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Exhibitions

Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum

Explore 50 acres of the Arboretum’s majestic trees during this one-of-a-kind spectacle of color, light, and sound.

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Celebrate the holidays and marvel at how light transforms a magnificent landscape at the 11th annual edition of Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum, November 18, 2023 through January 6, 2024. Exciting new features and immersive installations in this festive experience will delight all ages along a new path that is fully ADA compliant for guests with limited mobility.

You’ll journey along a 1-mile paved walking path amid festive music and lighting effects that highlight the beauty of trees in winter. You will pass through a woodland that comes alive with sparkling colored lights in the crisp outdoor air. A grove of trees will come alive with color and seem to grow and change before your eyes. Music will be everywhere, lights will make trees dance, and hugs will make a tree light up.

Gather family and friends to explore 50 acres of the Arboretum’s majestic trees and sweeping vistas and experience one of the nation’s most well-known light displays. Warm up by a crackling fire and roast marshmallows for s’mores, or stop in one of the concession tents for a snack and beverage. Enjoy a delicious meal at the Ginkgo Restaurant in the Visitor Center while you view the display’s finale on Meadow Lake. The Arboretum Store will also be open for holiday shopping and seasonal decorating. A special temperature-activated, color-changing ceramic mug will be available for purchase during all Illumination dates.

Plan Ahead and Save on Tickets 

Introducing Plan-Ahead Pricing for Illumination and Electric Illumination. Choose the price, date, and time that best matches your personal budget and schedule. The further in advance you purchase your tickets, the more you save!

Illumination and Electric Illumination ticket prices will never be lower for a particular day and time than is listed on the website at the time you search, and may increase, based on availability over time.

Member ticket prices are always 20% lower than nonmember tickets. Become a member.

If you have questions about purchasing tickets, please email tickets@mortonarb.org or call 630-725-2066.

Electric Illumination

Electric Illumination returns for the second year with more dates added for this late-night experience. Adults 18 and older will enjoy a curated mix of dynamic and dance-worthy music synchronized to the breathtaking light displays of Illumination. The fun begins at 9:30 p.m., Fridays, December 8, 15, 22, and 29.

IllumiBrew

Craft beer lovers won’t want to miss IllumiBrew on Thursday, November 16, and Friday, November 17. At this event for adults 21 and older, enjoy a first look at the newest version of Illumination while sampling local brews along the trail.

 

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Plan Ahead and Save on Tickets 

Introducing Plan-Ahead Pricing for Illumination and Electric Illumination. Choose the price, date, and time that best matches your personal budget and schedule. The further in advance you purchase your tickets, the more you save!

Member tickets >

Nonmember tickets >

Illumination and Electric Illumination ticket prices will never be lower for a particular day and time than is listed on the website at the time you search, and may increase, based on availability over time.

Member ticket prices are always 20% lower than nonmember tickets. Become a member.

If you have questions about purchasing tickets, please email tickets@mortonarb.org or call 630-725-2066.

Museums for All Discount Tickets

Through the Arboretum’s participation in the Museums for All program, a limited number of reduced-rate Illumination tickets are available on select dates for guests with a state-issued Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT, P-EBT or LINK) card, or a valid WIC card.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children, and may be purchased online or in person, as long as the date and time is not sold out. Up to 10 Museums for All tickets can be purchased. When buying tickets on-site, purchasers are required to show a valid LINK or WIC card to receive the discounted rate. When purchasing online, purchasers will receive an email confirmation and must show a valid LINK or WIC card with their tickets at the entrance on the night of the event.

Museums for All Illumination tickets >

This Illumination-specific discount is an extension of the popular Museums for All program, a partnership between the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM).

AnyDay Tickets

Please note: AnyDay tickets are sold out.

Illumination AnyDay tickets are special, single-use tickets that can be used once by either an adult or a child (ages 2 and over), at any entry time, on any day of Illumination. AnyDay ticket prices are $60 for nonmembers and $48 for members.

Please note: AnyDay tickets will have one date indicated, but they are valid for any Illumination date. AnyDay tickets are not valid for IllumiBrew or Electric Illumination.

ComEd Ticket Discount

Please note: ComEd discount tickets are sold out.

Members receive the best discounts, with an automatic 20% discount on all Illumination tickets.

Become a member >

Accessibility

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

The Arboretum has a small number of nonmotorized wheelchairs available on loan 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 the supply is limited, we recommend bringing a wheelchair to the Arboretum, if one is 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. There are no strobe lights in the exhibition. Laser features are directed away from guests and follow International Laser Display Association safety standards.

The Morton Arboretum welcomes visitors with service animals to Illumination. Please note that pets are not permitted at the Arboretum except on special dog admission days.

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 served, and is directed by parking attendants.

Guests directed to a secondary lot (Parking Lot 21) at Thornhill 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 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my AnyDay ticket include a date?

