Winter in Chicago might be chilly and loaded with snow, yet Christmas in Chicago makes it worth the visit. With regards to real unique festivals, Chicago is constantly preposterous.The city runs hard and fast in late spring with significant firecracker shows, while amid the winter, the Windy City is enlightened, and the stores have great window shows. There is something extraordinary about Christmas in Chicago. Apart from visiting the locations with Christmas events and displays, there are many more things to do in Chicago at Christmas. So, this Christmas season, pack your bags and head to Chicago.
Top Places To Celebrate Christmas In Chicago
The various Chicago Christmas events and customs please the senses and excite your holiday calendar. Comment on this vivid season with Chicago’s Christmas events and welcome the season with the proper cheer:
1. Christkindlmarket
If you want to do something on Christmas day in Chicago, head to Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. The market turns into a beautiful European Christmas town loaded with red-and-white hovels canvassed in twinkling Chicago Christmas lights and wreaths. Numerous sellers flaunt handmade decorations, cuckoo-tickers, nutcrackers, toys, and more.
The Festival Tents and the Grand Timber House allow guests to warm up, take a seat, and appreciate delectable sustenance and beverages such as potato hotcakes, German lager, and spiced wine. This 37-day occasion also includes live bands and the Children’s Lantern Parade. Experience this one-of-a-kind occasion scene at the core of downtown Chicago!
Dates: November 22nd to December 24th, 2024
Timing: 11 am to 8 pm (Sunday to Thursday) and 11 am to 9 pm (Friday to Saturday)
Things To Do: Enjoy the Christmas Market in Chicago, taste the local Christmas food
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2. The Mile Lights Festival
This festival offers family-accommodating exercises for two days free of charge. The festival comes full circle in a night tree-lighting march along North Michigan Avenue. Enjoy many beautiful Christmas events in Chicago for a pleasant vacation.
The fascinating event of this festival is the presence of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, who lead the procession. The celebration starts at Lights Festival Lane on Friday evening and proceeds for the day on Saturday. Group top choices, the Cheesecake Company, Eli’s, Garrett Popcorn, and more, will return on Christmas in Chicago 2024, along with Santa Claus.
Dates: November 23rd, 2024
Timing: 4 pm to 8 pm (Friday) and 11 am to 4 pm (Saturday)
Things To Do: Enjoy the procession, taste the best cheesecake in Chicago
3. City of Chicago Christmas Tree
Deborah Orth and her family gave a 48-year-old, 60-foot Christmas tree weighing 8200 pounds the City of Chicago’s 105th Christmas tree. You will find the Christmas tree location in Chicago at Millennium Park, where the City of Chicago commemorates Christmas Tree Lighting.
This exceedingly foreseen occasion draws individuals of any age to see the sparkling tree set among Chicago’s shimmering horizon and Millennium Park’s notable craftsmanship and design. The function will begin around 6 pm with the Chicago Christmas lights at Washington Street and Michigan Avenue.
Dates: November 16, 2024
Timing: At 6 pm
Things To Do: Visit the infamous Christmas tree, visit Christmas fair and markets
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4. Lincoln Park Zoo
The 24th release will illuminate the grounds with over two million lights, including overwhelmingly lit-up structures. This unique festival transforms Lincoln Park’s zoo into a winter fairyland famous all over the USA—occasion artworks, exercises, and sweet treats round out the good times.
Make sure to visit Santa Claus at the Helen Brach Primate House. You can ride the Lionel Train Adventure through the snowy woods and jagged ravine. On the other hand, go ice skating past goats and horses at the Farm in the Zoo.
Dates: November 22, 2024 to January 06, 2025
Time: 4.30 pm to 9 pm
Things To Do: Enjoy ice skating, ride the Lionel Train
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5. St. Lucia festival of lights
Chicago’s Andersonville was first settled as a Swedish cultivating network after the 1871 Great Fire when Swedish enclaves on the close north side of Chicago moved further to the north side. Today, Andersonville still distinctions its Swedish conventions while facilitating a lively, different network with numerous societies.
The Swedish American Museum initiates a candlelight parade on the North Side of Andersonville along Clark Street in this festival. This parade is based on Swedish culture and roots. The extraordinarily picked “Lucia Girls” drive the parade wearing white robes and embellished with lovely crowns of candles. They sing “The Lucia Song” and welcome people to participate in their walk. A while later, celebrate at the gallery with family-accommodating amusement and many Christmas activities in Chicago.
