Illumination at Morton Arboretum

After converting this wildly popular event to a drive-through experience due to COVID safety precautions, Illumination is going back to its “roots” with its traditional walking path. With unparalleled new experiences in addition to returning favorites, visitors can enjoy Illumination at their own pace.

Visitors will be surrounded by color as they walk  amid interactive lighting effects that highlight the beauty of trees in winter. This one-of-a-kind, spectacle of color, light, and sound. Illumination has welcomed more than 1.3 million guests since 2013, making this a top holiday travel destination across the region.

What’s new in 2021:

• Arbor Court photo opp
• Enchanted Gateway —New entry leading to Meadow Lake
• Festival of Lanterns —Guests will walk through 150 colorful lanterns at the top of Frost Hill
• Golden Glade —A breathtaking meadow of lights at the top of the Conifer trail
• Winter Radiance —A new path leading guests to the last exhibit near the Maze Garden, featuring colorful reeds and mini-chandeliers
• Enhanced Audio—Music will be featured throughout the full Illumination experience.
• A lighted display of Hallow — An iconic sculpture by South African artist Daniel Popper, which is part of the Arboretum’s Human+Nature exhibition.

RETURNING FAVORITES

• Created exclusively for The Morton Arboretum by Smithsonian-featured collaborative installation arts collective HYBYCOZO (pronounced Hee-Bee-Coh-Zoh), the Crown of Light experience returns in 2021. Standing 12 feet tall at its highest point and silhouetted against the winter night, the amazing treelike structures spread intricate designs of light through laser-cut etchings that adorn the sculpture’s sides.
• Symphony Woods – A magical pairing of music and light, this beloved visitor favorite has been refreshed with new, well-known seasonal music for 2021.
• Woodland Wonder
• Ornament Hill
• Silhouetted by brilliant up-lighting, The Champion Tree—a stunning, iconic honey locust—provides the axis around which Illumination rotates
• In the Enchanted Forest, guests can push buttons to make light and colors skip from tree to tree.
• Using a grove of trees as a viewing screen, Treemagination features dramatic projections that drench the trees with saturated fields of color, amazing geometric patterns and simulated movement.

EXTRA EXPERIENCES

• Arbor Court Photo Stop
• IllumiBrew: Thursday, November 18, and Friday, November 19, 5:30–10:00 p.m. (This is a 21+ only, ticketed event.)
• A full dining and beverage menu will be available inside the Visitor Center and snacks and hot beverages (with optional cordials) will be served in two Concession Tents along the route.

2021 DATES AND HOURS OF OPERATION

• Open Saturday, November 20, 2021 to Sunday, January 2, 2022
• Doors open at 4:30 p.m.; last entry at 8:30 p.m.; lights out at 9:30 p.m.
• Event is closed November 22, 25 (Thanksgiving), 29; December 6, 13, 24 (Christmas Eve), and 25 (Christmas Day)

TICKETS

• Tickets go on sale to members and the public on Friday, October 1.
• Member early-bird pricing available through October 31.
• Tickets are limited, and advance purchase is recommended.
• Tickets will be available on the website at mortonarb.org/illumination or for purchase at the Arboretum Visitor Center in advance during regular business hours, and on-site each night of Illumination as tickets remain available. Tickets can also be purchased by phone at 630-725-2066
• Illumination tickets are date-specific with timed entry in 30-minute windows from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m
• A limited number of tickets are being made available (Monday through Thursday) at a reduced rate to guests with a state-issued EBT card (also known as a LINK card) or a valid WIC card, through the Museums for All  Museums for All program.

Pricing:
Illumination tickets run between $7-$19 for members, $13-$24 for guests (non-members). Prices vary based on the day. Member-only Early Bird pricing is available through October 31. Check here for pricing details. Children under 2 are admitted at no cost.

Standard/Peak pricing:
Standard nights – November 23, 24 and 30, December 1-2, 7-9, 14-16.

Peak nights – November 20-21, 26-28, December 3-5, 10-12, 17-31, and January 1-2.

Closed – November 22 and 25 (Thanksgiving) and 29, and December 6, 13, 24 (Christmas Eve), and 25

(Christmas Day)

For details about the full Illumination experience, please click here