Christmas Lights in Chatham, IL

Popular picks this season include Light Up the Park (Nov 27 – Dec 27), Zoo Lights at Henson Robinson Zoo (Nov 27 – Dec 22), Winter Holiday Floral Show (Dec 5 – Dec 20) and Illinois Governor's Mansion Holiday Walk-Through (Nov 28 – Dec 23). In all, 11 displays are mapped in and around Chatham, from decorated houses and neighborhoods to ticketed light shows.

Free options include Winter Holiday Floral Show, Illinois Governor's Mansion Holiday Walk-Through, Festive Fridays at the Dana-Thomas House and Old Capitol Holiday Walks. 6 of the 11 displays near Chatham are free to visit; most home and neighborhood displays cost nothing to drive by.

Yes. Light Up the Park ($5 per car (suggested donation)). Drive-thru shows usually charge per car, and buying tickets online ahead of time is often faster.

Yes. Festive Fridays at the Dana-Thomas House and Old Capitol Holiday Walks Tree Lighting. Synced displays broadcast their soundtrack on a low-power FM station so you can listen from your car.

The earliest Chatham-area displays turn on Nov 14, and most are running by the weekend after Thanksgiving. Many stay lit through New Year's; check each display's page for its exact dates and nightly hours.