Take The 2025 Patch Tour O' Holiday Lights

The snow and bitter cold over the past few weeks hasn’t exactly been friendly to inflatables or light stringing. We salute our readers who endured chapped hands and getting blown off your ladder Clark Griswold-style, putting up your twinkly display. Thank you for your holiday spirit!

We've rounded up the best reader-submitted residential holiday light displays in Chicagoland. From giant Santas and Vegas-style Taylor Swift light shows, to the most outlandish Clark W. Griswold displays that can be seen from space, these spectacular light displays are definitely worth a drive.

We’ll be updating the list with new displays throughout the holidays, so keep an eye on your daily morning newsletters and your favorite Patch Facebook pages. Email your photos and a description to lorraine.swanson@patch.com. Don’t forget to include your address and enjoy the 2025 Tour o’ Holiday Lights.

Set your GPS and explore displays near your town, or go completely nuts and visit all of them.

Chicago

North Center

2035 West Montrose Ave. – Raminder S. Chadha has a choo-choo train running through his front yard in North Center.

Cook County

Bridgeview

Mr. Griswold of Bridgeview, 7416 S Octavia Ave, Bridgeview – Mr. Griswold of Bridgeview, aka as Jim Pavel, has moved back to his childhood home. His family has hung holiday lights for over 70 years, and he helped his grandfather set up lights as a kid. Mr. Griswold’s light display is a combination of store-bought and homemade decorations. A computerized light show is synchronized to several Christmas songs, broadcast on a radio station so you can enjoy it from the warmth of your car. Over the years, he's added a quartet of singing Christmas trees. The display runs nightly from 4 to 10 p.m.

Countryside

Lights on Dawn, 6650 Dawn Ave., Countryside – Experience the magic of a dazzling holiday light show featuring over 40,000 twinkling lights synchronized to an enchanting selection of holiday music. The Grahn family’s delightful mix of beloved classics, festive fun songs and heartfelt tunes that remind everyone of the true reason for the season.

Glenview

840 Wagner Court, Glenview – Peter Testa has done it again!

600 Surrey Lane, Glenview – Wow! We love the Manly family’s elegant display, who’ve wrapped their house in 160,000 all-white lights – and they do it themselves without professional help. It's so beautiful, it wins our “worth two picture” award for 2025.

La Grange

Kwaks Spread Joy, 900 S. Ashland, La Grange – As the holiday season draws near, La Grange is truly stepping up its festive game with a spectacular light display that is sure to brighten up the season. LaGrange residents Gary and Ingrid Kwak and family's Spread JOY Project has transformed their home into a winter wonderland that has quickly become a must-see attraction for both neighbors and visitors. Featuring thousands of twinkling lights and whimsical decorations, it sure is joyful. To top it off, there are donation bins for local food pantries to further enhance their giving spirit this season. To date, they've donated 40,000 items. The Kwaks tell Patch there are also a ton of 20-foot Santas on the Ashland block to add to the amazement. The lights are set to be on nightly with Christmas music as well.

La Grange Park

A Very Colossal Inflatable Christmas, 1201 Alima Terrace, LaGrange Park – If you’re headed to see Brookfield Zoo’s Holiday Magic, be sure to stop by the Foushi family’s Very Colossal Inflatable Christmas. It’s the largest display of inflatables in the Brookfield Zoo area. The festive wind bags are up 24/7, depending on wind conditions. To get the full effect, check out the YouTube video. Big Mike thinks he may have overdone it this year. We love the Perry Como holiday soundtrack. On Dec. 21, the real Grinch will be prowling around the display. Visitors are asked to bring a non-perishable food item or two that will be donated to a local food pantry.

Oak Lawn

Plude Lane, 9602 S 54th Ave., Oak Lawn – Tune your radio to 88.7 FM and listen to the music as you watch your favorite Christmas movies.

Orland Park

Blow Mold Mania, 14601 Poplar Court, Orland Park — No inch of the Harske family’s lawn is left bare in this shiny display, which is covered by over 300 vintage and new blow molds, ruled by a 10-foot-tall snowman and Christmas tree. The newest addition is an 8-person choir. "A blowmold Christmas”, has been growing every year we love to see the joy and smiles it brings to everyone that comes and visits. With over 350 blowmolds on display, this display will take you back from the very first Christmas blow molds to the newest to date of all different varieties of Santa’s, Snowman, Disney characters and even a choir. Come out and see what we have added this year!" Lights are on every day from dusk to 11:30 p.m. The family has added some new ones.

15441 Sunset Ridge Drive, Orland Park – There's a blow mold war going on in Orland Park! John Quinn offers up his amazing collection of blow molds. At last tally, John counted 383 blow molds, 97 tinsel light figures, seven inflatables, 70 gum drops, trees, music and more. We don't know if he has any geese-a-laying.

