Suit up for the top things to do this Christmas Weekend 2025 in Connecticut! Shark-Diving Santa photo courtesy of the Maritime Aquarium
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Families will wonder at the best neighborhood Christmas light displays in Connecticut this 2025 holiday season. Photo courtesy of Amarante's Winter Wonderland.
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Connecticut is full of happiness, joy, and free Christmas and holiday activities in 2025, like Santa at Cabela's Wonderland. Photo courtesy of Bass pro Shops
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Santa Claus is coming to town, for breakfast, brunch, and photos with Santa in CT! Photo by Anne Ogden for the Mystick Chamber of Commerce.
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All will be merry and bright soon, so get your tickets to these Christmas events in Connecticut! Stamford Holiday Wish photo courtesy of the author
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The kids can hang out and have fun with the top free things to do in Connecticut! Earthplace photo by Zoe Brown, courtesy of the center.
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Our ultimate Connecticut bucket list has all the things to do in Connecticut with kids! Mystic Seaport photo by author Kelly Patino
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By land, by sea, by river—however!— families are coming to the best Museums in Connecticut! Connecticut River Museum photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins
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Hop aboard for a trip through Litchfield County and fun things to do with kids! Naugatuck Railroad photo courtesy of the Railroad Museum of New England.
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Ball pit fun at Chelsea Piers.
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Christmas Weekend 2025 in Chicago: Christmas Lights, Santa Visits, Festivals, and More Things To Do With Kids

Don't miss Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier. Photo courtesy of the event.
Don't miss Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier. Photo courtesy of the event.
12/23/25 - By Siobhan Adcock

Looking for the best things to do in Chicago this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Santa is on his way to town this Christmas weekend in Chicago, and but there's lots to do in Chicago besides open gifts. Celebrate Kwanzaa at Malcolm X College or Bronzeville Children's Museum. Visit Navy Pier to see the winter fireworks or experience Winter Wonderfest. Or see one of Chicago's signature holiday plays like The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party or Rudolph Runs Wild...

We have a list of our top 10 things to do on Christmas Day itself for families that are done opening gifts or don't celebrate. Planning ahead for the rest of winter break? Our roundup of fun winter break activities has plenty of suggestions. Or check out one of our fun ways to ring in 2025 to plan ahead for the new year.

More Things To Do in Chicago this Week with Kids 

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Christmas Carol production. Photo courtesy of Manuel Cinema
Christmas Carol production. Photo courtesy of Manuel Cinema

Things To Do Christmas Weekend in Chicago

'Twas the Night Before...by Cirque du Soleil

Downtown
Wednesday, December 24, Friday, December 26- Sunday, December 28
'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE... is Cirque du Soleil's first holiday show, based on the classic poem “A Visit from Saint Nicolas” by Clement Clarke Moore. This festive show brings a flurry of love, Christmas cheer, thrilling acrobatics, and hugely lovable characters that will create a new holiday tradition for families to cherish. READ MORE

Winter Break Roller Skating at MLK Skating and Family Entertainment Center

South Side
Wednesday, December 24- Sunday, December 28
Skate or bowl with special and character parties every day during winter break at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Family Entertainment Center. The Grinch, Santa, Minions, Olaf, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and more will be featured. READ MORE

Passport to Santa

Downtown
Daily through December 31
Passport to Santa is an interactive holiday adventure that sends children on a journey to the North Pole. Along the way, they can sign the Naughty or Nice List with Mrs. Claus, build toys in Santa’s Workshop, train with Rudolph, race in the Gingerbread Tower Challenge, test their strength in Nutcracker Kingdom, dunk the Grinch, and write wishes with the Christmas Angel. READ MORE

The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party

West Loop
Wednesday, December 24 and Saturday, December 27- Sunday, December 28
Four adorable Beatrix Potter favorites come to life in this mesmerizing, interactive trunk and puppet show, complete with original music. Storytellers weave Potter’s classic narration with gentle interactive moments, recruiting young watchers to join the adventure. After the show, head to the lobby to play with the puppets, take pictures with the cast, and join fellow Chicago families for a communal holiday party featuring a festive spread of holiday treats! Our stories this year will include  a brand new tale, “The Tale of Pickles and Ginger,” with “The Tale of Tom... READ MORE

Winter Break Wonderland at DuPage Children's Museum

Naperville
Wednesday, December 24 and Friday, December 26-Sunday, December 28
When school’s out, the wonder moves in! Winter Break Wonderland brings an extra flurry of fun to DCM. Glide, twirl, and giggle your way across DCM’s indoor sock skating rink—where the ice never melts, and the fun never ends! Explore more frosty-themed activities that mix movement, imagination, and learning. READ MORE

Rudolph Runs Wild...

Old Town
Friday, December 26 and Sunday, December 28
Share silliness this holiday season with Rudolph Runs Wild… a jolly extravaganza for kids, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and reindeer of all ages! Featuring a fun and festive blend of family-friendly songs and sketches from The Second City’s rich comedy archives, fresh new material written specifically for young audiences, and – of course – the ridiculous improv hijinks The Second City is world famous for. Brighten your winter with this one-of-a-kind interactive theatrical experience offering audience members, young and old, the chance to enjoy the comedy fun both from their... READ MORE

The Cozy Cabin Tales

North Center
Saturday, December 28 and Sunday, December 29
Theatre for Young Audiences @ Corn presents its newest show, perfect for young ones and the entire family!​ The Cozy Cabin Tales is a series of wintry fables and folktales, as told by a group of friends waiting out a snowstorm in their cabin with only a small fire to keep them warm. To pass the time, they bring their fantastical tales to life, while learning some real-life lessons along the way. Pour yourself a cup of cocoa and cozy up to the fire for this heartwarming series of vignettes that's sure to be fun for the whole family.​ READ MORE