Dates: December 13, 2024
Timing: 4:45 pm to 7:00 pm
Things To Do: Sing Christmas carols, visit the gallery to try out various Christmas activities
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6. Winter WonderFest
It is one of Chicago’s most extraordinary, significant, and best indoor play areas. Stuffed with family fun, Fifth Third Bank Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier is a dearest yearly Chicago winter occasion.
This year, it will be the 17th yearly celebration, including 170,000 square feet of fair rides, merry-go-round, occasion-themed activities, Ice Skating, and giant slides, and the stylistic layout is similarly as staggering as the perspectives. Monstrous snowflakes and a large number of icicle lights dangle from the roof. Come and experience the city’s most magnificent indoor winter play area and join the massive number of families who have made it a piece of their yearly occasion custom!
Dates: November 30, 2024, to January 06, 2025
Time: From 10 am daily
Things To Do: Visit the indoor play areas, enjoy with your families
7. Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic
Celebrating its 39th year, Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic is Chicago’s biggest lights celebration, featuring one million twinkling lights throughout the rural zoo. You will find energized light shows and a video light show; creature displays that stay open into the night, and zoo eateries and gift shops.
Appreciate a full calendar of live diversion, singing to the creatures, proficient ice-cutting exhibitions, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, magic and train shows, a 38-foot talking tree, costumed characters, and a model train show. Visitors can encounter lights all through the zoo while visiting their most loved creatures.
Dates: December 01 to December 31, 2024
Time: 9:30 am to 6:00 pm
Things To Do: Enjoy a video light show, visit the zoo
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8. One of a Kind Holiday Show
It is an exciting alternative to customary retail and a fun place to discover one-of-a-kind presents for everybody on your vacation list. It is currently in its eighteenth year and is one of Chicago’s most beloved Christmas stores. More than 600 non-mainstream specialists from North America bring their creative, handcrafted things to the mart.
Prepare to peruse a wide variety of media and classes, including earthenware kitchenware, adornments, reused paper, home enrichments, vast amounts of design, from warm fleece caps to travel-roused scarves in big prints, gourmet treats, furniture, children’s stuff, gems, pet items, painting, and much more. Talk with the craftsmen and see craftsman showings, watch design shows, and tune in to unrecorded music.
Dates: December 05 to December 09, 2024
Timing: 11 am to 8 pm
Things To Do: Visit the cutesy Christmas stores, enjoy design shows
9. Macy’s Christmas Windows
Macy’s window displays are exciting and festive and amuse people during the festive season. Other than the Chicago Christmas lights, these window displays are one of Chicago’s Christmas events of 2024 that people look forward to.
Christmas shopping in Chicago can be done here, too, as Macy’s chocolate shop has the best treats to give away as holiday gifts. It is one of the best things to do for Christmas in Chicago.
Date: November 1, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Timing: All day long
Things To Do: Go Christmas shopping, enjoy a delightful Christmas dinner
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With seasonal happiness spread over each region, road, and building, it is magical to celebrate Christmas in Chicago. It is the primary season when you can taste a cup of spiced wine underneath the Picasso statue, sing hymns, and visit the Walnut Room tree at Macy’s. Follow the above guide and fill your trip to Chicago with the season’s warmth and joy.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas In Chicago
What is Chicago known best for?
If you are visiting Chicago for the first time, some of the things that this city has to offer are Chicago-style hot dogs and deep-dish pizza along with a great jazz music scene that you can explore.
What is there to do in Chicago in December?
In December, one can see the Zoolights at the Lincoln Park Zoo and go ice skating at Millennium Park in Chicago.
Is Chicago a good place to visit for Christmas?
A winter paradise with sparkling lights, joyful music, and warm get-togethers! The windy metropolis of Chicago provides the ideal fusion of big-city wonder and seasonal charm if you're wondering what to do there for Christmas.
How does Chicago celebrate Christmas?
The city is a hive of activity and seasonal festivities every winter. In addition to admiring sparkling light displays, you may go ice skating while taking in views of the cityscape, shop for presents in a quaint neighbourhood store or pop-up market, see a holiday performance at a magnificent downtown theatre, and much more.
Does Chicago have Christmas markets?
Chicago has a fantastic variety of holiday markets, from traditional Christmas markets with vintage wares to artisan pop-ups with stylish handmade goods. Customers have various options, including enormous outdoor bazaars like the well-known Christkindlmarket Chicago, cultural events, and cosy neighbourhood markets.
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Ekta believes that unless you are not riding on a wave you are not living at all. She is a foodie and loves binge-watching Game of Thrones. When she’s not living her dream you can find her in the kitchen cooking.
