Opening weekend for Aurora’s 18th annual Festival of Lights

Posted November 30, 2024 12:37 am

By Clayton Muhammad, City of Aurora

Travel by the jumping reindeer in the Aurora Festival of Lights drive-through. Courtesy of City of Aurora

With one mile of sparking lights and one month of magical nights, the 18th season of the Aurora Festival of Lights drive-through has now begun.

The region's largest free drive-through holiday light display, the Aurora Festival of Lights runs from Friday, Nov. 29 through Sunday, Dec. 29, from 5 to 9 p.m. every night at Phillips Park, 100 Ray Moses Drive. Enter the park on Smith Boulevard at Fifth Avenue.

Visitors will enjoy a mile of spectacular lighted displays from the comfort of the car while listening to holiday songs on the radio.

This popular free holiday drive-through features crowd-favorite displays like jumping reindeer, ice skating bears, Old Man Winter, howling wolves, the holiday golfer, Santa's toy factory, and fields of gigantic snowflakes, along with new displays.

Admission is free, but visitors should register for a vehicle pass at www.aurora-il.org/FestivalofLights.

Free-will donations fund the Light the Way Grant Program that supports youth and mental health initiatives in Aurora. Courtesy of City of Aurora

Volunteers staff the event every night and collect freewill donations at the end of the route. Donations fund the Light the Way Grant Program that supports youth and mental health initiatives in Aurora. Last year, just over $80,000 was collected.

Gather the family, bundle up, jump in the car, and make holiday memories at the Aurora Festival of Lights.

Last year, more than 50,000 vehicles visited the Festival of Lights.

See the holiday lights on display every night at the annual Aurora Festival of Lights through Dec. 29 at Phillips Park. Courtesy of City of Aurora

Aurora’s Festival of Lights illuminate Phillips Park. Volunteer opportunities are available to groups who can staff the event on available evenings. Courtesy of City of Aurora

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