Although it is just starting to feel like fall, our semester is coming to an end and Thanksgiving break is almost here! It is the perfect time to be a Chicagoan, with holiday events happening all around the city! Our Program Assistants have created a small guide for events happening in and around the loop. Have some fun with friends and family and celebrate your hard work this semester!
Just a short walk from campus, this Chicago holiday staple will be held in the Daley Plaza. Christkindlmarket brings a wide variety of vendors together so we can enjoy the best. It is a perfect event to go with friends and family, or solo. Enjoy arts, music, culture, and more! For more details, visit the Christkindlmarket website.
There is no better way to see Chicago during the holiday season than taking a CTA holiday train! This unique Chicago tradition will be operating for the 33rd year this season. CTA trains sparkle with holiday designs and lights, and Santa can even be spotted sitting on an open-air flatcar with reindeer. Click this link to view the full in-depth schedule!!
Navy Pier hosts a holiday event every year and this year it is called Light Up the Lake! From November 29th to January 5th, the pier decorates the entire outside (and most of the inside!) with lights and inflatables. They have interactive events such as the ice slide, axe throwing, crafting, and drone related firework shows! While all this takes place, the indoor vendors and food stands are open to the public as well.
Pilsen’s Autumn Vintage & Artisan Market takes place on November 23rd/24th. Its setup involves food, shopping, art, and music galore! It’s only a train ride away and there’s enough to explore, you could be there for the entire day.
Millennium Park Ice Skating is the perfect winter activity. With the city skyline on one side, and a view of the bean on the other, Millennium Park is a great place to get into the winter spirit! Millennium Park offers skate rentals and lessons. Food and drinks can be found right next to the rink at Millennium Coffee and Millennium Hall. Reservations are required and prices vary. Check out more here!
Another skating rink only a bit North is the Maggie Daley skating ribbon. The large skating rink is twice the size of a traditional rink and features Chicago’s gorgeous skyline. Reservations are also required for this skating rink and skates are available for rental. For more information, click here.
Catch Chicago’s annual Thanksgiving parade in person! The Thanksgiving parade takes place from 8am-11am, Thursday, November 28th. The parade runs down State Street from Ida B. Wells to Randolph. Featured in the parade are beautiful floats, gigantic helium balloons, and incredible performances from Chicago’s own. If you can’t watch the parade in person, catch the live broadcast on Pluto TV.
From light shows to parades to markets, Chicago has a lot to offer this time of year. With many of these events near Roosevelt, it’s the perfect excuse to get out and explore the city. We hope you enjoyed this list of events and get a chance to check them out!
