Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities for Chicago Families

Christmas or Xmas, Hanukkah or Chanukah, there are plenty of ways for families to enjoy the season around Chicago.

Find fun holiday events, Christmas activities in Chicago, including Christmas lights, Hanukkah celebrations, polar express and Christmas trains, Santa visits, and more seasonal fun in our awesome Chicago Holidays Guide

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Holiday Activities for Chicago Kids
The Annual Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
25 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in Chicago for Kids
Cut your own tree this year at one of these Christmas tree farms near Chicago. Photo courtesy of Comstock Images
Top Christmas Tree Farms Near Chicago
Here's our list of the best Chicago neighborhoods to see holiday lights. Photo courtesy of the Larsen Christmas Lights Show
Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in Chicago
Visit Santa at the Midwestern Christmas town of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, photo courtesy of cedarburgfestival.org
The Best Christmas Towns in the Midwest
The mysterious Great Impresario, the man who has designed and created the World’s Fair, brings the magic of the season to life! Photo by Tod Ros for the Joffrey Ballet.
The Nutcracker Ballet and Other Holiday Shows for Kids in Chicago
Light Up the Lake. Photo courtesy of Navy Pier
Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Chicago

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Christmas Crafts, Movies, & Cooking
Armed with our giant list of Christmas crafts, you'll keep kids busy until the New Year!
101 Christmas Crafts for Kids, Plus Christmas Games and More At-Home Activities
It's just not Christmas until you hear Mariah Carey's
50 Best Christmas Songs for Kids
We’ve tested out dozens of Christmas cookie recipes over the years, and these are the very best.
10 Best Christmas Cookie Recipes To Bake with Kids
Those eight crazy nights are approaching and we’ve got everything you need to celebrate Hanukkah with your family. Photo courtesy Cottonbro Studios
8 Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah with Kids: Hanukkah Gifts, Fun Crafts, and a Little History
Christmas jokes for kids make the season a bit jollier all around!
25 Christmas Jokes for Kids and Holiday Riddles
The Furoshiki method is a practical way to wrap gifts using pieces of cloth. Photo courtesy of Invaluable
Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping Ideas Kids Can Do: Holiday and Christmas Gift Wrap with Less Waste

Latest Christmas/Hanukkah News

At the Engeman Theater, join Jenny and Frosty on an adventures as they try to save the town of Chillsville. Photo courtesy of the theater
Christmas Vacation on Long Island: 30 Staycation Ideas for Things To Do with Kids
Here are our picks for the top things to do on LI over Christmas break.
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Take a magical one-hour trip to the North Pole on the Polar Express in Whippany, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Morristown and Eerie Railway
Enchanting Christmas and Holiday-Themed Day Trips from NYC
Head over the river and through the woods to enjoy one of these seasonal day trip destinations.
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Sayville Falls Mini Golf has brought a new holiday attraction to Long Island.
Sayville Falls Transforms Mini Golf Course into Winter Garden
Here's everything you need to know about the new holiday installation in Sayville.
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Minimize your holiday stress by having Christmas dinner out on Long Island this year.
Restaurants Open on Christmas on Long Island
These local eateries ease the stress of hosting holiday dinners this Christmas.
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During Christmas in NYC, Midtown Manhattan is chock-full of glittery eye candy. Photo by Ally Noel
Christmas in New York: Ultimate 3-Day Itinerary for a Magical Holiday with Kids
There's no place like the Big Apple at Christmas.
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Your kids will use golden tickets to board the Polar Express Experience in Port Jefferson.
Hop Aboard the Polar Express in Port Jefferson this Holiday Season
Enjoy holiday magic in a vintage train car in Suffolk County.
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