Here’s what to know about some of the city’s most popular wintertime traditions.
The Chicago Classics:
Christkindlmarket: The boot mugs are back! From Nov. 22-Dec. 24, the annual German market returns to Daley Plaza and Aurora’s RiverEdge Park. There won’t be a Wrigleyville location this year, however, due to the NHL Winter Classic, organizers said. The game is set for New Year’s Eve at Wrigley Field.
Trees: Visit the official Chicago Christmas Tree (Nov. 22-Jan. 8) in Millennium Park. This year’s tree is a 53-foot Colorado blue spruce from Logan Square; a tree-lighting ceremony is set for Nov. 22. Inside the Walnut Room at Macy’s on State Street you’ll find the Great Tree, a 45-foot tree that hangs from the ceiling (Nov. 2-Jan. 12). No worries if you can’t get a Walnut Room reservation; there’s a selfie spot outside the restaurant with a view of the tree.
Ice Skating: There are a number of ice skating options in and around Chicago, including McCormick Tribune Ice Rink (Nov. 15-Feb. 2), Maggie Daley Park (Nov. 15-March 9), Parkway Bank Park (Nov. 23-Jan. 26) and select Chicago Park District locations throughout the city.
Parades: Grand Marshals Mickey and Minnie Mouse lead the nation’s largest nighttime parade at the Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival (Nov. 23); see more than a million lights illuminate 200 trees along the Mag Mile. The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade (Nov. 28) celebrates 90 years with marching bands, festive floats and equestrian units. And on Dec. 1, check out the Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade, which bills itself as the world’s largest motorcycle parade.
All Aboard: The CTA Holiday Train has brought holiday cheer to Chicagoans for more than three decades. Each train car is wrapped with seasonal images; Santa waves to riders from his sleigh on an open-air flatcar.
Holiday Markets:
Nov. 13: Candy Cane Holiday Bazaar
Nov. 16-17: Randolph Street Holiday Market
Nov. 16-17: Lycée French Market
Dec. 6-8: Tinley Park Holiday Market
Dec. 7-8: Holiday Art and Craft Market
Dec. 7-8, 14-15: Drie-cember Holiday Market
Dec. 14-15: Randolph Street Holiday Market
Nov. 17: Chicago Artisan Market (Fulton Market)
Nov. 22-24: Millennium Park Holiday Market
Nov. 29-30: The Trashy Holiday Market
Nov. 30-Dec. 1: Chicago Artisan Market (Ravenswood)
Dec. 5-8: One of a Kind Holiday Show
Dec. 6-8: Julmarknad: Swedish American Museum Christmas Bazaar
Dec. 14-15: Chicago Art Girls Holiday Pop-Up
Dec. 15: Chicago Artisan Market (Fulton Market)
Light Shows:
Nov. 15-Jan. 5: Lightscape | Chicago Botanic Garden
Nov. 15-Jan. 5: ZooLights | Lincoln Park Zoo
Nov. 16-Jan. 4: Illumination: Tree Lights | Morton Arboretum
Nov. 21-Jan. 5: Light of Christmas | Guaranteed Rate Field
Nov. 22-Dec. 30: Big & Bright Trail of Lights Festival | Sonny Acres Farm
Nov. 22-Dec. 31: Santa’s Rock N Lights | Kane County Cougars Stadium
Nov. 22-Dec. 31: Holiday Magic | Brookfield Zoo
Nov. 22-Jan. 5: Winter Lights at Central Park | Oak Brook
Nov. 29-Dec. 22: Kohlights | Kohl Children’s Museum
Nov. 29-Jan. 5: Light Up the Lake | Navy Pier
Winter Events:
Nov. 15-Dec. 31: Frosty's Christmas Bar | Near North Side
Nov. 15-Feb. 2: McCormick Tribune Ice Rink | Millennium Park
Nov. 15-March 9: Ice Skating Ribbon | Maggie Daley Park
Nov. 16-Dec. 30: “A Christmas Carol” | Goodman Theatre
Nov. 16-Jan.6: “Christmas Around the World” and “Holidays of Light” | Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Nov. 21-Jan. 5: Santa Baby Christmas Bar | Bamboo Club
Nov. 22-Dec. 24: Christkindlmarket Chicago | Daley Plaza
Nov. 22-Dec. 24: Christkindlmarket Aurora | RiverEdge Park
