A guide to the best Chicago Christmas Activities for 2025. Create magical memories at these holiday plays, markets, parades, festivals, and activities.
The Best Chicago Christmas Activities for 2025
Chicago Christmas Events
These Chicago Christmas Activities take place for a very limited time and require planning in advance.
Light Festival
When: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Where: the Magnificent Mile
This one-day festival takes place along the Magnificent Mile and ends with the country's largest nighttime parade! The parade's Grand Marshals are Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, and it features floats with other Disney characters, marching bands, and an appearance from Santa Claus. This event is when Michigan Avenue's million twinkling lights are turned on and it is seen as the official kickoff of the Chicago holiday season.
Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting
When: Friday, November 21, 2025
Where: Millenium Park
Chicago's official Christmas tree is illuminated for the season in a ceremony that includes a fireworks display. The pre-show begins at 5 pm, while the tree lighting takes place at 6 pm.
Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Along
When: Fridays, December 5, 12, and 19, 2025 from 6pm-7pm
Where: Cloud Gate
Chicagoans gather to sing and celebrate holiday traditions at this event that takes place three times in December.
Chicago Christmas Theatre Events
The 2025 holiday theatre season includes a wonderful mix of ballet, musicals, variety shows, and children's theatre.
Joffrey Ballet's The Nutcracker
When: December 5-28, 2024
Where: Lyric Opera House
This version of the Nutcracker is set at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. The costumes look incredible, and I am so excited to take my daughter this year.
Beatrice Potter Tea Party
When: December 6 - 28, 2025
Where: Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S. Racine
An interactive 75-minute trunk and puppet show that shares four favorite Beatrice Potter stories: “The Tale of Pickles and Ginger,” with “The Tale of Tom Kitten,” “The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin,” and “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” This play is ideal for children up to age 8. After the show, families gather for a communal holiday party with treats.
Cirque du Soleil's Twas The Night Before
When: December 11-28, 2025
Where: The Chicago Theatre
This show combines the classic Christmas poem and acrobatic performances. We took our daughter to see this holiday show when she was just 3, and she loved it. This show is engaging for people of all ages.
A Magical Cirque Christmas
When: November 25-30, 2025
Where: CIBC Theatre
A holiday variety show for people of all ages. Based on some quick research, this show is produced by a competitor to Cirque du Soleil. I read some reviews, and people said they were misled by the title of the show and a bit disappointed.
Elf the Musical
When: December 2-14, 2025
Where: The Auditorium, 50 E Ida B. Wells Drive
The family favorite holiday film has been turned into a Broadway musical. The runtime is 2 hours and 30 minutes, with an intermission, and the website says the show is intended for people ages 5 and up.
Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol
When: December 12-28, 2025
Where: Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building, 410 S Michigan
This reimagining of the classic Charles Dickens tale is brough to life with hundreds of handmade puppets and an immersive sound experience.
A Christmas Carol
When: November 15 - December 31, 2025
Where: The Goodman Theatre
A traditional performance of the Dickens holiday tale returns to the Goodman Theatre. Note that children under the age of 5 are not permitted in the theatre.
Christmas with C.S. Lewis
When: December 16-21, 2025
Where: Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place
This play tells the story of how Lewis's friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien led to his transformation from Atheist to Christian.
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis
When: December 20, 2025
Where: James M. Nederlander Theatre
Fifteen musicians play over twenty instruments in a show that includes multimedia effects.
Rocky Mountain High Experience: A John Denver Christmas
When: December 12-14, 2025
Where: Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place
This show combines John Denver's classic songs like "Rocky Mountain High" and "Take Me Home, Country Roads" with holiday classics like "Joy to the World" and "Silent Night".
Christmas Activities
These are Chicago Christmas Activities that take place over several weeks, including annual Chicago Christmas events like ZooLights and Christkindlmarket.
Christkindlmarket
Daley Plaza
November 21 - December 24, 2025
Wrigleyville: Gallagher Way (beside Wrigley Field)
November 23 - December 31, 2025 (closed Christmas Day)
Chicago's German-style Christmas market has two locations in the city plus one in Aurora. The market features outdoor stalls selling mulled wine, food, Christmas ornaments, and crafts. Locals love to collect the mulled wine mugs that are uniquely decorated each year.
