy a night out at The Morton Arboretum and celebrate the holidays at Electric Illumination, a fun way to experience the annual Illumination holiday light show with friends and family.

Unlike other Illumination nights, Electric Illumination is only for adults 18 years and older.

Electric Illumination will take place from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. on three Fridays—December 5, 12, and 19. Each night features a different musical theme, a live DJ, and immersive light displays synchronized to the music.

Friday, December 5—I Want My MTV and TRL
Madonna, Backstreet Boys, Run DMC, Christina Aguilera, OutKast, Blink-182

Friday, December 12—Pop Divas
Sabrina Carpenter, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Tina Turner

Friday, December 19—House
Frankie Knuckles, Carl Cox, Marshall Jefferson, Daft Punk, Calvin Harris

Highlights

Hot chocolate, snacks, alcoholic beverages, and s’more kits can be purchased in a warm concession tent or enjoyed by crackling bonfires along the path.

Colorful animal sculptures from The Morton Arboretum’s newest exhibition, Vivid Creatures, will be lit up and included along the Illumination path.

The one-mile path is paved and ADA-compliant for mobility.

Tickets

Tickets are now on sale for Arboretum members! Purchase member tickets online.

Tickets will be available for all starting on Wednesday, October 15, at 9:00 a.m.

Plan Ahead and Save on Tickets

With plan-ahead pricing for Illumination and Electric Illumination, choose the price, date, and time that best fits your budget and schedule. The further in advance you purchase your tickets, the more you save!

Ticket prices are always 20% lower for Arboretum members. Become a member to access the best prices.

Generously sponsored by

Highlights

Lea en español.

Electric Illumination will take place from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. on three Fridays—December 5, 12, and 19.

Each Electric Illumination night features a different musical theme, a live DJ, and immersive light displays synchronized to the music.

Friday, December 5—I Want My MTV and TRL
Madonna, Backstreet Boys, Run DMC, Christina Aguilera, OutKast, Blink-182

Friday, December 12—Pop Divas
Sabrina Carpenter, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Tina Turner

Friday, December 19—House
Frankie Knuckles, Carl Cox, Marshall Jefferson, Daft Punk, Calvin Harris

Electric Illumination is adults-only, with more room on the trails to party and celebrate the holidays with friends.

Colorful animal sculptures from The Morton Arboretum’s newest exhibition, Vivid Creatures, will be lit up and included along the Illumination path.

The one-mile path is paved and ADA-compliant for mobility.

The Arboretum Store will be open until 9:30 p.m. during Electric Illumination.

Last entry on each night will be at 9:00 p.m.

Tickets

Lea en español.

Tickets are now on sale for Arboretum members! Purchase member tickets online.

Tickets will be available for all starting on Wednesday, October 15, at 9:00 a.m.

Ticket prices are always 20% lower for Arboretum members. Become a member to access the best prices.

Food Options

Lea en español.

Hot chocolate, snacks, alcoholic beverages, and s’more kits can be purchased in a warm concession tent along the Illumination trail until 9:00 p.m.

Signature S’mores Hot Chocolate

Bring home the memories of Illumination with a special s’mores hot chocolate served in a limited-edition Morton Arboretum mug. Available for purchase in the concession tent along the Illumination trail, this one-of-a-kind hot chocolate is perfectly paired with a cozy fire and winter weather.

Concession and Bar Menu

Beverages

Hot Chocolate
Hot Chocolate with Baileys®
Hot Chocolate with Peppermint Schnapps
Hot Cider
Hot Cider with Spiced Rum
Boxed Water™

Treats

Double Fudge Brownie
Rice Krispies Treat™
Peppermint Bark
Frosted Holiday Cookie
Jumbo Pretzel with Dipping Sauce
S’mores Kit

Ginkgo Restaurant

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

The restaurant is open until 8:00 p.m. during all Illumination dates. Ticketholders can enter the restaurant as early as the entry time listed on their Illumination ticket.

Accessibility

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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’s the difference between Illumination and Electric Illumination?

Illumination is a family-friendly light and sound installation open from November, 2025 through January, 2026.

Electric Illumination is a special experience for adults 18 and older, hosted on three Fridays in December, each with a unique theme and live DJ.
I don’t see any tickets for children or infants for the Electric Illumination event. Are they free?

Electric Illumination is an evening for adults 18 and older. Children under the age of 18, including infants in strollers, are not allowed to attend.
I don’t see any tickets for children or infants on some Fridays. Why is that?

On Fridays, we are offering our Electric Illumination event. This is an offering for adults 18 and older. Children under the age of 18, including infants in strollers, are not allowed to attend.
Can I bring my dog?

Dogs may attend Illumination only on designated Illumination Dog Admission Nights on three Wednesdays, December 3, 10 and 17. A separate dog ticket must be purchased. For information about future dog admission events, visit the Arboretum’s Dog Admission Days page.