17404 Deer Creek Drive, Orland Park – Yvonne and Ralph Shurley have outdone themselves this year with their many new features added to their Yuletide show. This year, they’ve added some new attractions, featuring Clark Griswold hanging from the roof after falling off his ladder. Their mammoth yard display also boasts a rare 10-foot tall Bumble, the abominable snowman from Rudolph. He is huge and fuzzy and growls, a life-size gingerbread house, and a dancing Santa standing at his cocoa booth, an 8.5-foot-tall reindeer, dancing snowman and a yard full of life-size nutcrackers, lollipops, and numerous other lit features. The display is lit nightly from 5 to 10 p.m.

Tinley Park

Blow Mold Nation, 17037 Creekside Ave, Tinley Park – Omg! Patrick Coyne’s magnificent “Blow Mold Nation” is back!. His display features 135 blow mold figurines in his yard, presided over by a 20-foot tall inflatable Santa. He keeps adding pieces every year and turns his kids’ play houses into display pieces. In addition to 10 new blow molds, he’s added some new light trees and a 15-foot elf to the mix.

Alpine Village House, 18031 Flamingo Drive, Tinley Park – Not only is Jason Deal’s Alpin village festive, you can learn stuff too, like a live ornament show on Saturdays and Sundays, where woodturners make wooden ornaments and occasionally tops for the kiddos. The Deal family also has free Alpine hot chocolate, coffee and cookies as well some things to take away at the Nativity booth. The Deals are partnering with the Salvation Army for cash donations, and are holding a coat drive, where neighbors who date a coat will get a new scarf. They also partner with Feline Fine Cat Rescue. Now we feel like yodeling.

16409 Surrey Drive, Tinley Park — All we can say is Tinley Park is one brightly lit village. Timothy Bartz’s yard twinkles like tinsel with his elegant archways and walls of lights. We especially love the trippy psychedelic daisy holograms.

Western Springs

5137 Grand Ave., Western Springs – Giant Santa is coming, and he’s landed on Kathleen Stark’s lawn. Kathleen sent us the very first submission for the 2025 tour o’ holiday lights, We this new trend of inflatables that dwarf the house.

DuPage County

Aurora

Aurora Symphony of Lights, 1293 Yellowpine Drive, Aurora – Woo whoo! Bobbie Seaberg’s magnificent, fun, dancing light show is back, featuring extremely upbeat, traditional music, and some just for the kids or kids at heart, located on the Kane County side of town. Two shows are set up to play on alternating days through New Year’s Day. Twinkles from 5 to 10ish. Check out their shows on Facebook.

Downers Grove

Winter Wonderland, 2308 College Road, Downers Grove – Diane Duncan’s whimsical holiday display has everything from inflatables and music for the family to enjoy to trees draped in white and blue lights. The yard twinkles from 5 to 9 p.m. daily through New Year’s Day, weather permitting for the inflatables. Diane tells us her whole block is crazy with lights. We love the big ornaments swinging from the trees.

Elmhurst

413 East Huntington Lane, Elmhurst – Dr. Seuss himself would love Glenn McCarthy’s Grinch-y display, comprised of wooden cutouts and an authentic thirty-nine-and-a-foot pole! There is a nice light display too. “The first year all I put out was the pole and with the sign. Only 1 in 10 got it. The second year, I added Grinch and Max. This year I added the presents and ornament to Grinch and Max, the growing heart X-ray and the roast beast feast.” This year Glenn has still added more stuff, including texts from songs and more lights. The Grinch will be passing out treats to the little Who's that come by from 7:30-8:30 on Saturdays. We’re still laughing about the 39-and-a-half-foot pole.

Roselle

Lights on Wildwood, 55 Wildwood Drive, Roselle – Ray Aviles’ festive Christmas light display featuring thousands of twinkling lights, colorful decorations, and cheerful inflatables. “Our home is fully lit from roofline to yard, creating a bright and joyful holiday scene for all ages. We place candy canes throughout the display for kids to eat and enjoy. We also take canned goods and non-perishable items to donate to the food pantry.”

Winfield

Mr. Holiday’s House, 0N068 Robbins St., Winfield – Ryan and Bridget’s massive collection of vintage blow molds twinkle in last week’s snow. Kids ask their parents to drive by their winter wonderland. More decorations are added when the weather warms up. Ryan does some type of display for most major holidays, but Christmas is the showstopper. He’s got lots of mini-scenes/ sections this year: Candy Cane Lane, the Penguin patch, Christmas Choir, the toy soldier (military honors) display, the Nativity, and Santa & his Reindeer in a few different sections, including on the roof. “My husband just loves to decorate and has really gotten into vintage blow molds for all the holidays, but especially Christmas.”

McHenry County

1489 Woodscreek Circle in Crystal Lake – Michael Libricz says he has been setting up his light show in his yard over the past 15 years. drive-by Christmas light display at a home in Crystal Lake allows you to pick your own song selections to listen to while his lights dance to the music. The display is beamed on P10 panels in the upper window and an 800-pixel matrix on the garage door as well as several "behind the scene" things, Libricz said. A website has also been launched where you can choose the songs played while you are at the display.

