December in Chicago is a festive wonderland, sparkling with holiday lights and bustling with cheerful events. The city’s winter charm is on full display, from the traditional Christkindlmarket with its array of handcrafted gifts to the dazzling lights of Lincoln Park Zoo. Whether it’s ice-skating beneath the skyline or enjoying a cozy holiday concert, Chicago in December offers a delightful array of activities to celebrate the season, making it the perfect place for creating unforgettable holiday memories.
Click on each event for more information and pricing and check with the venue for any changes or cancellations.
Sunday, December 3rd
Mariah Carey, Merry Christmas One and All!
Doors 6 pm, Show 7:30 pm
The United Center
1901 W Madison St
Chicago, IL 60612
Tuesday, December 5th
Christmas with C.S. Lewis
Through Dec 10th
Broadway Playhouse Water Tower Place
175 E Chestnut St
Chicago, IL 60611
Tuesday and Wednesday, December 5th and 6th
CSO: A Chanticleer Christmas
Fourth Presbyterian Church
126 E Chestnut St
Chicago IL, 60611
Thursday, December 7th
One of a Kind Holiday Show
Through Dec 10th
The Merchandise Mart
222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza
Chicago, IL 60654
Songs of Good Cheer with Mary Schmich and Eric Zorn
Thursday – Sunday with matinees on the Sat & Sun
Old Town School
4544 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
Mary Bartelme Park Menorah Lighting Celebration
4 pm – 6 pm
Mary Bartelme Park
115 S Sangamon St
Chicago, IL 60607
Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil at the Chicago Theatre
Through Dec 28th
The Chicago Theater
175 N State St
Chicago, IL 60601
Friday, December 8th
40th Annual Sing-a-long Double Feature It’s A Wonderful Life and White Christmas
Through December 24th
The Music Box Theater
3733 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus: The Big 4-0, ho ho!
8 pm
Auditorium Theater
50 E Ida B Wells Dr
Chicago, IL 60605
Nightmare Before Xmas Mansion Flashlight Tours
6 pm – 7:30 pm
The International Museum of Surgical Science
1524 N Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60610
CSO Home Alone in Concert
7:30 pm, performances Sat 1:30 and Sun 3 pm
Chicago Symphony Center
220 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60604
A Parisian Home Goods Shopping Experience
9 am – 5 pm
Calia Stone Boutique
154 W Hubbard St
Chicago, IL 60654
Saturday, December 9th
Holiday Party at Commercial Club
2 pm – 4 pm
Commercial Club Playground
1845 W Rice St
Chicago, IL 60622
Christmas Tea Time
Noon – 2 pm
Irish American Heritage Center
4626 N Knox Ave
Chicago, IL 60630
Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2023
8 pm
Auditorium Theater
50 E Ida B Wells Dr
Chicago, IL 60605
Sunday, December 10th
The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show
8 pm
Auditorium Theater
50 E Ida B Wells Dr
Chicago, IL 60605
Fulton Holiday Market Pop-Up
11 am – 6 pm
Alhambra Palace Restaurant
1240 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60607
Brunch with Santa + Ornament Painting
11 am – 2 pm
The Old Plank
2700 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
Tuesday, December 12th
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Through Dec 17th
Cadillac Palace Theatre
151 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60601
Chicago Golf Gals and Chicago Girls Who Walk
X-Golf Wrigleyville
3549 N Sheffield Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
Thursday, December 14th
Rolling with Frosty
6 pm – 8 pm Thursday and Friday
Lake Shore Park
808 N Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60611
Adults Night Out: Holidaze!
