Organize your perfect holiday in Rolling Meadows with our guide. We’ve listed all the top festive events for you. Whether you're a Rolling Meadows native or a seasonal explorer, this guide unlocks the best of the holidays.
Popular events abound this season, starting with the enchanting Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum, where stunning light displays transform the night into a winter wonderland. Featuring spectacular views and shimmering trees, Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo invites families to experience festive animal encounters and festive displays. And the Festival of Lights at Cosley Zoo is something you definitely don't want to miss, as it showcases a charming array of twinkling lights throughout the zoo. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Rolling Meadows
- Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum (Lisle)
- Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo (Brookfield)
- Sparkle Light Festival (Rosemont)
- Festival of Lights at Cosley Zoo (Wheaton)
- Holiday Festival of Lights at Phillip's Park Zoo (Aurora)
- McCormick House and Garden: Lights and Music (Wheaton)
- Lilacia Park Holiday Lights (Lombard)
See these and even more events listed below!
Rolling Meadows Holiday Light Displays
Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum
What to Expect:
Interactive light displays and temperature-activated ceramic mugs.
Description:
Explore 50 acres of the Morton Arboretum's majestic trees during this spectacular light, sound, and color display. Exciting features and immersive installations delight all ages along a one-mile ADA-compliant path. Enjoy warm fires, marshmallow roasting, and snacks at concession tents, or dine at the Ginkgo Restaurant while viewing a laser light finale.
Where: Lisle | More Info: Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum
Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo
What to Expect:
Synchronized light and animal displays in a zoo setting.
Description:
Brookfield Zoo's Holiday Magic features over two million twinkling LED lights, giant illuminated animals, and immersive light tunnels. Guests can explore indoor and outdoor habitats, enjoy seasonal attractions like the Elf Power virtual reality experience and carousel, and shop at the Holiday Market.
Where: Brookfield | More Info: Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo
Festival of Lights at Cosley Zoo
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
Cosley Zoo transforms into a festive holiday destination with thousands of twinkling lights, a variety of Christmas trees, wreaths, and greenery, along with hot chocolate and unique holiday gifts available for purchase.
Where: Wheaton | More Info: Festival of Lights at Cosley Zoo
Sparkle Light Festival
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday light display with ice skating and tubing.
Description:
Sparkle Light Festival at Impact Field in Rosemont features five illuminated villages, including the Frozen Forest, Snowflake Circle, Winter Wonderland, the North Pole, and Deck the Walls. Visitors can enjoy free train rides, ice skating, and tubing down the Alpine Slide. Festive food and beverage options are also available.
Where: Rosemont | More Info: Sparkle Light Festival
Holiday Festival of Lights at Phillip's Park Zoo
What to Expect:
Dazzling drive-through holiday light display with animated displays and themed areas.
Description:
The Aurora Festival of Lights at Phillips Park features a mile of spectacular lighted displays, including jumping reindeer, ice skating bears, and fields of gigantic snowflakes, all enjoyed from the comfort of your car while listening to holiday songs on a closed-circuit radio station.
Where: Aurora | More Info: Holiday Festival of Lights at Phillip's Park Zoo
Lilacia Park Holiday Lights
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday experience with Santa visits and festive activities.
Description:
Lilacia Park Holiday Lights features charming holiday displays with light shows, tree decorations, and a gingerbread house. Youngsters can visit Santa Claus and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies while meeting their favorite holiday characters.
Where: Lombard | More Info: Lilacia Park Holiday Lights
McCormick House and Garden: Lights and Music
What to Expect:
Historic home blending history and holiday charm with music-orchestrated light shows.
Description:
Explore the beautifully adorned McCormick House, featuring historically preserved rooms with French-themed holiday decorations, including iconic Cantigny poinsettias. Stroll through the gardens as music-orchestrated light shows enhance traditional holiday decorations, creating memorable experiences for families and couples alike.
