Frostlights is the transformation of Yerkes into a winter galaxy of light and sound inside the architectural masterpiece and 280,000 lb. dome housing the world’s largest lens telescope. This holiday program is the first of its kind in the 130-year history of Yerkes. Even if you’ve seen the massive telescope in the famous dome a hundred times, the light and music show transfigures the 12,000 lb. tube and exquisite masonry into a wholly new disposition of winter wavelengths and snowy soundscapes.
The central floor of the observatory has holiday shopping and treats, winter activities for families, and a custom-painted photo backdrop by legendary artist Neal Aspinall. We have a beer and wine bar that takes you into a world of kitsch and vintage winter memorabilia and ephemera. Kids will love it, too!
The Ann M. Drake Family Library is awash in winter light and features an inspiring tribute to Edwin Frost, the director at Yerkes from 1905 to 1932. A plethora of surprises are around every corner as you travel through varying hues and movements of light coalescing in the architectural splendor and whimsy of the observatory’s design.
We have teamed with internationally-influential lighting and visual designers, Lightswitch. They’ve created experiences for Disney, Apple, Morton Arboretum, Hans Zimmer, Paul McCartney, and museums and musicians around the globe. Our one-of-a-kind light components are designed by Upstaging who fabricate lights and build shows for the Rolling Stones, Lana’i Ocean Theater, Pearl Jam, the Museum of Science and Industry, and more. Noteworthy film score composers have written music specifically for this show.
Along with Yerkes’ own artists and astronomers, we have collectively created an uplifting, winter program unlike any holiday light experience seen before. Seeing the Sharon and Charles Angell Historic Refractor and the “wintering” of the interior of Yerkes in this new light and decoration will hopefully be a highlight of your holiday season!
EXPERIENCE DETAILS:
a) Your ticket is for an hour and a half time slot. You must come during that time frame.
b) There are only 50 tickets available per time slot for a more curated experience. Slots will sell out quickly.
c) The light experience in the Dome is twenty minutes long. It will run at the :15 and :45 of each time slot. As an example, if you have a 4pm ticket, you can arrive at 4pm. The Dome show will start at 4:15pm and again at 4:45pm. You will have until 5:30pm for your total holiday experience throughout the observatory.
d) Parking is ON SITE at Yerkes. Because of the limited parking spaces, you must arrive for your time slot only. Please don’t buy a 5pm ticket and show up at 7pm. There’s a science to this!
e) Though the central floor of the Observatory is heated, the Dome is not. Bring your coat.
f) We have a beer and wine bar, as well as non-alcoholic drinks. Anyone wishing to buy and consume alcohol must be 21 years old and have a valid form of identification.
g) The windows of the Dome will be blacked out, so the earlier time slots will have the same experience as the later ones.
f) Tickets are $30 for adults ages 18 and up. Kids ages 5-17 are $17. Kids 4 and below are $4. Everyone will have a seat in the Dome.