Nov. 22-Dec. 31: Jack Frost Christmas Holiday Pop-Up | Fulton Market
Nov. 23-Dec. 29: The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party | Chicago Children’s Theatre
Nov. 23-Jan. 26: Skating in the Park | Parkway Bank Park
Nov. 27: Housegiving | Navy Pier
Nov. 27-Jan. 5: “Snowflakes” Winter Flower Show | Garfield Park Conservatory
Nov. 27-Jan. 5: “Champagne Toast” Winter Flower Show | Lincoln Park Conservatory
Nov. 28: Turkey Trot 5K & 8K | Lakefront Trail
Nov. 28: Chicago Thanksgiving Parade | State Street
Nov. 28: Thanksgiving Lunch Cruises | Locations Vary
Nov. 29-Dec. 22: “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!” | American Blues Theater
Nov. 29-30, Dec. 1-2, 5-9, 12-16, 19-23, 26-31: Jack Frost Roasting on an Open Fire | UP Comedy Club
Nov. 30: Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna | Symphony Center
Nov. 30-Dec. 1 and Dec. 6-8, 13-15, 20-22: Polar Express | Blackhawk Station in South Elgin
Dec. 1: Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade | Western Avenue
Dec. 1: The Second City: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Sweater | McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn
Dec. 4-5: A Nativity Tribute | Driehaus Museum
Dec. 5-22: “Charles Dickens Begrudgingly Performs ‘A Christmas Carol’ Again” | Den Theatre
Dec. 6: A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin Following a Screening of “Home Alone” | Rosemont Theatre
Dec. 6-7: “The Nutcracker” | North Shore Center for the Performing Arts
Dec. 6-14: Holidays A Cappella | Various Venues
Dec. 6, 13, 20: Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Alongs | Millennium Park
Dec. 6-8, 12-15, 19-22: Winterland | Gallagher Way
Dec. 6-28: “The Nutcracker” by Joffrey Ballet | Lyric Opera House
Dec. 7: “Duke It Out! Nutcracker” | Nichols Concert Hall
Dec. 7: “Love Actually” in Concert | Auditorium Theatre
Dec. 7: Irish Christmas in America | Old Town School of Folk Music
Dec. 7: Hyde Park Holly-Day Celebration | Hyde Park
Dec. 7-24: Christmas Sing-A-Long & Double Feature | Music Box Theatre
Dec. 8: Chris White Jazz Trio Tribute to “A Charlie Brown Christmas” | Lincoln Park Zoo
Dec. 8: The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show | Auditorium Theatre
Dec. 8: NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet | Rosemont Theatre
Dec. 8: The Let It Snow Show! | Old Town School of Folk Music
Dec. 10: A Chanticleer Christmas | Symphony Center
Dec. 10-15: The Hip Hop Nutcracker | CIBC Theatre
Dec. 12: Holidaze | Lincoln Park Zoo
Dec. 12: Naughty or Nice | Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Dec. 12: Holiday Spirits: A Collection of Victorian Yuletide Ghost Stories | Driehaus Museum
Dec. 12-15: Songs of Good Cheer | Old Town School of Folk Music
Dec. 13-15: “The Nutcracker” | Mandel Hall
Dec. 13-15: “Elf” in Concert | Symphony Center
Dec. 13-15: Dinner With Santa | Brookfield Zoo
Dec. 13-29: Manual Cinema’s “Christmas Carol” | Studebaker Theater
Dec. 13-Jan. 5: Rudolph The Red-Hosed Reindeer (An Unauthorized Musical Parody) | Center on Halsted
Dec. 14: “Winter Wonderland” by Chicago Tap Allstars | Harold Washington Cultural Center
Dec. 15: A Mariachi Christmas | Thalia Hall
Dec. 20-21: A Mariachi Christmas | Old Town School of Folk Music
Dec. 17-18: Fairytale of New York | Broadway Playhouse At Water Tower Place
Dec. 18-23: Merry, Merry Chicago! | Symphony Center
Dec. 22: The Nut Tapper | Old Town School of Folk Music
Dec. 24-25: Christmas Dinner Cruises | Various Locations
Dec. 29: Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert | Symphony Center
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Fireworks | Navy Pier
