Classic Kia’s Guide to Holiday Lights Displays in Lake County and Illinois

Nov 27, 2022

There’s nothing quite like a twinkling display of festive holiday lights and creative illuminated sculptures in the great outdoors. Whether you’re flying solo, enjoying a romantic date night out, or a family friendly evening, nothing brightens the holiday spirits more! Lose yourself in the magical winter wonderland of seasonal light displays with these fantastic suggestions on today’s blog.

Now through January 1st 2023, the Lake County Fairgrounds and Events Center is bringing back its popular Santa’s Rock N Lights show! This gorgeous one mile stretch of lights is all set for a drive-through experience complete with holiday tunes! And new for this year is the Pop Up Village with photo ops, ax throwing, face painting, ornament crafts, and visits with Santa! You’ll also have plenty to snack on with local food trucks as well as free hot chocolate!

Now through January 9th from 4:30-10 on Weekdays and 4:30-11 on Weekends in Northbrook, “Let it Shine” presents the area’s largest drive through Christmas Lights at Northbrook Court synchronized to holiday classic music!

Goebbert’s Christmas Lights Show at Goebbert’s Pumpkin farm is running now through January 3rd from 5-10 and 5-11 (varies per day of week.) You’ll enjoy more than one million twinkling lights set to music from the cozy comfort of your own car.

Now through December 25th, head to downtown Antioch for the annual Christmas Musical Light Show! There are two shows alternating each day which run about 20 minutes long between the hours of 6PM and 9PM.

On December 2nd, Genesee Theatre is hosting A Very Electric Christmas spectacular hosted by the Lightwire Theater! This unique and one-of-a-kind show takes place in a totally dark environment where the theatre group uses their own bodies to manipulate light into puppetry style storytelling. It’s a completely jaw-dropping experience, and a memorable holiday gift for the ages!

On December 3rd, head over to Waukegan Main Street at 10N Martin Luther King Jr Avenue in Waukegan for the annual official Tree Lighting Ceremony in Waukegan. The tree lighting ceremony is also accompanied by the Holiday Lights Parade and Holiday Walk on Main Waukegan!

On December 8th, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is rolling through Gurnee with a 5-5:10PM arrival, bringing in our good pal Old St. Nick for a visit of holiday cheer! Stick around after it departs at 5:30/5:40PM and enjoy some christmas caroling, food trucks, snacks, hot chocolate, holiday crafting, s’mores, a petting zoo and so much more.

December 11th-13th, 18th-23rd, 26th-31st, and January 2nd and 3rd, kids will love the hands-on experience of controlling the holiday light show themselves with a glowstick wand at the Kohlights Walk-Thru Experience at the children’s museum!

Opening December 17th through January 2nd 2023, Shiloh Park in Zion is bringing you Home for the Holidays Lighted Christmas Trail! A drive through holiday light trail with more than 100,000 lights and 50 one-of-a-kind displays. And, as rumor has it, you may be able to catch Santa himself on opening day, so keep your eyes peeled.

Now through January 1st 2023, drive on over to Wintrust Field in Schaumburg for the Shine Light Show. This winter wonderland features more than one million lights, all synchronized in beautiful displays to classic holiday tunes and merriment!

Other Wonderful Drive Through Holiday Experiences in the Area:

Hampton Reserve Neighborhood at Timber Pass Road and Midlothian Road in Mundelein has nearly 100 homes who have worked in tandem to coordinate holiday light displays!

Libertyville’s Golf Road and Dymond Road neighborhood is home to an annual display of coordinated milk-carton luminaries that are truly a sight to behold!

Lights on Chantilly in Lake on the Hills features more than 50,000 christmas lights in a synchronized musical and light show!

Grayslake Heritage District and Center Street’s historic downtown are picturesque displays of lights against historic architecture and cozy scenery.

The Tarkowski Family home at 1256 Bradford Lane in Antioch is an impressive family affair full of twinkling lights and festive merriment synced to music which you can hear when tuned in to radio 88.7 in your car!

The Gandor Family Light Show in Lake Zurich runs through January with synchronized music and light shows and twinkling holiday light displays for the season!