Things to Do on Thanksgiving Day in Chicago, Illinois

State Street Thanksgiving Parade

• An estimated 400,000 people travel to State Street in downtown Chicago for the city's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade features giant balloons, marching bands, celebrities and performance troupes. If people sign up early enough via the parade's website, they can even volunteer as a balloon handler, banner carrier, or member of hospitality staff. The parade runs from 8 to 11 a.m. and is broadcast nationally on WGN.

  State Street Thanksgiving Parade
  State Street between Congress and Randolph
  Chicago, IL 60602
  chicagofestivals.org

Christkindlmarket

• The Christkindlmarket is a free German market place located in Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. Christkindlmarket attracts more than half a million visitors each year. Vendors sell authentic German food and creations and the event has several activities for children. The market usually opens on Thanksgiving Day right after the parade ends.

  Christkindlmarket
  Daley Plaza
  50 W. Washington Street
  Chicago, IL 60602
  christkindlmarket.com

Museum of Science and Industry

• Located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, the Museum of Science and Industry is open every day of the year except Christmas. The massive museum contains more than 35,000 artifacts and has hosted more than 175 million visitors since opening in 1933. Check out "You! The Experience," a permanent exhibit about the human body.

  Museum of Science and Industry
  5700 S. Lake Shore Drive
  Chicago, IL 60637
  773-684-1414
  msichicago.org

The Field Museum

• Like the Museum of Science and Industry, the Field Museum is open 364 days a year. The facility displays exhibits related to history, archaeology and science. The Field Museum houses permanent exhibits on bird habitats, African mammals, plants of the world, ancient Egypt and Tibet.

  The Field Museum
  1400 S. Lake Shore Drive
  Chicago, IL 60605
  312-922-9410
  fieldmuseum.org

Spirit of Chicago Cruise

• The Spirit of Chicago cruise line is located at Navy Pier, a landmark built in 1916 that is now a popular tourist destination. Guests enjoy a classy dinner while the cruise ship sails out into Lake Michigan, offering spectacular views of downtown sites like the Willis Tower, the John Hancock Tower and Soldier Field.

  Spirit of Chicago
  River East Plaza
  Suite 310
  401 E. Illinois Street
  Chicago, IL 60611
  866-273-2469
  spiritofchicago.com/ch/index.jsp

Volunteer

• One of the most rewarding things to do on Thanksgiving Day is to volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Chicago Cares is one organization that recruits volunteers and matches them up with appropriate activities. Interested parties just have to complete the online orientation and can spend their Thanksgiving Day helping the less fortunate.

  Chicago Cares
  300 W. Adams Street
  Suite 300
  Chicago, IL 60606
  312-780-0800
  chicagocares.org