Grab a cup of hot cocoa, load the kids in the car, and go check out these 2023 Christmas lights in the Rockford area. Several of these lights shows are ones where you get out and walk around, some are drive-thru, and others are impressive neighborhood decorations. Here are the Christmas light displays you should take the time to see this year!

Christmas Light Displays & Christmas Light Shows

All Aglow Exhibit at Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens
1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford, IL

November 25 – January 8, 2024

Outdoor Garden Hours: Outdoor lights are on every day from dusk until dawn. The park closes at 10 pm.

Indoor Conservatory Hours:

Tuesday – Friday: 10 am – 4 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10 am – 3 pm
Closed on Monday

Outdoor Garden Rates: The outdoor gardens and light displays are FREE

Indoor Garden Rates: $8 per resident adult / $6 per resident (ages 5-17) / $4 per resident (ages 3-4) / free for kids 2 and under

Walk through the indoor gardens at Nicholas Conservatory to see holiday lights and decorations and the train display from December 2 – January 28, 2024. Then head outside to see the free display of lights around the gardens, fountains, and lagoon. The gardens will have more than 300,000 lights this year including many “glistening” lights that add extra sparkle to the show. There are also 50 jumbo lighted candy canes throughout the gardens.

Image credit: The Festival of Lights website

Festival of Lights at Sinnissippi Park
1401 N. 2nd St., Rockford, IL

November 24 – December 31, 2023

Hours:
November 24 – 26: 5 pm – 11 pm
November 30 – December 3: 5 pm – 11 pm
December 7 – 10: 5 pm – 11 pm
December 14 – 17: 5 pm – 11 pm

Exended Hours:
December 18 – 23: 5 pm – 11 pm
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: 24 hours
December 26 – 30: 5 pm – 11 pm
New Year’s Eve (December 31): 5 pm – 12 am

Rates: Free
Donations accepted and encouraged to keep this 34+ year tradition going!

Check out over 85 light displays including a 100-foot light tunnel throughout Sinnissippi Park. Santa and The Snow Queen will be in the park at selected dates and times throughout the holiday season. View a schedule of their appearances here. Donations are accepted at the end of the show. Donations go towards the light show and Fourth of July fireworks show. This is a drive-through display, you do not leave the car.

Woodward Governor
5001 N 2nd St, Loves Park, IL

Hours: Lights turn on at dusk

Rates: Free

Woodward Governor has a Christmas display of Nativity scenes and several lighted boxes with decorations inside as well as a large Christmas tree. This is a drive-through display, you do not leave the car.

Holiday Light Show at Rotary Gardens
1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI

November 24-26, December 1-3, 7-10, 14-23, and 26-30, 2023.

Hours: 4:30 pm – 9 pm
Last ticket is sold for 8:30 pm, lights go dark at 9 pm

Rates: $12 per adult (13 and up), $5 per child (3-12 years old), children 2 and under are free

The Rotary Botanical Holiday Light Show is the most spectacular light show in the Stateline! This is a walk-through event in the gardens. The gardens are decorated with more than 1.5 million twinkling lights of all colors. New for 2023 is a comfort station located in gardens which will be selling hot cocoa, frosted sugar cookies, and 3D glasses that make the lights look like snowflakes or other festive designs. You must buy tickets for the Holiday Light Show in advance here.

Wondering what walking through the Holiday Light Show in Janesville is like? Watch a video of our 2020 visit to Rotary Gardens’ light show!

Illuminated at Anderson Japanese Gardens
318 Spring Creek Rd., Rockford, IL

November 30 – December 30, 2023
Closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Hours: 5 pm – 8:30 pm
Last admission is 7:45 pm

Rates: $13 per adult / $9 per student / free for kids 5 and under

Illuminated at Anderson Japanese Gardens is a wintertime light experience featuring colorful dramatic up-lighting on trees and thousands of white string lights. Families can walk through the gardens to enjoy the beautiful lights as well as purchase made-to-order pizza from Woodfire Pizza and hot cocoa from Rockford Roasting Company. There will also be carolers and bell players from local schools on Friday and Saturday nights in the Guest House Circle.

Weekend parking is offered at the UIC Rockford College of Medicine (1601 Parkview Ave., Rockford, IL) and a shuttle is provided to take visitors to Anderson Japanese Gardens.

Holiday Tree Show at Lincoln-Tallman House
440 N. Jackson St., Janesville, WI

November 24 – December 30, 2023

Hours: Thursday and Friday from 3 pm – 7 pm
Saturday and Sunday from 12 pm – 4 pm
December 26 – 30 from 3 pm – 7 pm

Rates: $15 per adult / Kids ages 15 and under are free

The Lincoln-Tallman House is a Rock County icon originally used as a residence for the Tallman family from 1857-1915. In 1951, the home was reopened as a historic house museum. During the holiday season, the house has more than 130 decorated Christmas trees throughout the house and outdoors. Get tickets here.

Stateline Light Show Guide

Here’s a handy guide we put together of all the Stateline light shows in the area.


Neighborhood Christmas Lights

There are some fantastic light displays in neighborhoods all over the Stateline area. Check out these great displays! When you visit these home displays, please be courteous to neighbors and turn off your headlights when viewing, and don’t block driveways, side streets, or alleys.

Print off a copy of our Christmas Decorations Scavenger Hunt and make driving around and looking for lights a fun game with your family!

Rockford

1655 Divine Drive, Rockford, IL

3337 Citadel Drive, Rockford, IL

Corner of Sandy Hollow and Tannenbaum

5641 Tipple Rd., Rockford, IL

Corner of Dempster Avenue and Kingsway Avenue. Watch our video of this light show.

4804 Burningtree Drive, Rockford, IL

Roscoe

Hodges Run, located right off Main Street, Roscoe, IL
The man who lives here dedicates this display to his late wife.

Peanuts House (Snoopy and the crew) – Hodges Run, Roscoe, IL

4038 Montclair Road, Roscoe IL

10886 Meadowsweet Lane, Roscoe, IL

11296 Edgemere Terrace, Roscoe, IL

Rockton

Glencree Lane in Kensington Neighborhood, Rockton, IL

Kensington Neighborhood in Rockton

Loves Park

6133 Elm, Loves Park, IL

Cherry Valley

Cutty Sark Cherry Valley IL

Cutty Sark Road, Cherry Valley, IL

South Beloit

14224 Manhattan St., South Beloit, IL

Beloit

4519 West Noss Road, Beloit, WI

Riverside Drive, Beloit, WI (past the Beloit Country Club)

Janesville

Striegel Light Show at 3767 Stone Ridge Dr., Janesville, WI

Belvidere

Squaw Prairie Rd near Beaver Valley Rd, Belvidere, IL

1537 James Ct. Belvidere IL

Ridgefield Drive, Belvidere, IL

Machesney Park

Couple of houses on Cameo Drive

Trickie House on Frontage Road (off 251)
Watch our video here.

8801 Wakefield Drive

Rochelle

239 Phyllis Ave, Rochelle IL
23,000 lights dance to Christmas music on 89.9 FM.
Sunday through Thursday from 5 pm – 10 pm
Friday through Saturday from 5 pm – 11 pm

Poplar Grove

300 Greenbriar Blvd., Poplar Grove, IL

Lots of decorated houses in Sherman Oaks and Ravenscrest neighborhoods
Watch our video here.


Here’s a handy Google Map we put together of all the Christmas light displays in the area!

If you know of a great Christmas display in your neighborhood, email us at hello@statelinekids.com!

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