LOCATION:  Batavia Riverwalk

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DATE:   November 29, 2026, 5PM - 7PM

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DETAILS:    Bring your family to enjoy the festive bright lights and sounds of the holiday season! Sing along to holiday tunes, welcome Santa and pay him a visit, watch the Christmas tree lighting, stroll Christmas Tree Lane, see reindeer, take a hayride, enjoy favorite holiday tales read aloud and make a holiday craft.

For more information, call 630-879-5235 or visit www.bataviaparks.org.

The Batavia Community Band starts at 5 p.m.

 

FEE:   FREE!

LOCATION:  Cantigny Park, Winfield 

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DATES: November 20 - January 3, 2027 (check website as it's not everyday) 

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TIMES: 15 minute timeslots from 4:30PM - 8PM

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DETAILS:  Step into the magic of Christmas at Cantigny, where glowing gardens, beloved traditions, and the warmth of the season come together across one unforgettable evening.  Follow the ½-mile Light Show route through illuminated garden paths, music-orchestrated displays, shimmering holiday scenes, and Cantigny’s towering 28-foot Christmas tree.  Make an evening of it with ice skating, cozy cocoa, festive cocktails, seasonal dining, holiday shopping, and time inside McCormick House, beautifully dressed for Christmas.  And before you go, bring a little Cantigny Christmas home with you. Our Cantigny-grown poinsettias — cultivated in our greenhouse and cherished as a seasonal tradition — are available throughout the holidays.

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FEE:  $10.99 - $18.99 plus parking (you can bring your dog for $5.99)

LOCATION:  Peck Farm, Geneva 

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DATES: November 28, 2026 

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TIME: 5PM - 7PM

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DETAILS:  The Winter Wonder Lights Kickoff event is a magical celebration that transforms the beautiful Peck Farm Park into a dazzling display of lights and holiday cheer. This free event features an array of activities, including:

• Courtyard illumination (5:00pm sharp)

• Hot cocoa & s’mores by the fire pit

• Letters to Santa

• Holiday music

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FEE:  FREE 

Call 630-355-2242

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DATES:  November 28 - 30 & December 1 - 28, 2026

*Check website for times*

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DETAILS:   Public December Holiday Lights Trolley Tour: For the past 31 years, this FAMOUS Trolley Tour has been the tradition of many residents and visitors alike! Let us drive you as we Trolley-la-la-la past many beautifully decorated homes for the Holidays in December while you sit back and enjoy time with your friends and family. A Naperville tradition for 31 years!!!  

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FEE: 

2026 Pricing for public November & December Holiday Light Trolley Tours:

November 30, December 1, 2, 7-9:  $25+$3.75/driver gratuity = $28.75 per person (plus online booking fee.)

November 27-29, and December 3-6, and December 10-23: $30+$4.50/driver gratuity = $34.50 per person (plus online booking fee.)

LOCATION:  Morton Arboretum, Lisle 

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DATES:  November 17, 2026 from 4:30PM - 9:30PM

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DETAILS:   

The Illumination Sensory Night offers a modified experience featuring static lights and music at low volume. Tickets will be available in a limited capacity to provide a sensory-sensitive environment.

Illumination Sensory Night will take place on Tuesday, November 17, from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.

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Sensory Supports

Sensory supports such as headphones, sunglasses, and fidgets are available for loan during your visit. Any loaned items should be returned to the Information Desk in the Visitor Center before departure.

An Illumination social story is available in English or Spanish to help prepare for your visit.

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FEE:  $10 Adult (non-member) & $5 kids (non-member)

LOCATION:  Morton Arboretum, Lisle

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DATES: November 14, 2026 – January 2, 2027

Time slots from 4:30PM- 8PM (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve + Day, and select Mondays & Tuesdays)

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DETAILS:  Bring your family and friends to see Illumination, the awe-inspiring holiday light show at The Morton Arboretum. Reimagined for its 14th year, the 2026–2027 season of Illumination brings its most enchanting and inventive winter wonderland experience to date!

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Guests of all ages will delight in four spectacular new installations and a new model train attraction—the Pine Whistle Railroad—winding through an indoor fantasy woodland.

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FEE:  Prices vary for member & non-member, please check website 

LOCATION:  Downtown East Dundee

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DATE:  December 5, 2026, 6:30PM

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DETAILS:   Please join us for a magical night along the riverfront for our Riverside Parade of Lights!

Watch all of the holiday magic come alive as the parade kicks off in West Dundee on S. Lincoln Ave. (just south of N. 6th St.), travel north to, and across, the Main St. bridge in Carpentersville, then south on Washington/Water St. to East Dundee (ending at Railroad St.)

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FEE:  FREE!

