Grab a cup of hot cocoa, load the kids in the car, and go check out these 2022 Christmas light displays 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 26 – January 8, 2023
Outdoor Garden Hours: Outdoor lights are on every day from dusk until dawn. The park closes at 10 pm.
Indoor Conservatory Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday: 10 am – 4 pm
Friday and Saturday: 12 pm – 8 pm
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, decorations and model trains. 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.
Festival of Lights at Sinnissippi Park
1401 N. 2nd St., Rockford, IL
November 25 – December 31, 2022
Hours:
November 25 – 27: 5 pm – 11 pm
December 1 – 4: 5 pm – 11 pm
December 8 – 11: 5 pm – 11 pm
December 15 – 18: 5 pm – 11 pm
December 19 – 23: 5 pm – 11 pm
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day: 24 hours
December 26: 5 pm – 11 pm
December 31: 5 pm – 12 am
Rates: Free
Donations accepted and encouraged to keep this 30+ year tradition going!
Check out over 50 light displays including a 100 foot light tunnel throughout Sinnissippi Park. Santa will be there from 6 pm – 8 pm most weekends before Christmas. The Snow Queen will be in the park from 6 pm – 8 pm on December 1, 8, 15, and 19-23. 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 25-27, December 1-4, 8-11, 15-23, and 26-30, 2022.
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
Walk through the gardens to see more than 1.2 million lights decorating the trees and paths. You must buy tickets in advance here.
Watch a video of our 2020 visit to Rotary Gardens’ light show.
Illuminated at Anderson Japanese Gardens
318 Spring Creek Rd., Rockford, IL
December 1 – 11, 15-30, 2022
Closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Hours: 5 pm – 8:30 pm
Last admission is 7:45 pm
Rates: $11 per adult / $9 per student / free for kids 5 and under
Walk through Anderson Japanese Gardens to view dramatic lighting and thousands of white string lights woven through the landscape.
Musical performances and food trucks will be on-site on select dates. See the schedule here.
Holiday Tree Show at Lincoln-Tallman House
440 N. Jackson St., Janesville, WI
November 25 – December 30, 2022
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: $10 per adult / $5 per kid ages 5-10 / free for kids 4 and under
The Lincoln-Tallman House has more than 130 trees decorated throughout the house and outdoors. The house is an 1800 Victorian mansion that is decorated for the holiday season. 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 Light Displays
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
Rockton
Glencree Lane in Kensington Neighborhood, Rockton, IL
Kensington Neighborhood in Rockton
Loves Park
6133 Elm, Loves Park, IL
Cherry Valley
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.
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.
Just a heads up, the Tipple Rd house doesn’t have lights. They haven’t for the last 2 years. Bummer