Attend the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival parade while visiting Chicago at Christmastime. The festival has been held annually for the last 40 years. It takes place the Saturday before Thanksgiving, during which the Magnificent Mile along Michigan Avenue is lit up with over one million bright lights. According to the festival website, Chicago is the city that started the tradition of lighting the trees along main downtown streets. There is a huge parade, as well as a Chicago River fireworks display to celebrate the event.
magnificentmilelightsfestival.com
A tradition in Chicago since 1942, Christmas Around the World is a way for Chicago to celebrate and explore the diversity of its residents and visitors during the holidays. CBS notes that around 50 trees are represented and decorated by local ethnic and cultural groups. This exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry is a must-see in Chicago during the holidays. Museum-goers can discover the holiday traditions and customs from countries around the globe. It's perfect for a family day, as both young and old will appreciate and learn from the displays.
The Museum of Science and Industry
57th St. and Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60637
773-684-1414
msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/christmas-around-the-world
Chicago residents are always telling holiday visitors that if they see one thing during a Chicago Christmas, it should be Christkindlmarket. "It is no longer just a German tradition--it has become a Chicago institution," notes the market's website. Locals and vacationers alike visit this unique market to browse in its shops and partake of German cuisine and beverages. The atmosphere is varied and delightful for anyone looking for a one-of-a-kind Christmas experience.
Christkindlmarket was inspired by a market of the same name in Nuremburg, Germany--an event that began in 1545. Chicago's market started in 1996, and it has been a staple in Daley Plaza ever since. The four-week festival is "the largest and most renowned German winter holiday market in the United States, attracting visitors from the Chicagoland area, the rest of the country and from around the world," according to the website.
Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza
50 W. Washington St.
Chicago, IL 60602
312-644-2662
christkindlmarket.com
