|
Name |
Description |
|
A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theater |
Nov. 20 - Dec. 31----A Christmas Carol, the timeless tale of
Scrooge, is playing at the Goodman Theater. |
|
Art Institute-Wreathed Lions |
Nov. 27----Kick off the holiday season with the Art Institute's
annual Wreathing of the Lions. After the ceremony, watch
performances by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Muntu Dance
Theatre of Chicago, or visit a drop-in workshop to create a wreath
inspired by the exhibition Playing with Pictures: The Art of
Victorian Photocollage. |
|
Carriage Rides |
Year-Round----Cozy up with your sweetheart under a warm blanket
and take a scenic downtown carriage ride. The horses are waiting
for you at Michigan & Chestnut! |
|
Chirstkindl Market |
Nov. 25 - Dec. 24----The Christkindlmarket transforms Daley Plaza
into a unique holiday village offering fun, excitement and German
Gemutlichkeit. |
|
Santa's House at Daley Center |
Nov. 25 - Dec. 20 (Fri., Sat. & Sun.)----Visit Santa at Santa's
House at Daley Center Plaza and see the 87-foot Holiday Tree with
hundreds of ornaments and thousands of lights. |
|
Ghirardelli Chocoloates |
Year-Round----Stop in and warm up with a cup of hot chocolate,
coffee or a gooey hot fudge sundae. |
|
Joffrey Ballet's Nutcracker |
Dec. 11 - Dec. 27----Chicagoland’s most popular holiday tradition,
Robert Joffrey’s production of The Nutcracker is featured this
season at the Auditorium Theater. The Tchaikovsky masterpiece,
featuring the full Joffrey company, local children’s choruses, and
more than 120 young dancers, creates a winter wonderland of
beauty, magic and sugarplum delight! |
|
ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo |
Nov. 27 - Jan. 3 (check website for specific dates)----The Lincoln
Park Zoo becomes illuminated for the holidays! Visit the zoo for
family fun and a visit with Santa. Admission is free. |
|
Macy's Holiday Events |
Nov. 7 - Dec. 24----Visit the Macy's on State Street to see the
famous animated holiday windows. Take the kids to the fifth floor
of Macys to experience the wonder of Macy's SantaLand. Have lunch
or dinner at the Walnut Room and enjoy the 45-foot Great Tree,
featuring 10,000 sparkling lights and 1200 ornaments. |
|
Magnificent Mile Lights Festival |
Nov. 21----Each year, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the
holiday season begins as the trees along the Magnificent Mile are
illuminated with more than a million lights. This year, Mickey
Mouse is the master of ceremonies; enjoy the music, fireworks and
more. |
|
Millennium Park Ice Skating |
Nov. 18 - Mar. 14----Each winter, McCormick Tribune Plaza becomes
a 16,000 square foot ice skating rink. Skating is free to the
public, skate rentals are available. |
|
Navy Pier - Winter Wonderfest |
Dec. 4 - Jan. 3----Over the past eight years, hundreds of
thousands of families have made this celebration part of their
annual holiday tradition. Decorations feature 750,000 sparkling
lights, 25,000 holiday ornaments and hundreds of beautifully
decorated trees. The Chicago Blackhawks ice skating rink and
dozens of rides, games, music and live entertainment for all to
enjoy! |
|
Navy Pier Holiday Cruises |
Browse a variety of holiday-themed cruises offered by
Entertainment Cruises that include their three Navy Pier docked
boats, Odyssey, Mystic Blue and the Spirit of Chicago. |
|
Grant Park Skating |
Bring your own skates and skate for free at all Chicago Park
District outdoor rinks! Rinks offer skate rentals for various fees
and concessions are available at most rinks. Hours vary. |
|
A Christmas Carol - The Musical (Lincolnshire Marriott) |
Nov. 13 - Jan. 2----Alan Menken has written spectacular new music
for the classic Dickens Christmas story, A Christmas Carol. You
know the story of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, who is held
accountable for his dastardly ways during nighttime visits by the
ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Now imagine it set
to new, breathtaking music. This new score soars with beautiful
music and inspirational lyrics that will put your whole family in
the Christmas spirit. |
|
Miracle on 34th Street (Porchlight Music Theatre) |
Nov. 20 - Jan. 3----A Christmas classic with the feel of a Norman
Rockwell painting. Think little girl on Santa's lap as adoring
mother secretly watches. When a whitebearded gentleman claims to
be the real Santa Claus, he brings about a genuine "Miracle on
34th Street," spreading a wave of love throughout New York City,
