Things to Do in Chicago in December, Together

The big holiday moments

The Christmas tree lighting in Millennium Park

Neighborhood: the Loop · Cost: no admission · When: Friday, November 20, 2026

The city's 113th tree goes up at Michigan Avenue and Washington Street. Festivities start at 4pm, the ceremony at 6pm, and the lights come on around 6:30pm with fireworks. A holiday market runs alongside it November 20–22, and there are sing-alongs at the tree, open to everyone, at 6pm on Fridays, December 4, 11 and 18. The tree stays lit through January 10, 2027.

The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival

Neighborhood: Near North Side · Cost: no ticket needed · When: Saturday, November 21, 2026

The day after the tree lighting, a parade heads south on Michigan Avenue from Oak Street at 5:30pm, switching on the lights along the way, and fireworks go off over the river at 7:30pm. Get to the route early with a thermos and a friend or two.

Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza

Neighborhood: the Loop · Cost: no admission · When: November 20 through December 24, 2026, 11am–8pm Sunday to Thursday and 11am–9pm Friday and Saturday

Go on a weeknight to skip the weekend crowds, and plan on buying the souvenir mug, because that's half the point. It's an easy evening plan to make with someone from your neighborhood.

Skating and winter festivals

• McCormick Tribune Ice Rink (Millennium Park): no admission fee, from November 20 into February, daily 11am–10:30pm, weather permitting. An easy first plan with someone new: a few laps, then a hot drink nearby.
• Winter WonderFest (Navy Pier, Festival Hall): an indoor winter festival with skating included, November 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Tickets are $27 online at least a day ahead or $32 later; kids 2 and under are free. It's closed on Christmas Day.
• Maggie Daley Park skating ribbon: the winding rink next to Millennium Park opens for the season in mid-November. Sessions are ticketed, so book a time slot ahead.

Shows worth booking now

• A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theatre (the Loop), November 13 to December 31.
• The Nutcracker by the Joffrey Ballet at the Lyric Opera House (the Loop), December 4–27, with no shows on Christmas Day.
• Christmas Around the World at Griffin MSI (Hyde Park), open from November 7 and included with general admission.

Lights and warm-up spots in the city

• ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo runs November 20 to January 3, 4:30–9pm. It's ticketed every night; on four Mondays (November 23 and 30, December 7 and 14) the tickets cost nothing and are released a week ahead. It's closed on December 24 and 25.
• Garfield Park Conservatory's holiday flower show is a warm hour among poinsettias from November 25, 2026 through January 3, 2027.
• The CTA Holiday Train, a decorated 'L' train, usually runs from late November until just before Christmas; the CTA posts each year's schedule in mid-November on transitchicago.com.

For low-key plans, our guide to easy things to do in Chicago this weekend covers zoo mornings, museum days and the ZooLights Monday tickets.

Christmas in the Chicago suburbs

Three big light walks are worth the drive or the Metra ride. All need timed tickets.

• Lightscape at the Chicago Botanic Garden (Glencoe), November 13 to January 3, with most nights from 4:30pm. Many dates are under $30 plus a fee, and parking costs extra.
• Illumination at the Morton Arboretum (Lisle), November 14 to January 2. Adult tickets are $22, sold in advance for timed entry.
• Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo Chicago (Brookfield), on select nights from November 21 through January 3, 3–9pm, from $29.95.

New Year's Eve

Navy Pier's fireworks, which you can watch without a ticket, go off at 11:59pm on December 31, and the city holds its own New Year's Eve celebration on the Chicago Riverwalk the same night. Dress for the wind off the lake either way.

A few things to plan around

• Book shows early. The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol run only through late December, and weekend performances go first.
• Pick a weeknight for Christkindlmarket. Saturday nights are packed; weeknights are calmer.
• ZooLights tickets. Every night needs one; the Monday tickets that cost nothing come out a week ahead at 11am.
• Suburban extras. Lightscape's ticket doesn't include parking, and every suburban light walk needs a timed entry.
• Christmas Day hours. Many close, including ZooLights and Winter WonderFest. See what's open on Christmas Day in Chicago.

Small December plans to suggest

No need to plan the whole month. Any one of these makes a good evening:

1. A sing-along at the tree. Fridays, December 4, 11 and 18, at 6pm in Millennium Park, then a walk past the Bean.
2. A skate after work. An hour of laps at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, open until 10:30pm.
3. A weeknight wander at Christkindlmarket. Share something warm and browse the stalls before the weekend crowds.
4. An evening at ZooLights. Get tickets ahead, walk the lights, and you're done by 9pm.

When the weather turns, our guide to indoor activities in Chicago has warm backup plans.

Make it a plan with someone nearby

December plans are better shared: a few people for the parade route, a skate after work, someone to split the Lightscape drive with. Lighthouse is a social app for meeting people nearby who share your interests. You can see who's around and what you have in common, start an activity for the plan you have in mind, or join one someone in your neighborhood has posted. Each activity has its own group chat, so you can say hi and agree on the details before you meet.

Good to know

• Check before you go: dates and hours change, especially for outdoor events in bad weather. That goes for anything in this post, too. Each listing links to its official source below.
• Weather: rinks close when it's too warm or too wet, so check the day of.
• Getting there: most of the city events are in the Loop, a short walk from several 'L' lines. The suburban light walks are easiest by car or Metra.