The vacation season kicks off early in Chicago, supplying you with loads of time to get pleasure from probably the most fantastic time of the 12 months within the Windy City. When I visited Chicago in November, I used to be shocked to seek out so many enjoyable Christmas in Chicago occasions and actions all through town.
I like when cities shine and sparkle at Christmas time. There is one thing about seeing the bushes embellished, popping into Christmas markets, and testing the vacation store home windows that simply places me within the temper for Christmas (and Hanukkah).
I’ve been to London, NYC, Philadelphia, and lots of different locations alongside the East Coast throughout the holidays, however I beforehand hadn’t considered Chicago as a giant vacation vacation spot. I used to be pleasantly shocked to participate in so many favourite vacation occasions that Chicagoans maintain pricey and get to expertise town differently (and temperature) than I had throughout my summer season go to throughout our midwest highway journey.
13 Christmas in Chicago Events & Activities
My latest journey to Chicago was hosted by CityPASS and Choose Chicago to expertise the Windy City’s favourite vacation occasions. We had been hosted on the Four Seasons Chicago. All opinions are my very own.
Here are a few of the hottest issues to do for the vacations in Chicago:
1. Attend the Official Chicago Tree Lighting
In NYC, everybody makes the pilgrimage to see “The Tree” in Rockefeller Center. In Chicago, the well-known tree is in Millennium Park. The official nice tree lighting occurs in November (test the Choose Chicago web site for dates), but it surely stays lit all through the Christmas season. The tree lighting contains performances by particular visitors and introductions by native officers to deliver the vacation magic.
After performances, the huge tree is lit, adopted by fireworks and Christmas Caroling at Cloud Gate (also referred to as “The Bean.”) Caroling on the Bean additionally takes place all through the vacation season. While you might be there, remember to take some vacation selfies at The Bean.
If you wish to attend the tree lighting, I might advocate arriving early to get a main spot, simply don’t be shocked by avenue closures within the space. Even if you happen to aren’t there for the official tree-lighting ceremonies, you possibly can nonetheless see the tree all through the season.
2. Learn About Christmas Around the World at MSI
From mid-November via early January, the Museum of Science and Industry brings “Christmas Around the World” and “Holidays of Light” to Chicago with a pageant of bushes. In addition to the 45-foot Grand Tree within the Rotunda, there are additionally 50 smaller bushes that signify totally different cultures and vacation traditions from all over the world.
I beloved all the varied bushes to signify totally different international locations. I used to be additionally appreciative of the inclusion of different seasonal celebrations reminiscent of Diwali, Kwanza, Hanukkah, and Winter Solstice. If you hang around by the Grand Tree lengthy sufficient, it’s also possible to expertise some indoor “snow.”
3. Attend Illuminate 900
The 900 North Michigan Shops has an elaborate tree lighting ceremony throughout its Illuminate 900 occasion that basically places you into the vacation spirit. A 50-foot tall tree holds middle courtroom throughout the illumination and is surrounded by seasonal delights like sugar-cookie adorning, stay vacation performances, and the choice to take an “Elfie” with The Real Elf.
Tickets to the occasion might be bought on-line.
4. Catch a Parade
Yes, Chicago has an exquisite Thanksgiving Day parade, however even sooner than that the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival kicks off the vacation season with the annual Lights Festival parade, town’s largest nighttime parade. When I attended, Minnie and Mickey Mouse kicked issues off they usually had been adopted by marching bands, big helium balloons, floats from native companies like Garrett Popcorn, and different performers.
As the parade progresses alongside the route, over one million lights are lit alongside Michigan Avenue. The parade wraps up with an look from Santa Claus, after all, adopted by fireworks over the river.
If you need a front-row area to view the parade, you will have to get there very early and remember to gown very warmly (time to interrupt out that hand and toe heaters!)
5. Have Lunch within the Walnut Room
Macy’s is a must-do cease when visiting Chicago for the vacations. This former Marshall Fields division retailer on State Street has a few of the better-decorated vacation home windows and the vacation decor on sale on the Seventh Floor is to not be beat.
But one of many beloved Chicago traditions is a vacation meal within the Walnut Room on the Seventh Floor of Macy’s. From the time of the Giant Tree lighting via early January, The Walnut Room ushers within the holidays with a festive meal.
6. Shop the Chicago Christmas Market
From mid-November via Christmas Eve, Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago converts into a conventional vacation market, primarily based on the vacation markets in Nuremberg, Germany.
