Chicago Botanic Garden Lightscape — Attraction in New Trier Township

We've been coming to Lightscape dating back to when it first came to Chicago Botanic Gardens. Over the years, we have watched this creative, innovative event diminish to a commoditized, predictable, dull, overpriced experience. I would have given it 1 star for that alone, but there were a couple exhibits that were fun and warranted more stars, but the overall experience was so many deviations away from the earlier years it gets 2 stars at best.

I agree with the other review about the loud, pop choice of Christmas music at some of the displays; clearly they are trying to appeal to a different audience. The right choice of holiday music is essential to the experience and for half the exhibits it was a miss.

The light exhibits were nowhere near differentiated enough from one exhibit to another and lacking creativity. For example, they tried to "wow" us with these two displays that were just concert spot lights swinging around when compared to years past there was something truly spectacular to look at.

In addition, for the past couple years they have closed off the deck overlooking the lake where they used to have fire-pits, food vendors; you could enjoy the view and warm up there and that in itself was an artistic showcase...one year they had these disco balls all over the deck...I am so disappointed by this attempt to cheapen the experience and assume we won't notice or care about the difference that I'm also writing the board to challenge them to not accept this ridiculous display in the future without it being brought up to Chicago Botanic Garden (its members and patrons) standards. I am surprised by the number of 5 star reviews...those people must not have been to Lightscape in the early years or they too would see the cheap, money-making thing it has become. It has lost what made it special. We do...

My visit here for lightscape was wonderful. I decided at the last minute to get a membership just because I know it is a place I will go back to at least 3 times within the year. From the start it was a good decision, when I bought my tickets for lightscape and pre paid parking, you have to purchase both I saved a few dollars, pre paid parking is a must. As a member when I got there there were two lines for parking. Members and non members. The non-members line was packed. The members line was empty, so I just drove up, showed my ticket on my phone and drove on in. Remember where you parked, the first time there at night can get tricky. All I heard on my way out was people hitting their car alarms to find their car. I was one of them lol. I got to the booth to scan my other ticket and I was in. I would suggest dressing warm, and take your time through the walk. You walk up a hill ( it's no problem for people who need help with walking) down hills, plenty of places to sit along the way. Bathroom and port of potty stops are also along the trail. I would suggest going to the bathroom right after you get scanned in. The bathroom is right there, . places to get hot drinks are scattered throughout the Walk.the People were pleasant, kids enjoying themselves it was a wonderful way to kill a few hours. Now how long is the walk through is up to you. By me taking videos and pictures, waiting for a gap between crowds. It took me a few hours. It didn't feel like it, plus I wasn't in no rush. But I'll say 30 to 45 minutes. If you are thinking about it, I'll just say go. You won't regret it. Pre pay for tickets for parking and attendance. Don't rush, and just walk through and enjoy the lights and the music that...

I went in with mildly high expectations from good reviews my friends had given of past years, but honestly I was quite disappointed by this event.

The Lightscape features multiple installations by different groups spread out across the gardens, and some, mostly those set up by SquidSoup were wonderful -- their exhibitions were beautiful moving light shows with ambient instrumental music the lights followed along to. Unfortunately, most of the other the installations featured blaring mall-type Christmas music so loud it was honestly hard to sit and appreciate the lights themselves. I suppose I was expecting more of an ambient night walk like the recent Night of 1000 Jack-O-Lanterns. I felt the music playing through most of the walk detracted heavily from the light show experience of the... light show, & I would've appreciated a much calmer experience focused on the lights than...