Will County

Bolingbrook

253 Laurie Circle, Bolingbrook

North Pole Wonderland, 356 Sherwood Court, Bolingbrook – The twinkling star and northern lights illuminate Christmas town as Mr. and Mrs. Claus and the elves ready Santa's sleigh for his flight. Even Frosty, the toy soldiers and North Pole bears have joined in to lend a hand in Jennifer Borovicka-Zawitaj’s timeless Holiday display. It’s like watching “Miracle On 34th Street” for the very first time.

493 Bradford Place, Bolingbrook – Kay Shelton Kozak and her family have decked three sides of their house on a curved corner lot. Come see an eclectic mix of old and new lights and a Nativity scene. Over the years we acquired hand-me-downs from relatives and after-Christmas clearance items. With a house on a curved street, decorations extend on three sides of the house and in the windows. There is plenty of parking across the street. Take a walk to see if you can find the star shape that forms in the arch across the sidewalk.

Channahon

26158 Oakridge Court, Channahon – Jerry Kosek’s over-the-top display has video projections, animations, moving lights, lasers, pixels and lights synced to music. We love Jerry’s song selections as well, including the comical Family Guy intro, Giving In The Name Of (Rage Against The Machine parody), Grinch and Hot Chocolate. Tune to 106.9 FM, Don’t forget to take a bell and ticket for the kids from the North Pole express mailbox. Hours from 6 to 10 p.m.

Joliet

Candy Cane Cottage, 307 Stryker Ave, Joliet – Aaron Green’s holiday display glistens with sweetness.

Lockport

1226 Will Drive, Lockport – David Ingvardsen’s stunning display rivals the Las Vegas strip in terms of brightness.

“Christmas on the Corner,” 731 Warbler Lane, New Lenox – Scott Holubek’s elegant display features a yard full of decorations with several themes – from an 8-foot tall Santa and Rudolph to Grinch and Frosty – personalized paintings and a large Christmas tree on both front and back of the house. The roof can be seen from blocks away.

Mokena

Mokena Lights, 19840 Yorkshire Drive, Mokena – This yard twinkles with Yuletide cheer.

New Lenox

1123 Green Glen Court, New Lenox – Come experience the magic of nearly 8,000 lights dancing in perfect synchronization to your favorite holiday tunes. Watch eight animated singing characters bring the music to life in a dazzling display for the whole family. Calling all Swifties for Taylor Tuesdays, featuring a Taylor Swift light show every 30 minutes. Come back for Wicked Wednesdays, for a wicked-themed spectacular runs every 30 minutes.

Oswego

701 N. Sparkle Court, Oswego – Scott Bialas puts on a 30-minute light show featuring more than 130,000 RGB lights perfectly synchronized to music—broadcast right to your car on 88.3 FM. The show starts at 4pm to 11pm daily. There are two different shows on alternating days. They have a 30-foot-high 40,000 pixel wall, with moving head spotlights. We love Creed singing 'Rudolph.' Catch them on Oswego Lights Facebook.

75 Wolf Road, Oswego — Lights, lights and more lights! Samantha Zangri and her neighbors make a special effort to get the block decorated for Christmas right after Thanksgiving, so you’re likely to see some cool lights. The Zangri family has decked out their corner lot with the traditional blow molds mixed in with inflatables, LED-lit trees, reindeer, soldiers and a few Santas scattered here and there. Lights twinkle from 4 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Plainfield

6504 Whalen Lane, Plainfield – Kevin Winquist’s display has officially grown out of control, with six sets of c9 bulbs on the trees and house that dance to music. Kevin and his family also have a Santa Letter Box, where kids can leave letters to Santa and get a reply back.

Chestnut Hill Lights, 1907 Chestnut Hill Road, Plainfield — There’s nothing we love more (besides vintage blow molds) than dancing lights. Eric Voelz’s beautiful display is set to holiday music, with some Bon Jovie, Taylor Swift and Journey thrown in. The lights change and move in sequence, along with two singing trees and an 18-foot Christmas tree. This year it's bigger and better. A variety of tunes from Christmas to rock have been added in 2025 including Bon Jovi, Imagine Dragons, Journey to Mariah Carey. Lights on daily from 5 to 10 p.m. Tune radio to 90.3 FM

25,000 Lights, 22654 Bass Lake Road, Plainfield – They sure go nuts for Christmas in Plainfield. Greg Colby’s yard is covered with over 25,000 lights.

25022 Blue Iris Court, Plainfield – Brian Huegel’s yard twinkles with Christmas cheer.

The Grinch’s Lair, 11329 Kristi Drive, Plainfield – JoLynn Andrews has created a virtual Grinch’s Lair. Watch out for the greasy, black banana peels. Lights run from 5.to 11 p.m.

493 Bradford Place, Bolingbrook – Kay Shelton Kozak and her family have decked three sides of their house on a curved corner lot. Come see an eclectic mix of old and new lights and a Nativity scene. Over the years we acquired hand-me-downs from relatives and after-Christmas clearance items. With a house on a curved street, decorations extend on three sides of the house and in the windows. There is plenty of parking across the street and take a walk to see if you can find the star shape that forms in the arch across the sidewalk.

Shorewood

102 Ridge Drive, Shorewood – Toin Liccardi’s house is draped with lights. The yard is bordered by candy canes and all sorts of lighted figurines.