Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Every winter, we take the kids to as many Chicago area light shows as we can… and every year we end up debating which one was actually the best. So today, we’re finally settling it. If you’re a parent trying to figure out which show is worth the price, the drive, and the hype — we’ve got you. Each one has something totally unique, and honestly, we loved them all for different reasons. But we did rank them… and our top pick might surprise you. Let’s get into it.
TREE LIGHTS at Cosley Zoo
cosleyzoo.org/festival-of-lights-tree-sale
ZOOLIGHTS at Lincoln Park Zoo
lpzoo.org/pressroom/zoolights-2
CAVE LIGHTS at Cave of the Mounds
caveofthemounds.com/2025/07/20/cave-of-lights/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22557521885&gclid=CjwKCAiAxc_JBhA2EiwAFVs7XHGN8-fTMUoqNoyx6ic5dDU7Ynm-mzC2G7Ck-_yP-5pWAf-pFOyLfRoC81IQAvD_BwE
HOLIDAY MAGIC at Brookfield Zoo
brookfieldzoo.org/holidaymagic
LIGHTSCAPE at Chicago Botanic Garden
chicagobotanic.org/lightscape
ILLUMINATION at The Morton Arboretum
mortonarb.org/explore/activities/exhibitions/illumination/#!
GO City: https://prf.hn/click/camref:1101l4h4Wc
PATREON: patreon.com/SantosChronicles
BUY ME A COFFEE: buymeacoffee.com/SantosChronicle
MERCH STORE: teespring.com/stores/santos-chronicles-store
EPIDEMIC SOUND: epidemicsound.com/referral/gctbeg
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!
SOCIAL MEDIA
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/santoschronicles
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/SantosChroniclesVlog
TikTok: tiktok.com/@santoschronicles
INTERACTIVE TRAVEL MAP: google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1A0m_FlS0VknqUrCOj5pNSfuOoDDjRe53&usp=sharing
Every winter, we take the kids to as many Chicago area light shows as we can… and every year we end up debating which one was actually the best. So today, we’re finally settling it. If you’re a parent trying to figure out which show is worth the price, the drive, and the hype — we’ve got you. Each one has something totally unique, and honestly, we loved them all for different reasons. But we did rank them… and our top pick might surprise you. Let’s get into it.
TREE LIGHTS at Cosley Zoo
cosleyzoo.org/festival-of-lights-tree-sale
ZOOLIGHTS at Lincoln Park Zoo
lpzoo.org/pressroom/zoolights-2
CAVE LIGHTS at Cave of the Mounds
caveofthemounds.com/2025/07/20/cave-of-lights/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22557521885&gclid=CjwKCAiAxc_JBhA2EiwAFVs7XHGN8-fTMUoqNoyx6ic5dDU7Ynm-mzC2G7Ck-_yP-5pWAf-pFOyLfRoC81IQAvD_BwE
HOLIDAY MAGIC at Brookfield Zoo
brookfieldzoo.org/holidaymagic
LIGHTSCAPE at Chicago Botanic Garden
chicagobotanic.org/lightscape
ILLUMINATION at The Morton Arboretum
mortonarb.org/explore/activities/exhibitions/illumination/#!
GO City: https://prf.hn/click/camref:1101l4h4Wc
PATREON: patreon.com/SantosChronicles
BUY ME A COFFEE: buymeacoffee.com/SantosChronicle
MERCH STORE: teespring.com/stores/santos-chronicles-store
EPIDEMIC SOUND: epidemicsound.com/referral/gctbeg
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!
SOCIAL MEDIA
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/santoschronicles
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/SantosChroniclesVlog
TikTok: tiktok.com/@santoschronicles
INTERACTIVE TRAVEL MAP: google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1A0m_FlS0VknqUrCOj5pNSfuOoDDjRe53&usp=sharing
