Chicago has two big garden light walks this winter and one warm room. Lightscape lights a 1.3-mile trail at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe from November 13 to January 3. Illumination at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle opens its 14th season on November 14. And from November 25 the Garfield Park Conservatory on the West Side puts on its Winter Flower Show, free for anyone who lives in Chicago. Here is how each one works, what it costs, and where to eat near each.
We run Botanical Garden Near Me, a directory of public gardens and arboretums across the United States, and we are a guest here. Top of Chicago asked for the gardens. They supplied the restaurants.
The plan, in order
Pick one light show per night. Glencoe is north of the city and Lisle is west, so Lightscape and Illumination do not fit in one evening. Both sell timed tickets that cost more on busy dates, so buy ahead and pick a weeknight if price matters. Garfield Park is a daytime visit in the city, open Wednesday to Sunday, and it is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Lightscape, Chicago Botanic Garden
The Chicago Botanic Garden is at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, 385 acres in all. Lightscape runs from November 13 to January 3 on select nights. It is open from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. on most evenings, with last entry at 8:45; on some dates it closes at 9:30, with last entry at 7:45. Tickets are sold in 15-minute entry slots and priced by demand, and the garden says many dates are currently under $30, plus a $3 service fee on each nonmember ticket. Exchanges are allowed up to 72 hours before your date, for a $10 fee per order. Parking for nonmembers is $18 bought ahead or $25 on the night; members park free. December 2 is a sensory-friendly night, and December 10 and January 1 are 21-and-over nights.
Illumination, Morton Arboretum
The Morton Arboretum is at 4100 Illinois Route 53 in Lisle, 1,700 acres of trees. Illumination runs Saturday, November 14, 2026 through Saturday, January 2, 2027, its 14th season, with four new large installations this year. Adult tickets start at $22, or $17.60 for members, and prices vary by day and time. You can enter the grounds after 4:30 p.m., but the trail opens to you only at the time on your ticket. New this year is the Pine Whistle Railroad, a model train in the woods on nearly 1,000 feet of track, an add-on at $9, or $7 for members. Dogs are welcome with their own ticket on December 2, 9 and 16 and January 1, and November 17 is a sensory night. The arboretum’s restaurant stays open until 8 p.m. on Illumination dates.
Garfield Park Conservatory
The Garfield Park Conservatory, at 300 N. Central Park Ave., opened in 1908. Its 2026-2027 Winter Flower Show is on from November 25, 2026 through January 3, 2027, and it is included in general admission. Admission is free for Chicago residents with a city ZIP code and ID; otherwise adults are $10, and seniors, children 7 to 17 and students are $5. Military members and veterans with ID get in free. It is open Wednesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Monday and Tuesday. Entry is ticketed; reserving ahead is recommended, and walk-ins get in when there is room. Parking is free in the visitor lot just south of the entrance.
The full list
Hours, prices and directions for each of these, with the official page for each, are on our side. The botanical gardens near Chicago page on Botanical Garden Near Me lists them, closest first.
