
The bar is rumored to have fostered over 5,000 marriages so many of those couples return each year with their kids. Children are welcome for lunch and brunch. The Rush & Division tavern is decorated with over 40,000 lights and a double-decker train winds through the bar. You might not consider a bar a Christmas tradition, but Butch McGuire’s, 20 W Division St, has been delighting revelers and families for over fifty years. Pioneer Court is the epicenter of all the fun, with family-friendly and holiday-themed activities.Ĭlick here to find Boutique Hotels in downtown Chicago Christkindlmarket The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival takes place the weekend before Thanksgiving and features live concerts and special offers at Michigan Avenue shops. It’s definitely one of the more popular ways to enjoy Christmas in Chicago. TLTip: Before heading to the Christmas Tree Lighting, be sure to check out our complete (and completely free) guide to Millennium Park! Magnificent Mile Lights Festival The Caroling Connection at the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival The evergreen is a real tree the city selected from entries submitted by residents within 100 miles of the Chicago Loop and it must be at least 55 feet tall.
#THINGS TO DO IN CHICAGO FOR CHRISTMAS FREE#
It takes place the Friday evening before Thanksgiving in Millennium Park and, like all holiday events in the park, is free to attend. The official Chicago Christmas Tree lighting heralds the beginning of the season. You can see the schedule and get more information here. The displays are included with your museum admission, and you can see them from mid-November into early January. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Chicago in winter.

More than fifty trees represent Chicago’s diverse ethnic communities, decorated by volunteers who want to share their cultural traditions. Christmas in Chicago Christmas Around the World & Holiday of LightsĮach year since 1942, the Museum of Science and Industry celebrates the holidays with Christmas Around The World and the Holidays of Light. Here are favorite Chicago Christmas traditions that bring a smile to the faces of kids of all ages. Both locals and tourists look forward to these festivities every year and, for many, these holiday celebrations are an integral part of the season.

A big part of what makes Chicago so special during November and December is the number of annual events that take place.