6:30 pm
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614
Friday, December 15th
Chicago Sinfonietta presents HOLIDAYS OF LIGHT
7:30 pm
Auditorium Theater
50 E Ida B Wells Dr
Chicago, IL 60605
CSO Merry, Merry Chicago
Through Dec 23rd
Chicago Symphony Center
220 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60604
Saturday, December 16th
Renegade Craft
11 am – 5 pm
Morgan Manufacturing
401 N Morgan
Chicago, IL 60642
Chicago Got Sole Sneaker Convention
Noon – 6 pm
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
5555 N River Rd
Rosemont, IL 60018
Ravenswood Makers Market
1 pm – 6 pm
Koval Distillery
4241 N Ravenswood Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
Asleep with the Fishes
6 pm – 11 pm
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60605
Sunday, December 17th
Holiday Sing-a-long Brunch with Mr Dave
11 am
City Winery
1200 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60607
Chicago For Keeps: A Holiday Pop-Up Shop
11 am – 7 pm
Him and Her Vintage
4336 N Pulaski Rd
Chicago, IL 60641
Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
7:30 pm, various dates
Cadillac Palace
151 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60601
Tuesday, December 21st
Chloë Agnew: A Chloë Christmas
7 pm – 9:30 pm
Irish American Heritage Center
4626 N Knox Ave
Chicago, IL 60630
Coldplay by Candlelight
6:30 pm – 8:45 pm
Theater on the Lake
2401 N Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60614
Saturday, December 23rd
Hands-On Christmas in the Caribbean
6 pm – 8 pm
The Chopping Block
4747 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
Holiday Concert by Candlelight
Salvage One
1840 W Hubbard St
Chicago, IL 60622
Kukla, Fran and Ollie Days
2 pm – 4:30 pm, through Dec 30th
Chicago History Museum: Robert R. McCormick Theater
1601 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614
Wednesday, December 27th
Candlelight Ballet: Featuring Tchaikovsky
6 pm and 8:45 pm
Thalia Hall
1807 S Allport St
Chicago, IL 60608
Ongoing
Zoolights
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614
Festive Tea 2023
Twice/week through Dec 24
The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago
160 E Pearson St, 12th Floor
Chicago, IL 60611
Santa Days
Multiple days
Swissotel Chicago
323 E Wacker Dr
Chicago, IL 60601
Hershel & the Hanukkah Goblins
Multiple times through December 23rd
Chicago Loop Synagogue
16 S Clark St
Chicago, IL 60603
A Christmas Carol
Goodman Theatre
Through December 31st
170 N Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60601
Polar Express
Tickets available now through Jan 1
Union Station
500 W Jackson Blvd
Chicago, IL 60661
Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light
9:30 am – 4 pm, through Jan 7th
Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S DuSable / Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60637
Art on the Mart: The Joffrey Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”
Through December 30th
222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza
Chicago, IL 60654
Happy’s Holiday Pop-Up
4 pm – 11 pm
Through December 23rd
Chicago Athletic Association
12 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60603
Jack Frost Christmas Pop-Up
Now through Jan 5th
170 N Green St
Chicago, IL 60607
Frosty’s A Christmas Bar
809 W Evergreen Ave
Chicago, IL 60642
The Immersive Nutcracker: A Winter Miracle
Through Jan 7th
Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago
108 W Germania Pl
Chicago, IL 60610
Christkindlmarket Daley Plaza and Gallagher Way
Through December 24th
Daley Plaza
50 W Washington St
Chicago, IL 60602
Gallagher Way
3635 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60613
Wintrust Winterland at Gallagher Way
Santa’s Workshop Fri-Sun through Dec 23rd
Gallagher Way
3635 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60613
Breakfast With Santa and Teddy Bear Tea
Alma at the Hotel Zachary
3630 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60613
Brookfield Holiday Magic
3 pm – 9 pm weekend, then progressively more dates-check website for details
8400 31st St (1st Ave and 31st St)
Brookfield, IL 60513
As December in Chicago comes to an end, the city’s festive magic leaves a lasting impression. The twinkling lights, bustling holiday markets, and joyful celebrations create cherished memories. The warmth and joy experienced here linger long after the season ends, embodying the unique spirit of a Chicago winter and the heartfelt joy of the holidays.
If you would like to have an event featured, email Maureen at [email protected]
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