convincing a divorced, cynical single mother, her somber daughter,
and the entire state of New York that Santa Claus is no myth. You,
too, will believe! |
|
Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light |
Nov. 20 - Jan. 3----At the Museum of Science and Industry, the
halls will be decked, holiday singers and dancers will fuel the
festivities, and the sparkle of dozens of decorated trees will
greet you at this year’s Christmas Around the World and Holidays
of Light. Tickets are included with the museum's general
admission fee. |
|
2009 Winter Arts and Crafts Expo |
Nov. 21 - Dec. 22----The Evanston Art Center is holding its annual
Winter Arts and Crafts Expo, which features one-of-a-kind pieces
of work by over 100 selected artisans. All proceeds from the Expo
will benefit the ongoing exhibition, education, and outreach
programs at the EAC. The Winter Expo is the perfect opportunity
for families to shop for everyone on their holiday gift list. |
|
The Second City's Exceedingly Dysfunctional Holiday Revue |
Nov. 27 - Dec. 31----The Holidays: it’s the season of joy and
giving, the time to deck the halls and gather with your family to
fight about who mom and dad love most as you hack into Aunt Rose’s
burnt turkey. Let’s face it, no holiday gathering is perfect. But
now, The Second City is here to make light of every holiday
misstep, whether it’s making up your own “creative” words to
traditional carols or a disgruntled elf ruining the North Pole’s
Christmas party. This seasonal satire is the perfect addition to
your dysfunctional holiday traditions. Contains adult language and
content. Not recommended for children or young teens. |
|
Caroling at Cloud Gate, Millennium Park |
Nov. 27 - Dec. 18 (Fridays 6-7pm)----Chicago’s holiday tradition
returns on Friday nights throughout the holiday season. Chicagoans
and visitors are invited to hear the beautiful voices of a variety
of choral groups and join in a holiday sing-along. |
|
Chicago Botanic Garden Wonderland Express |
Nov. 27 - Jan. 3----Take a magical trip to a winter wonderland of
twinkling lights and holiday beauty at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Outside, 750,000 lights sparkle and welcome you and your family to
the Garden's wonderland. Inside the Regenstein Center, a
10,000-square-foot exhibition of miniature trains winds over
bridges, under trestles, past waterfalls, and through more than 80
mini-replicas of Chicago's favorite landmarks. |
|
Holiday Flower Show |
Nov. 28 - Jan. 10----Visit the Garfield Park Conservatory and
enjoy a traditional Holiday Flower Show in the Show House, opening
the Saturday after Thanksgiving. You’re sure to marvel at the
sheer number of poinsettias on display. The holiday scene is
perfect for taking annual family photos or for just getting in the
holiday spirit. |
|
City Hall Concert Series |
Dec. 1 - Dec. 18----Get into the holiday spirit while listening to
the classics sung by children's choirs from throughout the city.
The concerts are held every weekday from noon to 1 pm; use the
LaSalle Street entrance at City Hall. The concert series truly
exhibits the talents of children from all over Chicago and warms
the hearts of the audience. |
|
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Mary's Attic |
Dec. 5 - Jan. 2 (Thu., Fri. & Sat.)----Hell in a Handbag
Productions presents the return of Chicago's favorite transvestite
reindeer. David Cerda’s parody of the classic children’s
television special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” returns for
its 12th Year. The venue, Mary's Attic, is located above
Hamburger Mary's in Andersonville. |
|
Holiday Performances at Governor's State University |
Dec. 5 - Dec. 19----The Center for Performing Arts’ Holiday
Performances offer something for everyone. Reminisce with a
sing-a-long performance of 50’s and 60’s hits and holiday songs at
Holiday Hop. Scrooge is on stage with the Center’s performance of
A Christmas Carol. Young children will enjoy ‘Twas the Night
Before Christmas. Be sure to check the Center’s website for a
complete list of performances. |
|
Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo |
Dec. 5 - Dec. 31 (Sat. & Sun., plus Dec. 28-31)----Celebrate the
holiday season with family and friends during Brookfield Zoo’s
28th annual Holiday Magic, featuring nearly one million twinkling
lights illuminating the zoo’s walkways. Enjoy ice-carving
demonstrations, live musical performances, magicians, and the new
Wild Lights Spectacular light show at Roosevelt Fountain. |
