There are so many ways to celebrate the holidays in Chicago! We’re breaking it down here, and we’re adding to this list every week. See holiday lights, meet with Santa, holiday songs, and holiday shows and fun runs from Lincoln Park and Lakeview to West Loop. We’ve got activities to do with the family, with your friends, and on date night! Bookmark this page and check back for more fun holiday events in Chicago! We’ve also got the Best Christmas Bars and Restaurants in Chicago and Chicago Christmas Pop-Up Bars
Friday, November 11th – January 8th
Lightscape * tickets required
4:30 pm – last time 9:15 pm
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Rd
Glencoe, IL 60022
November 12 – 13
Chicago Antique Holiday Market Randolph Street
9 am – 5 pm
1341 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60607
Wednesday, November 16th
Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light
9:30 am – 4 pm
Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S. DuSable
Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60637
Friday, November 18th
City of Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting
6 pm – through January 8th
Millennium Park
Near Michigan Ave. & Washington St.
Saturday, November 19th
Wrigleyville Winterland & Christkindlmarket
Shopping, skating, and ice bumper cars through January 8th
Gallagher Way in Wrigley Field
3635 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60613
Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
11:30 am Lights festival lane 401 N Michigan Ave
5:30 pm Parade
November 19 – January 7th
Illumination
4:30 pm
Morton Arboretum
4100 Illinois Route 53
Lisle, IL 60532
A Christmas Carol
November 19th – December 31
Goodman Theater
170 N Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60601
Sunday, November 20th
Lakeview Tree Lighting
6 pm – 7:30 pm
St. Alphonsus Church
Chicago, IL 60657
Friday, November 25th
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
Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Along
6 pm Fridays
November 25 – December 16
Millennium Park
201 E. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60601
Sunday, November 27th
Gingerbread House Decorating Party
4 pm
Park and Field
3509 W Fullerton Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
Thursday, December 1 – 4
One of a Kind Holiday Show
Thur-Sun
The Merchandise Mart
222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza
Chicago, IL 60654
Brew lights
6 pm – 10pm
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614
Holiday Roll
5 pm – 9 pm *Roller Skating, Caroling, Holiday Lights & Selfies with Santa
Lincoln Common
2335 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
Santa’s Visit
Summer House Santa Monica
11 am – 3 pm Reservations Dec 18 – Dec 23
1954 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60614
Holiday Movies at Gallagher Way
6 pm every Thursday in December
December 1st: Elf
December 8th: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
December 15th: Home Alone
December 22nd: Christmas Story
Gallagher Way
3637 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60613
Winter Flower Show: Snow Day!
Now – January 8th
10 am – 8 pm
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N Central Park Ave
Chicago, IL 60624
Dec 1-31
ChiTown Movies Holiday Favorites Series
2343 S Throop St
Chicago, IL 60608
Lincoln Park Conservatory 2022 Sugar Plum Winter Flower Show
Now – Jan 7
10 am – 3 pm
Lincoln Park Conservatory
2391 N Stockton Dr
Chicago, IL 60614
Friday, December 2nd
Children’s Lantern Parade at the Christkindlmarket Chicago 2022
5 pm – 7pm
Christkindlmarket Chicago at Daley Plaza
50 W Washington St
Chicago, IL 60602
Southport Holiday Stroll and Cocktail Crawl
5-9 p.m.
Belmont to Irving Park
Photos with Santa
Who’s Holiday
7 pm – 8:15 pm
Theater Wit
1229 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
Lincoln Park Holiday Festival of Spirits and Wine
11 am – 5 pm
1925 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60614
First Fridays Open Studios at Fulton Street Collective
5 pm – 8 pm
Fulton Street Collective
1821 W Hubbard
Chicago, IL 60622
Andersonville Winter Market
Fri at 5 pm
Sat at 4 pm
1500 W Catalpa Ave
Chicago, IL 60640
Brubeck Brothers Quartet with Catherine Russell & Camille Thurman
8 pm
Symphony Center
220 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60604
Saturday, December 3rd
Santa Hustle 5K and Kids Dash
Dash 8:30 am
5K 9 am
Soldier Field
1410 Special Olympics Dr
Chicago, IL 60605
Bentley’s Dog Nog Social
Sat 10 am – 6 pm
Sun 10 am – 6 pm
Bentley’s Pet Stuff
1201 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60610
Brunch with Santa
10 am – 11:30 am
West Town Bakery & Diner
1916 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
West Town Winter Market
11:30 am – 1:30 pm Shopping and Photos with Santa
Homestead On The Roof (Above West Town Bakery and Roots Pizza)
1924 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
Lunch with Santa
1:30 pm – 3 pm
Roots Handmade Pizza
1924 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
Stay Warm Winter Drive by @reconnectchicago hosted by
10 am – 1 pm
New City Moving
2929 N Campbell Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
Donations will support the kids at Nixon Elementary School (Hermosa neighborhood in need) and @ajustharvest (feeding anyone who’s hungry). Brunch snacks & Mimosas sponsored by @purdueclubofchicago
Irish Christmas in America
4 pm & 8 pm
Old Town School
4544 N. Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
Roscoe Village Winterfest
5 pm Tree lighting
Sat 5 pm – 9 pm
Sun 1 pm – 5 pm
Sunday, December 4th
Santa Brunch
10 am – 2 pm
Carnivale
702 W Fulton St
Chicago, IL 60661
Wicker Park Sidewalk Food Tour
11 am – 2 pm
Wicker Park
Sundays through 12/25/22
Holiday Frozen Event- Meet Elsa!
