Holiday Lights Make Spirits Bright in the Aurora Area

Posted on 11/18/2022 by  James Cardis

From the Rotary Club of Aurora's Festival of Lights at historic Phillips Park to downtown Aurora, where the “City of Lights” has a magnificent holiday light display planned, miles of dazzling light displays offer magical holiday memories for visiting families this year. The best part? These holiday lights are free to enjoy!

Before and after your trip, we've got you covered with fun things to do at nearby attractions like Christkindlmarket Aurora at RiverEdge Park and at holiday events throughout the Aurora Area. Read on to plan your holiday season sightseeing! 

City of Aurora's Festival of Lights at Phillips Park • Aurora, IL

A holiday tradition for fifteen years and counting, the City of Aurora Festival of Lights in historic Phillips Park is one of the largest free outdoor holiday light displays in northern Illinois. The Festival of Lights is a signature winter event with unique surprises throughout, including animated arrays like the 20-foot tall "singing" Christmas tree and Santa's Toy Factory. Over 30,000 cars tour the Festival of Lights each year over the display's four week run between Thanksgiving and just after Christmas. Donations are accepted to help the Rotary Club of Aurora maintain and continue the Festival of Lights. Buses are welcome, note that clearance is 13 feet, 6 inches to enter the event. 

Rotary Club of Aurora Festival of Lights takes place Friday, November 25 through Monday, December 26. Hours are 5pm to 9pm daily. 

Visit aurora-il.org/2408/2022-Aurora-Festival-of-Lights to learn more.

Lehnertz Ave. Christmas Display • Aurora, IL

Entering its 70th year in 2021, the Lehnertz Avenue Christmas Display has been a community tradition for generations. The free holiday drive-through tour represents the biblical Christmas story as told through an elegant collection of illuminated books, figures representing biblical figures and a manger scene. Retro whimsy is on display at Lehnertz Ave, too, with Peanuts characters and more surprises.

Lehnertz Ave. Christmas Display will open with a blessing on Sunday, December 11th and be lit from 5 to 10pm every evening until Sunday, January 1st.

More information is available at Lehnertz Ave. Christmas Display on Facebook. 

Holiday Lights at Rich Harvest Farms • Sugar Grove, IL

One of the Top 100 U.S. golf courses is transformed into a winter wonderland every holiday season. From November 25 to December 31, Rich Harvest Farms will be glowing with the lights of over 40 different illuminated displays. Starting with the little red school house near the Granart and Dugan Road Roundabout, all the way to St. Katharine-Drexel Catholic Church, the one-mile drive down Dugan Road in Sugar Grove will take you through a veritable winter wonderland filled with all sorts of surprises. A dolphin jumping out of a pond, a reindeer taking flying lessons...you never know what you might see!