Bronzeville Children's Museum Kwanzaa Celebration

Bronzeville
Friday, December 26
Visit Bronzeville Children's Museum to celebrate Kwanzaa by honoring culture and traditions! This event includes story telling, crafts , music, singing, face painting and a visit from Bronzeville Children's Museum's Kwanzaa King. READ MORE

The Joffrey Ballet's Nutcracker

Downtown
Wednesday, December 24 and Friday, December 26- Sunday, December 28
The Joffrey Ballet presents its annual production of The Nutcracker. This classic ballet has been reimagined for a modern audience and set in Chicago at the 1893 World's Fair, where Marie and her mother, a sculptress creating the fair’s iconic Statue of the Republic, partake in a festive celebration with a surprise visit from the mysterious Great Impresario. READ MORE

Winter Fireworks at Navy Pier

Navy Pier
Saturday, December 28
Fireworks fans of all ages can enjoy a spectacular display, synchronized to music, for FREE every Saturday night at Navy Pier.  READ MORE

I|O Godfrey Roofscape Christmas Eve Brunch with Santa

Downtown
Wednesday, December 24
Help Santa gear up for his big ride in style in an igloo on the rooftop of the I|O Godfrey Hotel. The menu includes a carving station, omelet station, acai bowl station, avocado toast bar, pancakes, French toast, a a salad bar, and a dessert table. READ MORE

Christmas Sing-along and Double Feature at the Music Box

Lakeview
Closes Wednesday, December 24
Bring your family to see two holiday classics and sing holiday carols with Santa during intermission. Enjoy the double feature of It's a Wonderful Life and Irving Berlin's White Christmas. Santa will be accompanied by the Music Box organist while the lyrics are projected on the screen for everyone to join in the fun. READ MORE

Winter Nature Days

Northbrook
Saturday, December 27 and Sunday, December 28
Drop in for family fun nature activities including pinecone bird feeders, walking sticks and more. This event repeats on Saturday and Sunday. READ MORE

Malcolm X: Kwanzaa 2025

Near West Side
Saturday, December 21
Visit Malcolm X College to experience Kwanzaa. Celebrate seven days of culture, community, and creativity from December 26, 2025 – January 1, 2026. Daily events include a vendor's market, children's story time, and a drum call at noon. Experience powerful performances by Ayodele Drum & Dance and Najwa Dance Corps, plus much more! READ MORE

Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol

South Loop
Wednesday, December 24, and Friday, December 26- Sunday, December 28
Starring hundreds of paper puppets, figurines, and silhouettes, this adaptation of A Christmas Carol is about a holiday skeptic who has been recruited to perform a Christmas Carol puppet show on a Zoom call with her family in lockdown. This year's show has moved to the Studebaker Theater. READ MORE

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins at the Raven Theatre

Rogers Park
Saturday, December 27 and Sunday, December 28
Let the Strawdog Theatre Company take your family on a Hanukkah adventure with characters such as Herschel of Ostropool and the goblins who are haunting a village. READ MORE

Harlem Globetrotters in Rosemont

Rosemont
Sunday, December 28
The Harlem Globetrotters 2025 World Tour presented by Jersey Mike’s Subs is coming with game like never before. Your favorite Globetrotter stars are bringing out their amazing basketball skills, outrageous athleticism, and a nonstop LOL good time. Join the Globetrotters as they go head-to-head against the Washington Generals, who will stop at nothing to try and defeat the world’s winningest team. READ MORE

Navy Pier Winter Wonderfest

Navy Pier
Wednesday, December 24 and Friday, December 26- Sunday, December 28
Relive cherished memories and make magical new ones at Chicago’s favorite holiday experience. Step inside and kick off the season with rides, slides, and festive fun. From thrilling attractions like the Cliffhanger and Zero Gravity to family favorites like the kiddie train, bumper cars, and skating on The Verizon | Google Pixel Ice Rink-there’s something for everyone! READ MORE

Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo Chicago

Brookfield
Friday, December 26- Sunday, December 28
Featuring more than a million LED lights, a 41-foot talking Christmas tree, and a 600-foot tunnel of lights with coordinating music, Brookfield Zoo's Holiday Magic highlights the holidays and loads of animals. READ MORE

Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden

Glencoe
Wednesday, December 24 and Friday, December 26-Sunday, December 28
Go for a stroll down a mile-long path filled with holiday wonder at the Chicago Botanic Garden. READ MORE
Smaller kids will enjoy Passport to Santa. Photo courtesy of the event.
Smaller kids will enjoy Passport to Santa. Photo courtesy of the event.

More Fun Things To Do in Chicago Right Now

What's Open on Christmas Day in Chicago: A List of Awesome Things To Do

Not everything is closed on Christmas Day. Get out of the house and enjoy one of these fun ideas. READ MORE

Best Family-Friendly Restaurants Open on Christmas Day in Chicago

South Loop — FREE
These local restaurants are open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or both. READ MORE

Chicago's Top Things to Do Between Christmas and New Years with Kids

Winter break is here. We can help fill the days with fun, engaging activities. READ MORE

Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in Chicago

Check out these neighborhoods near Chicago for the best lights displays in the area. READ MORE

Chicago New Year’s Eve Guide 2025 for Families: Kid-Friendly Events, Fireworks & More

Get kids in on the festive fun well before bedtime. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Family Entertainment Center