Wheaton has two big holiday light displays, and they work in opposite ways. At Cantigny, people who plan ahead pay less. Light Show tickets cost different amounts on different dates, every ticket has an entry time, and parking is free only if you bought your tickets in advance. Across town at Cosley Zoo, the Festival of Lights costs nothing and is open nearly every day of the season with no reservation.
That difference is the best way to plan the season. Book the Cantigny night now. Leave the Cosley Zoo trip for whatever evening turns out to be free, because admission there costs nothing.
Cantigny Charges Less to People Who Book Early
Christmas at Cantigny opens Friday, November 20, according to Cantigny's November events calendar. Cantigny's Light Show page says admission "varies by date" and that booking early saves money and gets you free parking, which it values at $11. On the planning page, the $11 fee applies to two groups: people who buy admission at the gate and people who come only to skate. If you decide on the drive over, you pay more for the same evening.
The entry times are strict. Light Show guests pick a time when they buy and should get to the Visitors Center on time or within 15 minutes after it. You can move to another date for a $5 fee per ticket plus any price difference, and there's no refund if the new date costs less. Cantigny is cashless and doesn't allow outside food or drinks during Christmas at Cantigny.
The weekly schedule matters too. The Light Show is generally open Wednesday through Sunday and closed Mondays and Tuesdays. It adds four extra nights around Christmas: Monday, December 21, Tuesday, December 22, Monday, December 28 and Tuesday, December 29. If relatives are visiting between the holidays, those four nights are the only weeknight openings early in the week.
Here's what you get for the advance planning, according to Cantigny's holiday page:
- A half-mile route through lit-up gardens, with displays set to music and a 28-foot Christmas tree
- More illuminated gardens and interactive features than last year
- McCormick House decorated for Christmas, with the hidden Freedom Hall bar inside for cocoa or a holiday cocktail
- Holiday gifts and Christmas at Cantigny merchandise at the Noël Shop in McCormick House Galleries A and B
- Cantigny-grown poinsettias and light bites at Le Jardin in the Visitors Center
Five Sunday nights run a different version of the show. On "A Marvelous Christmas!" nights, November 22 and 29 and December 6, 13 and 27, the lights are set to music inspired by superhero films. Every other open night has the classic holiday soundtrack. If your group cares which version it sees, check the date before you buy.
Groups of more than 20 get 10% off Light Show tickets for entry times after 6:30 p.m. Santa Brunch is scheduled for December 6 and December 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with reservations at Tribune Hall in the Cantigny Golf Clubhouse.
The Rink Is the Part of Cantigny You Can Just Show Up For
Cantigny's ice rink works more like the walk-in events. It opens November 20, and you pay admission and rent skates on site. Skating costs $7, skate rental is $3, spectators get in free, and skaters sign a waiver on the day they visit. If you're only skating, add the $11 parking fee.
The rink's hours are longer than the gardens' hours:
| Day | Ice rink hours |
|---|---|
| Monday and Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday through Friday | 4 to 9 p.m. |
| Saturday | 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Sunday | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
The Cocoa Cabanas take you back to booking ahead. The Warm Wishes package costs $150 plus a $150 food-and-beverage minimum, and the Party package costs $375 with no minimum. Each reservation lasts two hours, and Cantigny recommends them for groups of up to 10.
Daytime hours change during the holiday season. The gardens and grounds are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through November 15, Wednesday through Monday. From November 18 through January 3, they're open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. On New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, Cantigny is open for ice skating and Cocoa Cabanas only.
Cosley Zoo's Lights Are Free and Open Most Days
On the north side of town at 1356 N. Gary Ave., the Wheaton Park District runs the Festival of Lights and Tree Sale at Cosley Zoo from Thanksgiving weekend through December 30. The zoo is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the lights come on at 3 p.m. The Park District's event page lists admission as free, and all proceeds go to Cosley Zoo. Along with thousands of lights, the festival sells Christmas trees, wreaths and greenery, plus hot chocolate and gifts at the Wild Side Gift Shop.
That makes it the easy option for a weeknight. Admission is free, and the event page lists no entry times. Since the lights come on at 3, a short visit after school works. Hours are shorter on December 24 and 31, 9 a.m. to noon, and the zoo is closed December 25 and January 1.
Santa's Craft Corner at Cosley Zoo works the same way. It runs November 28, December 5 and December 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with crafts, refreshments and a visit from Santa. It costs $20 per household at the door, and you don't need to register.
A few Park District events do need a sign-up. Santa's Workshop on December 14 at the Toohey Park Building, 1900 Orchard Rd., has sessions from 9 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 3 p.m. for ages 4 to 6. It costs $36 for residents and $45 for nonresidents. The Park District events calendar also lists a holiday train ride with Santa on December 10 for $35, followed by a visit to the DuPage County Historical Museum, and Gingerbread House Night the same day for $25 to $31.
Downtown Has a Night of Its Own Before Cantigny Opens
Downtown Wheaton's main holiday evening comes the night before Cantigny opens. The Downtown Wheaton Association's Holiday Wander Sip & Shop is Thursday, November 19, from 5 to 9 p.m.
The outdoor Wheaton French Market is wrapping up. It's at the pavilion near Liberty Drive and Main Street from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the City of Wheaton lists Saturday, November 28 as the last market of the season. That's the same Saturday as the first Santa's Craft Corner at Cosley Zoo. One morning covers the last market and Santa, and dinner can wait until Cantigny's lights come on.
Downtown dining has changed since summer. Dough and The Backyard renamed its restaurant space Front Street Kitchen and dropped its pizza-focused menu for modern American food. The Backyard sports bar didn't change. The owners described the new spot to Wheaton Patch as "a modern American tavern built around approachable food, thoughtful drinks, and a warm neighborhood feel." La Plaza Taqueria opened in late summer at 421 Town Square Wheaton, in the former Nothing Bundt Cake space, according to Patch. Hale Street Cantina at 109 N. Hale St. served its last dinner on October 11 after six years, Patch reported.
The Season by Date
- Thursday, November 19: Holiday Wander Sip & Shop downtown, 5 to 9 p.m.
- Friday, November 20: Christmas at Cantigny and the ice rink open. Booking needed for the Light Show and Cocoa Cabanas.
- Sunday, November 22: First "A Marvelous Christmas!" night at Cantigny. Booking needed.
- Thanksgiving weekend: Cosley Zoo Festival of Lights opens. Free.
- Saturday, November 28: Final Wheaton French Market and the first Santa's Craft Corner at Cosley Zoo, $20 per household at the door.
- December 6 and 12: Santa Brunch at Cantigny. Booking needed.
- December 10: Santa train ride and Gingerbread House Night through the Park District. Sign-up needed.
- December 14: Santa's Workshop at Toohey Park Building. Sign-up needed.
- December 21, 22, 28 and 29: Extra Monday and Tuesday Light Show nights at Cantigny.
- December 30: Last day of the Cosley Zoo Festival of Lights.
The Park District is also building something for later in the winter. Construction on a year-round, covered, 24-bay Toptracer driving range at Arrowhead Golf Club started September 8. The old range and chipping green are closed for the rest of 2026, and the Wheaton Park District expects the new facility to open in February 2027.
At The Kelly Schmidt Group, we keep track of Wheaton's calendar along with its market, because both affect when to make a move. If you're planning to list in the new year, we can walk you through your home's value over cocoa and well before spring. Get a Free Home Valuation and start the new year knowing where you stand.
