A 400-foot aurora borealis canopy will light up the Morton Arboretum starting Nov. 14.
The Lisle arboretum's annual Illumination: Tree Lights display returns for its 14th season Nov. 14 through Jan. 2, according to preview attendees who posted details on Instagram. The centerpiece is what the arboretum calls its most ambitious installation to date.
The northern lights-inspired canopy stretches down Ginkgo Way, the final stop on the one-mile walking path, NCTV17 reported.
Amy Scott, head of exhibitions at the Morton Arboretum, told NCTV17 at a Sept. 12 preview event that the aurora display took roughly two years to develop. "This is definitely one of the most ambitious to date," Scott said. The project involved every department at the arboretum and outside partners.
Beyond the northern lights canopy, the 2026 path features 22 displays. Those include four Vivid Creatures sculptures, a landscape of large glowing orbs, a tunnel of moving chrome spheres and new experiences called Lightwave, Cosmic Garden and Fairy Forest. The trail is paved and ADA-compliant. The arboretum has described the aurora canopy as a limited-time experience available only during the 2026 season.
Pine Whistle Railroad
The Pine Whistle Railroad is a new indoor model-train experience in the Firefly Pavilion. Nearly 1,000 feet of track winds through fairy and gnome houses with large-scale mushrooms in a miniature fantasy woodland setting.
The experience requires a separate add-on ticket for Illumination guests and is also open to daytime arboretum visitors. After Illumination ends Jan. 2, the daytime Pine Whistle Railroad continues through Feb. 13. The arboretum has not publicly listed the add-on price.
Tickets and planning
Member tickets go on sale Thursday, Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. Public tickets follow Thursday, Oct. 15 at 9 a.m. Adult tickets start at $17.60 for members and $22 for nonmembers, according to Instagram posts from Sept. 12 preview attendees. Buying earlier saves more.
Illumination runs from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53 in Lisle, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Naperville. Hot chocolate, snacks, bonfire s'mores and food at the Ginkgo Restaurant are available along the path.