Where: Wheaton | More Info: McCormick House and Garden: Lights and Music
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Palatine (2 miles)
- Mount Prospect (4 miles)
- Hoffman Estates (4 miles)
- Buffalo Grove (5 miles)
- Wheeling (6 miles)
- Elk Grove Village (6 miles)
- Des Plaines (8 miles)
- Roselle (8 miles)
- Hanover Park (9 miles)
- Streamwood (9 miles)
- Bloomingdale (9 miles)
- Vernon Hills (10 miles)
- Northbrook (10 miles)
- Park Ridge (10 miles)
- Addison (11 miles)
- Bartlett (11 miles)
- Glenview (12 miles)
- Niles (12 miles)
- Glendale Heights (12 miles)
- Morton Grove (12 miles)
- Mundelein (12 miles)
- Carpentersville (13 miles)
- Highland Park (13 miles)
- Elmhurst (13 miles)
- Carol Stream (13 miles)
- Villa Park (13 miles)
- Libertyville (14 miles)
- Lombard (14 miles)
- Elgin (14 miles)
- Glen Ellyn (15 miles)
- Skokie (15 miles)
- Wilmette (15 miles)
- Melrose Park (15 miles)
- Portage Park (15 miles)
- Algonquin (15 miles)
- South Elgin (16 miles)
- Wheaton (16 miles)
- Belmont Cragin (16 miles)
- Maywood (17 miles)
- Irving Park (17 miles)
- Albany Park (17 miles)
- West Chicago (17 miles)
- West Ridge (17 miles)
- Lake in the Hills (18 miles)
- Grayslake (18 miles)
- Oak Park (18 miles)
- Lincoln Square (18 miles)
- Avondale (18 miles)
- Rogers Park (19 miles)
- North Chicago (19 miles)
- Crystal Lake (19 miles)
- Downers Grove (19 miles)
- St. Charles (19 miles)
- Edgewater (19 miles)
- North Center (19 miles)
- Logan Square (20 miles)
- Berwyn (20 miles)
- Lisle (20 miles)
- Westmont (20 miles)
- Uptown (20 miles)
- Geneva (20 miles)
- Round Lake Beach (20 miles)
- Gurnee (21 miles)
- Cicero (21 miles)
- East Garfield Park (21 miles)
- McHenry (22 miles)
- North Lawndale (22 miles)
- Naperville (22 miles)
- West Town (22 miles)
- Lincoln Park (22 miles)
- Huntley (22 miles)
- Batavia (22 miles)
- Wasco (22 miles)
- South Lawndale (23 miles)
- Darien (23 miles)
- Near North Side (23 miles)
- Woodridge (23 miles)
- Lower West Side (24 miles)
- Chicago Loop (24 miles)
- Brighton Park (24 miles)
- Chicago (25 miles)
- Bridgeport (25 miles)
- Near South Side (25 miles)
- Gage Park (26 miles)
- West Lawn (26 miles)
- New City (26 miles)
- Douglas (27 miles)
- Zion (27 miles)
- Bolingbrook (27 miles)
- Chicago Lawn (27 miles)
- Burbank (27 miles)
- Aurora (27 miles)
- Woodstock (27 miles)
- Grand Boulevard (28 miles)
- West Englewood (28 miles)
- Ashburn (28 miles)
- Englewood (28 miles)
- Oak Lawn (29 miles)
- Hyde Park (29 miles)
- Woodlawn (30 miles)
- Auburn Gresham (30 miles)
- Greater Grand Crossing (30 miles)
- Romeoville (30 miles)
- Chatham (31 miles)
- South Shore (32 miles)
- Orland Park (32 miles)
- Morgan Park (33 miles)
- Pleasant Prairie (33 miles)
- Oswego (33 miles)
- Plainfield (33 miles)
- South Chicago (34 miles)
- Homer Glen (34 miles)
- Blue Island (34 miles)
- Lockport (34 miles)
- Kenosha (36 miles)
- Oak Forest (36 miles)
- Crest Hill (37 miles)
- Dolton (37 miles)
- Tinley Park (37 miles)
- Harvey (38 miles)
- Joliet (39 miles)
- DeKalb (39 miles)
- South Holland (39 miles)
- New Lenox (40 miles)
- Calumet City (41 miles)
- East Chicago (42 miles)
- Mount Pleasant (43 miles)
- Lansing (43 miles)
- Munster (44 miles)
- Belvidere (44 miles)
- Chicago Heights (44 miles)
- Park Forest (45 miles)