The Chicago Christkindlmarket does a very good job of maintaining the market genuine with many German artisans displaying their wares, together with ornaments, knit hats, cuckoo clocks, and different handicrafts. You also can get pleasure from spiced wine, strudel, sausages, roasted nuts, scorching cocoa, heat apple cider, and different conventional treats. You should buy a memento mug and obtain discounted refills (12 months after 12 months.)
The Chicago Christkindlmarket has been a practice for over 20 years so anticipate it to get very crowded, particularly on the weekends. You will most likely wish to get there early to keep away from the crowds, in any other case, you possibly can anticipate lengthy strains on the stalls.
7. Enjoy ZooLights on the Lincoln Park Zoo
There are many enjoyable locations to seek out Christmas bushes, vacation lights, and enjoyable for the vacations across the Chicago space together with ZooLights on the Lincoln Park Zoo. From mid-November via January 1st, Lincoln Park Zoo celebrates the vacations with ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ.
ZooLights options photographs with Santa (via December 23), lots of of themed shows with 3D and LED lights all throughout zoo grounds, stay ice carving (Fridays and Saturdays solely), Christmas carolers (Sundays solely, earlier than Dec. 25), a vacation pop-up bar with heat spiced wine, frosty beers, and festive drink specials, together with scrumptious vacation snacks. There are additionally ticketed points of interest such because the Light Maze Presented by Invesco QQQ that includes a beautifully-lit path designed to get you into the vacation spirit.
8. Attend Illumination: Tree Lights at Morton Arboretum
Those looking for vacation cheer can discover the 50 acres of Morton Arboretum’s majestic bushes throughout the Illumination: Tree Lights occasion that takes place from mid-November via the primary week of January. This one-of-a-kind spectacle of colour, gentle, and sound options six dazzling new lights shows in addition to returning favorites.
Guests stroll alongside a one-mile paved path amid festive music and lighting results and may later heat up by a crackling fireplace and roast marshmallows for s’mores, or cease in one of many concession tents for a snack and beverage. Adults also can get pleasure from a late-night expertise throughout Electric Illumination, which options a mixture of trance and progressive home music, synchronized to the breathtaking gentle shows.
9. Go Ice Skating
If you might be prepared to courageous the chilly, there are a couple of locations within the metropolis the place you possibly can go ice skating. The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park presents nice views of town skyline and “The Bean” (aka Cloud Gate.) The finest information? Admission is free (you simply must pay to hire skates if you happen to want them or you possibly can deliver your personal ice skates.)
More superior skaters will benefit from the distinctive expertise of skating on the Maggie Daley Skating Ribbon. This ribbon curves its approach via Maggie Daley Park, with inclines and declines alongside the best way. Admission can be free. Just needless to say the floor requires an extra-long time to resurface and can end result within the ice closing for the Zamboni for an hour or extra so test the schedule upfront.
10. Light Up the Lake at Navy Pier
During the vacations, Navy Pier Lights up the Lake with Chicagoland’s largest indoor lights expertise. From late November to early January, you possibly can expertise the magic with interactive gentle shows, a whimsical skating rink, journeys via the birch tree maze, visits with Santa, and extra.
Light up the Lake options greater than 600,000 lights and outsized sculptures with vacation and toy field themes, together with an enormous Teddy Bear, a deer hovering 25 ft, a 60-foot gentle tunnel, and a 40-foot tree. Guests can take a spin on the indoor Alpine ice rink (skates can be found for no cost) or interact in a few of the different enjoyable particular occasions and points of interest just like the Roseaux interactive artwork set up, and birch tree forest maze, and use their magic wands (not included) to seek out and work together with 30 totally different magic objects all through the occasion.
11. Take a Tour
There are various totally different vacation lights excursions, together with a Trolley Tour, Segway tour, dinner cruises, and strolling excursions. However, if you wish to mix just a little historical past with vacation cheer, take a look at the “Drinks, Daleys, and Dead Guys” strolling tour from Chicago Detours.
This strolling tour is basically indoors and contains a few drinks for some vacation cheer. You begin off with the Tom and Jerry cocktail on the historic Miller’s Pub, find out how Mayor Richard J. Daley saved the Christmas parade, and cease into Macy’s Walnut Room for a have a look at the tree. The tour finally ends up simply exterior of the Christkindlmarket.
