Photo of the Christkindlmarket Chicago by Daniel X. O’Neil (CC BY 2.0)
With Thanksgiving come and gone, the attention of millions of Americans is now shifting to Christmas. In a city as big as Chicago, there is an almost endless supply of things to do around the holiday season. The city seems to come alive with holiday spirit. Whether you are a family with kids or an individual looking to get into the Christmas spirit, there is something for you in the Windy City. Here are a couple of different things to do and places to visit in Chicago to get full of Christmas cheer.
1. See A Play or a Show
Chicago is home to a number of theaters that put on performances all year round. However, there are a couple of “Christmas-specific” shows that are worth waiting for. One of these shows is the annual production of “A Christmas Carol.” This Charles Dickens classic is put on at the Goodman Theatre and is definitely worth the price of admission. Another great performance you can see during the holiday season is “The Nutcracker,” which is put on by the Joffrey Ballet. This show has been a Chicago tradition since the 1980s and is a great place to take a date or your family.
2. Visit the Christkindlmarket
Normally, open-air markets are reserved for the spring and summer, but not this one. Christkindlmarket is a winter market that takes place in Daley Plaza in Chicago. This market was inspired by a market in Nuremberg, Germany way back in the mid-1500s. This downtown market has a heavy German influence and features a ton of different vendors throughout the market. You can buy handmade ornaments and crafts, a wide variety of different traditional food items, and of course, any different kinds of beer. The market runs until December 24 and opens at 11 am every single day. From Sunday-Thursday it is open until 8 pm and on Friday and Saturday it is open until 9 pm.
3. Go Ice Skating At Millennium Park
One of the places that both tourists and locals flock to around the holidays is Millennium Park. This is the place where all the holiday celebrations in Chicago kick off with the tree lighting ceremony that took place on November 18th. However, just because the lighting ceremony is done, doesn’t mean there isn’t things to do hear. In fact, one of the most popular things to do in Chicago around Christmas is to go skating at Millennium Park. Thousands and thousands of people skate on the 16,000 square foot rink at Millennium Park. This is completely free to do so not only is it a lot of fun, it is a cheap way to spend a night with friends and family. Also, if you don’t own skates, don’t worry, they offer skate rentals for only $10.
4. Go To The Zoo And See The ZooLights
Why not get in the Christmas spirits by checking out a light show and see some animals in the process? Well, from now until Christmas time, the Lincoln Park Zoo is putting on ZooLights every night at 4:30-close. The zoo is decorated with mesmerizing lights and Christmas decorations and the first 1000 guests every night get special glasses to make the lights even cooler. Even without the glasses, the ZooLights is something worth checking out as there are also nightly ice-carving and hot beverages. The Lincoln Park Zoo is among the oldest in the entire country, as it has been open since 1868. In addition to this, it is one of the few free admission zoos still in the USA. This means that attending ZooLights is completely free.
5. Check Out “Christmas Around The World”
The Museum of Science and Industry is home to a number of exhibits, but there is one that is by far the most popular during Christmas time. That, of course, is the “Christmas Around the World” exhibit. This exhibits features a massive 45-foot Christmas tree that is surrounded by a forest of 50 smaller Christmas trees, all decorated. However, these trees don’t just feature your run-of-the-mill decorations and ornaments. Each one of the 50 trees are decorated by a different cultural group of Chicago. Chicago is a very diverse city and each culture gets a tree to show their own Christmas traditions, ornaments and decorations. Some of the cultures even put on a performance for the guests and the exhibit even features fake snow, to make it feel as authentic as possible.
6. Check Out Lightscape on State Street
This is a one of a kind experience that is unique to State Street in Chicago. Lightscape is a light and sound installation that creates vivid patterns of color and music. There is a different one for each season, including a special mix for the holidays. The way it works is fairly simple and genius at the same time. From 10 AM to 8 PM dozens of lights in eighteen different planters that line State Street all light up. Music comes from each one of the planters, and the lights change color and patterns in unison with the music. This light show makes for an interesting multi-sensory experience.
7. Visit Simon’s Tavern
Not only was this place voted one of the best bars in Chicago, they also really get into the Christmas spirit. This place decorates the interior of the bar with Christmas decorations galore and even offer up a seasonal spiced wine. It’s a nice, cozy, and intimate place to have some drinks with friends and family this holiday season.
8. See the Morton Arboretum Holiday Lights
Everyone from children to adults can check out and appreciate these beautiful lights. Every holiday season, the Morton Arboretum’s impressive landscape of trees is adorned with 50 acres of bright and vibrant LEDs. You can walk through the one-mile path and be surrounded by gorgeous lights on equally nice trees. They also integrate sound and visuals to make it a completely unique sensory experience.