The original Daley Plaza location in the Loop can be uncomfortably crowded. For families, I recommend going to the Wrigleyville location and also visiting Winterland, which are two of my favorite Chicago Christmas activities.
Winterland
When: November 23 - December 31, 2025 (closed Christmas Day)
Where: Gallagher Way/Wrigley Field
Winterland is returning this year and bringing an ice rink, bumper cars, and holiday train to Wrigley Field. (Note: there will not be amusement park rides like in previous years.) New to the festivities this year, Winterland will include Holiday Movie Nights, Wreath-Making Workshops, and Santa's Workshop.
CTA Holiday Train and Holiday Bus
Each year, a CTA bus and train are completely bedecked with lights and decorations. The train has an open-air section with Santa riding a sleigh. It's truly impressive.
I have lived in Chicago for 17 years, and I have never just happened to catch the holiday train or bus. If you want to see it, check the schedule and make a plan. I promise that the experience is worth the effort! The 2025 schedule has not been announced yet, but know that the holiday train and bus spend one or two days on each line.
Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier
When: December 5, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Where: Navy Pier
An indoor family-focused festival that includes ice skating, bumper cars, rides, and bounce houses. Book tickets in advance online; prices start at $25 per person. Ice skating is an additional $10. Tickets include a ride on the Centennial Wheel, Navy Pier's massive Ferris Wheel.
Zoo Lights
When: November 21, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Where: Lincoln Park Zoo
At night, over 3 million lights turn the Zoo into a winter paradise. Visitors can explore light displays, see the animals, ride the carousel, and sip on hot chocolate.
While admission to the Lincoln Park Zoo is usually free, there is an admission fee for ZooLights. On Mondays, some free tickets are available with registration. For an adults-only experience, check out Holidaze.
Museum of Science and Industry Christmas Around the World
When: November 8, 2025 - January 5, 2026
Where: The Griffin Museum of Science + Industry
This beloved annual exhibit features over 50 trees and displays representing different cultures and traditions.
Walnut Room
Dining at the Walnut Room during the holiday season is a tradition for many Chicago families. The Walnut Room is located on the 7th floor of Macy's and is known for it's spectacular Christmas tree and decor. Note that reservations are not easy to secure.
Music Box Theatre Sing-A-Longs
The music box is a charming little movie theatre on the Southport Corridor in Lakeview. Each year they host a series of Christmas Sing-A-Long screenings of White Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life.
Jack Frost Christmas Pop-Up
When: November 29, 2025 - January 5, 2026
Where: Fulton Market
This outdoor pop-up in the West Loop includes ice skating, axe throwing, bumper cars, curling, food, and drinks spread across 2 acres. Usually, these pop-ups are relatively family-friendly during the daytime, but are more adult-centric and boozy at night.
Garfield Park Conservatory Winter Flower Show
When: November 26, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Where: Garfield Park Conservatory
This annual indoor flower show includes a cheerful selection of poinsettias and Fraiser Fir trees decorated with lights.
Chicago Botanic Garden Lightscape
When: November 14, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Where: Glencoe, IL (just outside the city)
Wander through 1.3 miles of twinkling lights and light displays at the Chicago Botanic Garden. This annual event is extremely popular, so book tickets in advance.
Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum
When: November 15, 2025 - January 3, 2026
Where: Lisle, IL (about an hour outside Chicago)
Light, color, and sound transform the arboretum's trees and landscape. Special events include Electric Illumination, an 18+ event with a live DJ, Dog Admission Nights, Sensory Nights, and IllumiBrew 21+ event.
Holiday Magic at the Brookfield Zoo
When: November 21, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Where: Brookfield (about 45 minutes outside Chicago)
See the zoo decorated with 3.5 million lights, interactive displays, and animal-themed lights.
The Polar Express
Sadly, this isn't taking place in 2025. We went in 2023 and loved it, and we hope it returns in the future.
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