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Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden

Light up your holiday season with a dazzling experience like no other.

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An unmissable night of brilliant lights and glowing smiles awaits all at Chicago Botanic Garden's Lightscape — an experience making its US debut in November 2019.

On a mile-long path, the night comes alive with color, imagination, and sound, from a playful choir of singing trees to a spectacular waterfall of light. At times, visitors will find themselves in the center of it all — stepping inside a cathedral of golden light, walking down an avenue of luminous linden trees and moving through colorful ribbons of light.

All the Details

In 2019 the event will run on the following dates: 

  • November 22 – 24
  • November 29 – December 1**
  • December 4 – 8
  • December 11 – 15
  • December 18 – January 5, 2020**

**Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day

Hours each day of the event are 4:30 – 10 p.m. with last entry at 8 p.m. The Garden closes each night at 10 p.m. Please note that each day of the event, the Garden will close at 3 p.m. and re-open for ticketed guests only at 4 p.m. Tickets for this event are timed in 15-minute increments (first slot, 4:30 p.m.; last slot, 8 p.m.). Prices vary, based on the day of the week and date selected. Purchase tickets here. If you're planning on driving, pay in advance for parking and save 50%.

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Fuel Up

Marveling at the lights and securing the best Instagram picture spots can be hard work! The Garden View Café will be open with soups, grab-and-go snacks, and drinks and another indoor food station will be open in the Regenstein Center with homemade doughnuts, sliders, and drinks. There also will be hot drink stations on the route, along with a marshmallow toasting station at the Rose Terrance Beer Garden.

Winter Holidays Activities Family Fun
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