Take a walk or a drive through the Chicago area's most stunning holiday light displays

Christmas is still weeks away, but somewhere between Halloween and Thanksgiving, large swaths of the city get decorated with millions of twinkling bulbs. If you’re ready to embrace the holiday season, you can begin checking out some of the displays this weekend, as events like ZooLights, Amaze Light Festival and Illumination begin welcoming guests. Plan your festive sightseeing with our guide to the most dazzling light displays in the city and the surrounding suburbs.

Even if you've got a bad case of the bah-humbugs, it's hard not to feel a bit of seasonal cheer when the city gets festooned with millions of twinkling bulbs as part of Chicago's best holiday light displays. Throughout December—and usually around half of November, too—you'll find indoor, outdoor and drive-through set-ups full of sparkling strings of lights, whether at Lincoln Park Zoo's famous ZooLights display or at various Christmas events in Chicago. And if you're searching for free things to do in Chicago, note that several of these displays are completely cost-free (though you might find your neighbors have some pretty cool DIY set-ups, in the event you're looking for something a little closer to home). Get a hefty dose of holiday spirit at these gorgeous displays of Christmas lights in Chicago.  full details