AnyDay tickets will have one date indicated, but they are valid for any Illumination date.

Are there any Illumination ticket discounts available?

Morton Arboretum members always receive the lowest ticket prices. Become a member today.

Through the Arboretum’s participation in the Museums for All program, a limited number of reduced-rate Illumination tickets are available on select dates for guests with a state-issued Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT or LINK) card, or a valid WIC card. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children, and may be purchased online or in person, as long as the date and time is not sold out. When buying tickets on-site, purchasers are required to show a valid LINK or WIC card to receive the discounted rate. When purchasing online, purchasers will receive an email confirmation and must show a valid LINK or WIC card with their tickets at the entrance on the night of the event.

This Illumination-specific discount is an extension of the popular Museums for All program, a partnership between the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), which has enabled more than 3,600 underserved individuals to visit the Arboretum since 2016.

ComEd discount tickets are sold out. Members receive the best discounts, with an automatic 20% discount on all Illumination tickets.

Why are prices different on the same days?

Plan-ahead pricing is adjusted daily based on a variety of factors, such as remaining tickets available, weather conditions, and most popular times. As those variables change, ticket prices may go up for particular times and dates. Prices will not go down from those listed at the time you check the website. The further in advance you purchase your tickets, the more you save.

I want to change my tickets. What is the refund and exchange policy?

Illumination ticket purchases are nonrefundable. However, guests may be able to exchange tickets in advance for a fee of $1 per ticket, depending upon event capacity and at the discretion of the Arboretum. Tickets can be rebooked (prior to their original start time) using the Arboretum Rebooking Tool; guests who need additional assistance can also email the help desk or call 630-725-2066. If the Arboretum cancels a night of Illumination (in whole or part), we will accommodate ticket holders according to the cancellation policy.

Can I get passes or tickets for an Arboretum day visit and Illumination tickets in the same transaction?

Event tickets may always be added to general admission reservations, however, we encourage you to purchase Illumination tickets in a separate transaction, if possible, to ensure that the scan codes are kept separate.

Can I walk/snowshoe at the Arboretum during the day on Illumination dates?

On days with four or more inches of snow, we invite you to bring your own snowshoes or cross-country skis to the Arboretum during our usual daylight hours. During Illumination, the East Side of the Arboretum will close at 3:00 p.m. to prepare for Illumination opening each evening at 4:30 p.m. Only the West Side is available for skiing or snowshoeing prior to mid-January (when Illumination equipment is removed on the East Side). Once Illumination is over (January 7, 2023), rentals will be available based on snowfall.

If Illumination is canceled due to weather, can I get a refund?

Because Illumination is an outdoor event in winter, on very rare occasions the Arboretum may cancel an evening or temporarily close the event until weather passes. Many factors are considered, including predictions from the National Weather Service and other weather services, before making a decision that has an impact on guests. If Illumination is canceled or temporarily closed for part of an evening, ticket holders will be notified via email, and notice will be posted to the Arboretum’s website homepage. We will honor tickets on alternate nights, schedule permitting. For more information, email or call the ticket line at tickets@mortonarb.org or 630-725-2066 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily (except holidays).

If I have tickets and decide not to go to Illumination due to weather conditions, can I get a refund or exchange my tickets for another date?

Ticket holders who make the choice not to attend Illumination based on their personal circumstances may request a ticket exchange, depending on schedule and ticket availability, for a $1 fee per ticket. Refunds are not available. For more information, use the Arboretum Rebooking Tool, email the help desk, or call the ticket line at 630-725-2066 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily (except holidays).

Can I enter/use the Arboretum before the time on my Illumination ticket?

Illumination ticket holders may enter the Arboretum after 4:30 p.m., but will not be able to access the Illumination trail or Visitor Center until the time listed on their tickets. Due to often cold weather conditions, we encourage ticket holders to arrive as close as possible to the time on their tickets for the best experience.

Is the Illumination trail accessible for those with physical disabilities?

Yes. The new Illumination trail is a one-mile paved path that is ADA compliant and fully accessible to guests with limited mobility. Please see the Illumination Accessibility section for more information.

Ticket Rebooking

The Morton Arboretum offers a way for members and nonmembers to make changes to their existing ticket reservations for Illumination and Electric Illumination ticket holders. You can use this rebooking tool if you are changing your tickets from one date to another, even if there is a cost difference between the two dates. Only dates and times that are still available will show during the rebooking process.

To look up an existing order, enter your order ID and last name in the field below. You can find your order ID listed on the “Order Summary” email that was sent to you from tickets@mortonarb.org.

Please note that there will be a $1 charge per ticket for any changes made to Illumination tickets, plus any changes in the price of the tickets.

If you have questions, you can contact the ticket line by email at tickets@mortonarb.org or by phone at 630-725-2066, Monday–Sunday (excluding holidays), 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Please note that this tool is currently only available for use when rebooking Illumination or Electric Illumination tickets.

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