12. Ride the CTA Holiday Train
Santa and the CTA welcome riders aboard each the Allstate CTA Holiday Train and the favored Allstate CTA Holiday Bus. Each automobile of the practice is wrapped with vacation and seasonal photographs together with hundreds of twinkling lights that define the form of the practice and home windows, with extra lights working throughout the tops of the automobiles. Santa waves to riders from his sleigh on an open-air flatcar carrying his reindeer and embellished vacation bushes.
The CTA Holiday Train delivers pleasure and the vacation spirit to hundreds of riders, but it surely additionally delivers meals baskets to numerous charitable companies all through town.
13. See a Show
There are over 200 theaters in Chicago, unfold out between neighborhoods with every thing from huge Broadway productions like Hamilton to smaller theater troupes.
The vacation season brings household favorites reminiscent of Charles Dickens’s traditional story of A Christmas Carol, the Joffrey Ballet’s efficiency of The Nutcracker, Elf, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Cirque Dreams Holidaze, and Mannheim Steamroller. Families might also like The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party on the Chicago Children’s Theatre on the Station.
14. Imbibe at a Holiday Pop-up Bar
During the vacations, a lot of Chicago’s favourite bars and eating places rework into full-blown winter wonderlands with vacation decorations, seasonal cocktails, festive meals specials, and loads of picture opps. A number of not-to-be-missed embody Santa Baby at Deuce’s in Wrigleyville, 8 Crazy Nights on the Graystone Tavern, Reindoor Room at Tack Room, Rudolph’s Christmas Bar at Casey Morans, and Jack’s Winter Walk and Christmas Tree Farm on Goose Island.
Where to Stay in Chicago for Christmas
Note: This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks. If you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I could obtain a small fee. All opinions are my very own.
There are so many fabulous inns in Chicago, but it surely actually helps to be centrally positioned close to the Magnificent Mile. My good friend Kirsten additionally has a fantastic information for the place to remain in Chicago with children.
Four Seasons Chicago
For this vacation journey, I used to be hosted on the Four Seasons Chicago, on E. Delaware Place close to North Michigan Avenue. As all the time with the Four Seasons, the service was excellent and the rooms had been luxurious and cozy.
I had a lake-view room on the thirty sixth flooring with wonderful views of Lake Michigan and the Hancock Building. It was so cozy to return after a chilly night out, curl up in my gown below layers of covers, and gaze out on the lovely evening skyline.
I like the Four Seasons for households as a result of they actually roll out the purple carpet for his or her youngest visitors. At check-in, children will use the particular step stool to register on the desk. They then obtain a Sammy the Skyscraper Passport booklet. Throughout their keep, they will full an exercise on the spa, restaurant, bell desk, and so forth. to obtain a stamp. A full passport earns them free ice cream!
Children additionally obtain a alternative of toy from the treasure chest at check-in, a particular welcome amenity, a child’s “shoe shine” service (which returns their footwear with a particular Four Seasons appeal and new shoelaces), and selfie frames on the entrance desk. Plus, they’ve entry to the Kids Clubroom that includes foosball, air hockey, Nintendo Wii, books, and toys, in addition to the 50-foot indoor pool (featured in Home Alone 2).
The Gwen
If you wish to be a bit extra centrally positioned, Hannah and I used Marriott factors to remain at The Gwen, a Luxury Collection property on our midwest highway journey. The vibe was luxurious however hip, undoubtedly not a stuffy luxurious lodge, but additionally not fairly as kid-friendly feeling because the Four Seasons. Still, the rooms had been spacious and really well-appointed and designed.
We each beloved how quiet it was at The Gwen and actually loved the posh facilities. We solely had breakfast on the lodge, because it was included as Marriott Platinum Elite members. The location of the Gwen was excellent for strolling to the theater, outlets, and Millennium Park.
For the vacations, The Gwen has launched an iceless Curling Rink and Curling Cabin on the fifth-floor Upstairs of the Gwen. The lodge’s out of doors terrace is reworked right into a seasonally splendid winter getaway.
The custom-designed, iceless Curling Rink presents visitors to attempt their hand on the winter sport that originates from Scotland, during which gamers slide stones on a sheet of ice or a lane in direction of a goal.
Additionally, the custom-made wood Curling Cabin presents respite from the chilly, the place visitors can cozy up by the electrical hearth and benefit from the Alpine-inspired menu from Executive Chef Matt Jergens and heat winter cocktails from The Gwen’s beverage crew. Reservations for the Curling Rink and Cabin can be found by way of OpenTable.
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