Craft beer lovers won’t want to miss IllumiBrew. Be among the first to see Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum exhibition while you sample seasonal beers, ciders, and meads from popular Chicago-area breweries stationed along the Illumination trail.
This event is for ages 21 and older only.
Each tasting ticket includes:
- 15 3-ounce beer samples
- Light-up tasting glass
- Entrance to the Arboretum and Illumination
For Your Enjoyment
Warming areas
Enjoy a cozy fire at one of the warming areas along the Illumination path.
Food and beverage
Snacks and hot beverages are available for purchase in concession tents along the Illumination trail until 9:30 p.m. Indoor dining and to-go orders will be available in the Ginkgo Restaurant until 8:00 p.m.
About Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum
Be surrounded by color as you walk a one-mile paved path amid interactive lighting effects that highlight the beauty of trees in winter. You will be awed and delighted to see returning favorites and surprising new sights. Enjoy seasonal music, marvel at ever-changing, captivating lighting designs, and warm up by a crackling fire with a cozy drink or roast marshmallows for s’mores. Illumination will highlight the many gifts of trees: natural beauty, increased feelings of peace and calm, homes for wildlife, and the air we breathe.
Designated Driver Tickets
Designated driver tickets will be available on Monday, October 16, and will include admission into IllumiBrew as well as a complimentary hot chocolate or cider from the concessions stand or the Ginkgo Restaurant. Designated drivers must also be 21 years or older.
Participating Breweries
A list of participating breweries will be released closer to the 2024 event date.
Food Options
Indoor dining and to-go orders will be available in the Ginkgo Restaurant until 8:00 p.m.
Outdoor concessions will be available along the Illumination trail until 9:30 p.m.
Accessibility
The Illumination trail is a one-mile paved path that is ADA compliant.
The Arboretum has a small number of nonmotorized wheelchairs available on loan free of charge in the Visitor Center on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests must leave a driver’s license or other photo ID to check out a wheelchair. Because the supply is limited, we recommend bringing a wheelchair to the Arboretum if one is needed. Personal mobility scooters may also be used on the trail.
Arboretum staff make best efforts to clear the path of ice and snow. Crowds are generally lighter on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, making it easier to navigate the trail.
Please be aware that Illumination features moving and flashing lights along the trail. There are no strobe lights in the exhibition. Laser features are directed away from guests and follow International Laser Display Association safety standards.
The Morton Arboretum welcomes visitors with service animals to Illumination. Please note that pets are not permitted at the Arboretum except on special dog admission days.
Parking is available near the entrance for those with a disability placard on their vehicle—please notify the parking attendant as you drive in. Otherwise, parking is first come, first served and is directed by parking attendants.
Guests directed to a secondary lot (Parking Lot 21) at Thornhill can take advantage of a shuttle bus that will transport them to the main event area. Please note that this is the only shuttle bus during Illumination and it only runs between Parking Lot 21 and the Visitor Center. The bus does not have a wheelchair lift.
If you do not have a disability placard and someone in your party has mobility concerns, you are also welcome to drop off passengers in the circle drive adjacent to the Visitor Center before you park. Please notify the parking attendants and they will direct you accordingly.
