From the Maggie Daley Ice Rink to the CTA Holiday Train, the abundance of iconic holiday traditions in Chicago are some of our most cherished activities of the year.
Luckily for us in Chicagoland, they’re also some of the very best in the country and now the local light shows are receiving national recognition.
With stunning light shows like Lightscape at the Chicago Botanic Garden and ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo there is no shortage of esteemed light show experiences to enjoy in Chicago but it was Morton Arboretum’s Illumination: Tree Lights that was this year recognized among the very best in the whole country.
Currently in its 11th year, Illumination: Tree Lights is the only holiday light show in Illinois to receive the top 10 designation coming in as the sixth best light show across the United States in USA TODAY’s 2023 10Best Readers’ Choice list for “Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights.”
Nominated by a panel of experts, including editors and contributing writers of USA TODAY and 10Best.com, it is the second time that the arboretum’s Illumination: Tree Lights has appeared in the list after readers voted in eight best in the country in 2019.
Situated across 50 acres of the nonprofit public garden and outdoor museum, Illumination: Tree Lights will take guests snaking through the Arboretum’s majestic landscape along an enchanting one-mile tree-lined walking trail.
This year’s trail features 18 immersive light displays all of which focus on showcasing the beauty of trees in winter while providing a family-friendly outdoor holiday experience.
“Illumination continues to garner national attention as a non-traditional holiday light experience where the trees, rather than the lights, are the stars of the show,” said Amy Scott, the Arboretum’s head of exhibitions.
According to the Morton Arboretum, nearly 2 million people have experienced Illumination since its inception in 2013 and the experience continues to incorporate new and updated features each year.
Just under a 30-minute drive from the city, the light show is located in Lisle at 4100 Illinois Route 53.
Illumination: Tree Lights is now running through Sunday, January 7. Tickets or more information can be found at mortonarb.org.
View the full list at 10best.usatoday.com.[Featured image courtesy of the Morton Arboretum]