1 pm
A Fairytale Ballet & Academy
Bucktown Studio
2243 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
Recycled Bike Parts Ornament Craft Activity
2 pm – 4 pm
Roscoe Village Bikes
2016 W Roscoe St
Chicago, IL 60618
Dec 4 – 25
Visit with Santa & Santa’s Chocolate Pop-up Shop
Noon – 5pm
The Langham
330 N Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
Tuesday, December 6th
Holiday Cocktail Class Summer House Santa Monica
6 pm – 9 pm Sold Out!
Summer House Santa Monica
1954 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60614
Family Event | Guild Holiday Party
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Chicago History Museum
1601 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614
Thursday, December 8th
Christmas at DePaul
Thur 7 pm
Fri 7 pm & 9 pm
1010 W Webster
Chicago, IL 60614
Olan’s Polar Express: A Christmas Comedy Show
7 pm
1331 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
December 9th
Songs of Good Cheer with Mary Schmich and Eric Zorn
Friday – Sunday with matinees on the Sat & Sun
Old Town School
4544 N. Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
Night Market Before Xmas
5 pm – 10 pm
Chicago Athletic Association Hotel
12 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60603
Christmas “Chairoling” with Glass Half Empty
8 pm – 11 pm
Fifth Province
Irish American Heritage Center
4626 N Knox Ave.
Chicago, IL 60630
39th 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
Friday, December 10th
Brunch With Santa
11:30 am – 2:30 pm
The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant
1401 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605
Chicago Wine Fest Winter Edition
Noon – 10 pm
4325 N Ravenswood Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
Teen Workshops: Animal Enrichment at Shedd
1 pm – 3:30 pm
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60605
Holiday Classic Pickleball Scramble & Mixer
2 pm – 6 pm
Lakeshore Sport & Fitness at Illinois Center
211 N Stetson Ave
Chicago, IL 60601
West Town Winter Chicago Children’s Choir Concert
3pm
Chicago History Museum
1601 N. Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614
Winter Solstice Festival at NPV
5 pm – 8 pm
North Park Village Nature Center Park
5801 N Pulaski Rd
Chicago, IL 60646
St. Al’s YAM 2022 Ugly Sweater Christmas Party
6:45 pm – 10 pm
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
Sunday, December 11th
Holiday Yoga
8:30 am
Avli on The Park
180 N Field Blvd
Chicago, IL 60601
Photos with Santa
11 am – 2 pm
Templestowe Pub
3135 W Montrose Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
The Peppermint Patties Holiday Show
2 pm
Irving Park Lutheran Church
3938 W Belle Plaine Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
Children’s Lantern Parade at the Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville 2022
5 pm – 7 pm
Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville at Gallagher Way Chicago
3635 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60613
The Chris White Trio Tribute to ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
5:30 pm – 7 pm
Café Brauer
2021 N Stockton Dr
Chicago, IL 60614
The Peppermint Patties Holiday Show
2 pm
Irving Park Lutheran Church
3938 W Belle Plaine Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
Tuesday, December 13th
Toy Car Woodworking Workshop
5 pm -7 pm
Guild Row
3130 N Rockwell St
Chicago, IL 60618
Wednesday, December 14th
Holiday Show Open House at the Lincoln Park Conservatory
5 pm – 7 pm
Lincoln Park Conservatory
2391 N Stockton Dr
Chicago, IL 60614
Thursday, December 15th
Secret Santa Helper Workshop
Horner Park
2741 W Montrose Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
Friday, December 16th
Ravenswood Light Up Nights
5 pm – 8 pm Through the 18th
Fri – Sun
Lawrence & Ravenswood
By the Ravenswood Neighbors Association
Holiday Brass & Choral Concerts
7:30 pm
St. Michael in Old Town
1633 N Cleveland Ave
Chicago, IL 6061
Rolling with Frosty
6 pm – 8 pm
Lake Shore Park
808 N Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60611
Merry, Merry Chicago!
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm through Dec 23rd
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
220 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60604
Saturday, December 17th
Secret Santa Helper Workshop
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Horner Park
2741 W Montrose Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
Chicago Children’s Choir Lincoln Park/DePaul Concert
1 pm
Gannon Concert Hall
DePaul University
800 W Belden Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
Gingerbread House Decorating & Drinks (Family-Friendly)
1 pm – 3 pm
NoMI
Seventh Floor
800 Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
Sunday, December 18th
Lakeview Community Menorah Lighting
6 pm – 7:30 pm
Lincoln Ave and Marshfield
Holiday Artisan Market at The Joinery
Noon – 4 pm Free
2533 W Homer St
Chicago, IL 60647
Windy City Made – Inaugural Holiday Market
Noon – 6 pm
Stan Mansion
2408 N Kedzie Blvd
Chicago, IL 60647
Cherish the Ladies “A Celtic Christmas”
4 pm – 7 pm
Mayfair Theatre
Irish American Heritage Center
4626 N Knox Ave
Chicago, IL 60630
We’ll be adding events all season long, so please check back for more holiday events in Chicago! If you’d like us to add an event, please let us know!
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