LOCATION:  Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st Street (1st Avenue and 31st Street), Brookfield

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DATES: Holiday Magic takes place select evenings:

November 21-25 and 27-29, 2026

December 3-6, 10-13, 17-23 and 26-31, 2026

January 1-3, 2027

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TIME:  3PM - 9PM on dates above

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DETAILS:  Holiday Magic is back, marking more than 40 years of sparkling lights, festive fun, and holiday memories.

Step into a sparkling winter wonderland as you explore themed areas filled with larger-than-life holiday displays, interactive experiences, glowing tunnels, a maze, and animal-themed light displays.  Experience the magic, make new memories, and discover why Holiday Magic is a beloved holiday tradition.

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FEE:  Starting at $29.95/free with membership

LOCATION:  Illinois Railway Museum, 7000 Olsen Road, Union

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DATES:  Days for this event are Saturdays and Sundays, November 27th (Black Friday), 28th, 29th, December 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, and 21st. Trips take place at 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5pm and 6pm. (Rides at other times on all dates may be added later based on demand). Parking lot opens 30 minutes before the first trip and closes 30 minutes after the last trip returns. Plan to arrive a minimum of 30 minutes before your scheduled trip.

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DETAILS:   The train ride will leave from the historic East Union Depot. Santa will ride the train with you. Hot chocolate and cookies will be available. The train ride will feature an animated light show and holiday song presentation providing entertainment during the trip.

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*For those averse to animated lights, quiet car #7658 (the silver car) will omit the entertainment and will feature traditional lights and decorations. Your ticket will permit you to board whichever car you prefer.

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NO REFUNDS except in case of event cancellation. Tickets may be rebooked depending on availability. See event website for rebooking link.

 

Special Fare Days - No passes honored during this event

 

All schedules and equipment subject to change without notice.

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FEE: $25/child and $30/adult & free parking 

LOCATION:  First Street Plaza, St. Charles 

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DATE:  November 27, 2026, 5PM

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DETAILS:  St. Charles Holiday Homecoming is one of the Midwest's most spectacular holiday events. The magical celebration that marks the beginning of the holiday season with the Lighting of the Lights Ceremony on the Friday following Thanksgiving. Join us in the 1st Street Plaza to officially start the holiday season. Unite with the St. Charles community as we switch on a stunning display of holiday lights, enjoy festive music, meet Santa, and indulge in complimentary roasted nuts!

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FEE:  FREE!

LOCATION:  Triangle Park, Carpentersville 

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DATE:  December 5, 2026 from 4:30PM - 6:30PM

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DETAILS:  Step into a holiday wonderland right here in Carpentersville! Winterville in the Park returns bigger, brighter, and more magical than ever — and this year, it’s joining forces with the spectacular Riverside Parade of Lights for one unforgettable evening of hometown holiday cheer.  From the first sparkle of the tree lighting to the glow of the parade as it crosses the Main Street bridge, Winterville is your invitation to gather with family, friends, and neighbors to celebrate the joy, warmth, and wonder of the season.

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FEE:  FREE!

LOCATION:  Phillips Park, Aurora

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DATES: November 27 - December 27, 2026, 5PM - 9PM

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DETAILS:  The Aurora Festival of Lights –the largest free outdoor drive-through holiday light display in the region - returns for its 18th year with dazzling displays and merry music that will delight children and adults.

The Aurora Festival of Lights opens on Friday, November 29, and runs through Sunday, December 29, each night from 5PM to 9PM at Philips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive [Enter on Smith Blvd. at Fifth Ave.]

Visitors will enjoy a mile of spectacular lighted displays from the comfort of the car while listening to holiday songs on a closed-circuit radio station.

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This popular free holiday drive-thru features crowd-favorite displays like jumping reindeer, ice skating bears, old man winter, howling wolves, the holiday golfer, Santa’s toy factory, and fields of gigantic snowflakes, along with new displays.

Gather the family, bundle up, jump in the car and make holiday memories.

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FEE:  FREE!

LOCATION:  Downer Place, Aurora

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DATES: November 20, 2026 at 6:30PM

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DETAILS:  As the City of Aurora's official kick-off to the holiday season, this free family-friendly event will be filled with merry-making moments and a sleigh full of fun for the entire family.  Stepping off at 6:30 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus will usher in the holiday season with an illuminated parade filled with reindeer, elves, special guests and other holiday favorites!

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Following the Parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with Mayor Laesch will lead the crowd in a countdown to flip the magic switch and illuminate the City's holiday tree!  After the tree lighting, the downtown Aurora sky will be brightened by a Drone Light show along the banks of the Fox River, sponsored by the Chicago Premium Outlets!

After the drone show, Stolp Avenue, between Downer Place and Galena Boulevard, will be filled with food vendors, roaming costumed characters, and musical entertainment at Millennium Plaza!

 

Join us for photos with Santa! This year Santa will be at Grand Army of the Republic Military Museum (23 E. Downer Place). He will be there ready for photos immediately following the Drone show.

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FEE:  FREE!