Getting Into The Holiday Spirit In Chicago

Christkindlmarket

Photo of the Christkindlmarket Chicago byย 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 โ€œChristmas-specificโ€ shows that are worth waiting for. One of these shows is the annual production of โ€œA Christmas Carol.โ€ 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 โ€œThe Nutcracker,โ€ 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 24ย 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. ย 

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, doesnโ€™t mean there isnโ€™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 donโ€™t own skates, donโ€™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 โ€œChristmas Around The Worldโ€

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 โ€œChristmas Around the Worldโ€ 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 donโ€™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 Simonโ€™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. Itโ€™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 Arboretumโ€™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.

Faye Chou
Faye Chou
Faye is the Managing Director of the RentHop Operations team. In her 10 years at RentHop, Faye has written numerous articles on a variety of real estate topics. If you're interested in learning more about the current state of the rental housing market or want Faye's best tips for your apartment search then check out more of her articles.

You May Also Like

Summer Decorations For Your Apartment

Summer is here to stay, which usually means a beach vacation, frozen margaritas, and chilling in a pleasantly decorated space. But, not everyone has...

10 Things to Check Before Renting an Apartment

Finding a new apartment is equally exciting as it is nerve-wracking. In places like New York City, renters only have a few weeks to...

The Hidden Waterfalls of New York City

New York City isnโ€™t just a huge, concrete jungle. Behind the bustling traffic and tall skyscrapers, are both natural and man-made hidden escapes. What...

Recent Articles