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, December 1st
Saturday, December 2nd
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Toy Collection
8 am – 3 pm, collections continue “late” into December
Collection at Lowend Garage during business hours
2105 W Fulton Market
Chicago, IL 60612
Santa Hustle 5K and Kids Dash
Dash 8:30 am
5K 9 am
Soldier Field
1410 Special Olympics Dr
Chicago, IL 60605
Chicago Children’s Choir Winter Glow Concert
2:30 pm
Chicago Symphony Center
220 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60604
Julmarknad Annual Christmas Bazaar
10 am – 5 pm
Swedish American Museum
5211 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60640
Artist Popups
11 am – 1:30 pm
Lillstreet Art Center
4401 N Ravenswood Ave
Chicago, IL 60640
Wreath Making at Gallagher Way
11 or 1:30, Sat and Sun
Gallagher Way
3635 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60613
Bears vs. Cardinals: The NFL’s Oldest Rivalry | Author Talk
2 pm – 3:30 pm
Chicago History Museum
1601 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614
Holiday Market
3 pm – 6 pm
ERIS Brewery and Cider House
4240 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL, 60641
Mary Bartelme Park Annual Christmas Tree Lighting
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Mary Bartelme Park
115 S Sangamon St
Chicago, IL 60607
The Holiday All-Stars Variety Show: The Lawrence Peters Outfit with Mr. & Mrs. Wednesday-Night
Doors, 6:30 PM
The Hideout
1354 W Wabansia Ave
Chicago, IL 60642
Sunday, December 3rd
Wicker Park Farmers Market
9 am – 2 pm
The Robey Hall
2018 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
Straight No Chaser: Sleighin’ It Tour
3 pm
The Chicago Theatre
175 N State St
Chicago, IL 60601
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 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
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
A Parisian Home Goods Shopping Experience
9 am – 5 pm
Calia Stone Boutique
154 W Hubbard St
Chicago, IL 60654
Chicago Ballet: The Nutcracker
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
Saturday, December 9th
Lyric Opera performers Caroling
Sat 11-3, Sun 10-2
Chief O’Neils
3471 N Elston
Chicago, IL 60618
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
Chicago Children’s Choir Culural Center
2 pm – 4 pm
Preston Bradley Hall
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington St
Chicago, IL 60602
Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2023
8 pm
Auditorium Theater
50 E Ida B Wells Dr
Chicago, IL 60605
Sunday, December 10th
Chicago Wine Fest Winter Edition
Noon – 10 pm
4325 N Ravenswood Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
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
Wednesday, December 13th
Chicago Children’s Choir West Town
7 pm
Chicago History Museum
1601 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614
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
It’s A Wonderful Life Radio Play
Through Dec 20th
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
Chicago Sinfonietta presents HOLIDAYS OF LIGHT
7:30 pm
Auditorium Theater
50 E Ida B Wells Dr
Chicago, IL 60605
Holiday Brass & Choral Concerts
7:30 pm
St. Michael in Old Town
1633 N Cleveland Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
Ravenswood Light Up Nights
5 pm – 9 pm Through the 18th
Fri – Sun
Lawrence & Ravenswood
By the Ravenswood Neighbors Association
Saturday, December 16th
Winter Solstice Festival at NPV
5 pm – 8 pm
North Park Village Nature Center Park
5801 N Pulaski Rd
Chicago, IL 60646
Renegade Craft
11 am – 5 pm
Morgan Manufacturing
401 N Morgan
Chicago, IL 60642
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
Notre Dame Glee Club and Symphony Orchestra
7:30 pm
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
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
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 CHICAGO HOLIDAY EVENTS
Festive Lights
Zoolights
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614
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
The Immersive Nutcracker: A Winter Miracle
Through Jan 7th
Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago
108 W Germania Pl
Chicago, IL 60610
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
FESTIVE MUSIC
CSO Merry, Merry Chicago
Through Dec 23rd
Chicago Symphony Center
220 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60604
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
Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Along
6 pm – 7:30 pm Fridays thru Dec
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60601
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
FESTIVE DINING
Festive Tea 2023
Twice/week through Dec 24
The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago
160 E Pearson St, 12th Floor
Chicago, IL 60611
Walnut Room
Macy’s
111 N State St
Chicago, IL 60602
Chief O’Neils
3471 N Elston
Chicago, IL 60618
Le Sud
2301 W Roscoe St
Chicago, IL 60618
FESTIVE THEATER
Hershel & the Hanukkah Goblins
Multiple times through December 23rd
Chicago Loop Synagogue
16 S Clark St
Chicago, IL 60603
Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
7:30 pm, various dates
Cadillac Palace
151 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60601
A Christmas Carol
Goodman Theatre
Through December 31st
170 N Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60601
Joffrey Ballet – The Nutcracker: 1893 Chicago World’s Fair
Through Dec 27th
Lyric Opera of Chicago
20 N Upper Wacker
Chicago, IL 60606
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
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Through Dec 17th
Cadillac Palace Theatre
151 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60601
FESTIVE FAMILY-FRIENDLY
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
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
Santa Days
Multiple days
Swissotel Chicago
323 E Wacker Dr
Chicago, IL 60601
ChiTown Movies Holiday Favorites Series
Now – Dec 31
2343 S Throop St
Chicago, IL 60608
Lincoln Park Conservatory Wintergreen Flower Show
Now – Jan 7
10 am – 3 pm
Lincoln Park Conservatory
2391 N Stockton Dr
Chicago, IL 60614
Winter Flower Show: Celebrating Silver
Now – January 8th
10 am – 5 pm
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N Central Park Ave
Chicago, IL 60624
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Toy Collection
8 am – 3 pm, collections continue “late” into December
Collection at Lowend Garage during business hours
2105 W Fulton Market
Chicago, IL 60612
Polar Express
Tickets available now through Jan 1
Union Station
500 W Jackson Blvd
Chicago, IL 60661
FESTIVE ADULT POP-UPS
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
Bar Humbug
Through Jan 7thLighthouse ArtSpace Chicago
108 W Germania Pl
Chicago, IL 60610
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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