Most Chicagoans love summertime in the city, and for good reason. The warm weather, the beaches, the outdoor patios and cafes, and all the different street festivals certainly go a long way in making things fun and exciting all summer long here in Chicago. But for our money, the holiday season is also just as special for a number of different reasons, even despite the dreary cold weather that inevitable during this time of year.
So many different events, parties, festivals, and events are part of the holiday season in Chicago, and if we had to narrow down our list of the top things to do this year, here’s what we recommend:
Christkindlemarket 2014 | Daley Plaza
Running through December 24th, the 19th annual German style market features more than 50 vendors and is THE place to go for ornaments, accessories, clothing, and various other gift items this holiday season!
Outdoor Ice Skating Downtown | Maggie Daley Park & Millennium Park
As one of Chicago’s finest winter traditions, enjoy ice skating downtown at The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park or the newly opened Maggie Daley Park, which features a curvy quarter-mile course that can accommodate up to 700 skaters! Â
ZooLights | Lincoln Park Zoo
There’s nothing quite like taking in the radiant light displays and decorations at the Lincoln Park Zoo, and if you’ve yet to take in the ZooLights exhibition, you don’t know what you’re missing. Along with the light displays, there’s also live ice carving shows, holiday gift shopping, ice skating, free holiday arts and crafts, and plenty of other family oriented activities that make this a can’t miss holiday event!
Winter WonderFest | Navy Pier
An annual winter carnival at Chicago’s most-visited downtown attraction, Navy Pier, this year’s Winter WonderFest has a selection of some new activities that include a toboggan tunnel, winter mini golf, and a 15 foot snow tubing hill! Plenty of other attractions will also be on hand, and kids will also be able to take their picture with Santa or decorate a Christmas cookie!
A Christmas Carol | Goodman Theatre Chicago
Believe it or not, Goodman’s production of the Dickens’ classic has now been running for over three and a half decades, making it one of Chicago’s best holiday traditions. This year’s show will be running through December 28th, and for show days and times, check out the Goodman Theatre website.
Posted by Helaine Cohen on
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