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Here's What's Open on Christmas Day in Chicago
Submitted by Lauren LaRoche on
Here are some fun things to do on Christmas Day in Chicago for families, including Morton Arboretum, Chicago Botanic Garden, holiday lights, and drive-in movies.
Kid-Friendly Local Restaurants Open on Christmas in Chicago
Submitted by Lauren LaRoche on
Looking for restaurants open on Christmas in Chicago? We have a great list.
This Christmas, it’s OK to let someone else do the cooking. If you’re looking for kid-friendly restaurants open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day in Chicago, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up restaurants with beautiful Christmas displays, special Christmas menus, and holiday treats that will add a little magic to your kids' Christmas meal. With no clean-up required, you and the kids can head home, sit back, and relax in your matching Christmas pajamas.
For more holiday ideas, check out our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities for Chicago Families. Also, check restaurant website for the most up-to-date menus and hours or service.
Best Places for Snow Tubing Near Chicago for Families
Submitted by Meghan Rose on
When there's no snow to be found in the city or your neighborhood sledding hills are worn down to the grass, you still can find perfect slopes for snow tubing with kids just a short drive outside of Chicago.
Snow tubing is the perfect winter activity for the whole family; it gets everyone outside playing, and unlike skiing or snowboarding, it requires no gear. (Unlike ice skating, it also requires minimal balance.)
Everything you need to go snow tubing with kids—a tube, a hill, and snow—is provided by the parks. Just dress warmly, and you're ready for a day of snow tubing near Chicago.
35 Free Holiday and Christmas Events in Chicago for Kids
Submitted by Siobhan Adcock on
Looking for free Christmas events in Chicago this season? We've got a list of over 30 fun free holiday events in Chicago for kids.
Free Christmas events in Chicago for kids and other holiday fun are everywhere this season, including long-standing annual holiday events like Zoo Lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo, Naper Lights in the western suburbs, and the city's Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Along. While all of the holiday and Christmas events in Chicago on this list are free, be aware that many still require tickets for time reservations.
Click through the the event listings for details, including times and location information, and keep an eye on our action-packed Event Calendar—there's always something new to do in the Chicago area. For more seasonal ideas, check out our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities.
Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in Chicago for Kids and Families
Submitted by Lauren LaRoche on
Here are all the best places to skate outdoors this winter.
Pictures with Santa Claus in Chicago
Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on
Ready for some classic pictures with Santa in Chicago this holiday season? You can get pictures with Santa in Chicago at Wrigley Field or catch a movie with him in Woodridge. If you prefer the traditional mall Santa pictures, you can find him at Water Tower Place, Fashion Outlets of Chicago, and so many more spots (see below for our favorites!). City dwellers seem to love getting their pictures with Santa taken at Macy's, while suburbanites flock to Bass Pro Shop for their Santa photos experience.
While you're making your holiday schedule, don't forget to check out the Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Chicago or Nutcracker performances throughout the city and suburbs. Check out our Must-Do Christmas Events in Chicago, and lots of other seasonal ideas in our Guide to Holidays and Christmas Activities.
Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Chicago
Submitted by Siobhan Adcock on
Christmas light shows in Chicago blaze from the lakeshore to the far suburbs, with holiday lights drive-thrus and events in every corner. Every neighborhood has homes and buildings that go all out, but there are also holiday and Christmas lights in Chicago worth traveling for, from walk-through spectacles at zoos and gardens to massive drive-through displays, and even holiday lights you can appreciate indoors. Bundle up the kids and head out to one of these holiday and Christmas light displays in Chicago before they wink out for the season!
Lights are just the tip of the iceberg of our holiday events! Check out our list of top Christmas and Hanukkah events in Chicago and the suburbs. Also, be sure to book your Polar Express adventure now before they sell out. But CTA Santa trains and buses are still running throughout the season.
Here's our list of top holiday light shows in Chicago and the suburbs!
Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2023 in Chicago: Thanksgiving Parade, Turkey Trots, Christmas Shows
Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on
Looking for the best things to do in Chicago this Thanksgiving weekend 2023? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this Thanksgiving Day weekend.
Gobble up some activities along with your turkey this Thanksgiving weekend! There are plenty of things to do in Chicago this Thanksgiving weekend to kick off the holiday season. Check out the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade along State Street or sing along with carolers in Millennium Park. Get outside to move around after turkey dinner at a Turkey Trot in Grant Park or Beverly. The first performances of A Chistmas Carol are scheduled for this weekend at The Goodman Theater downtown, while The Nutcracker is playing in Hinsdale.
The weather is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, so take a trip out to one of our favorite Christmas tree farms to get yours. Or plan a skating trip to one of our favorite outdoor rinks. Plan out one of your December weekends to include a showing of The Nutcracker or a ride on the CTA Holiday Train.
Let's all give thanks for our wonderful kiddos as we enter this holiday season together!
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