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Christmas in Chicagoland is famous for transforming into a real-life winter wonderland. With sparkling lights on every road and hot cocoa around each corner, there’s no end to the holiday magic.
One of the most famous aspects of this festive cheer is the decorated shop windows that can be found throughout the city. Presents, lights and holiday displays cover the storefronts of many businesses, marking Chicago as the capital of seasonal wonder.
How did holiday storefronts start?
Marshall Field’s, a large department store, became the first business to feature holiday decorations on its storefront windows in 1897. Focusing on advertising their holiday toys, they created elaborate displays to entice families to stop by. The windows became so popular that they extended their decorations to cover the entirety of State Street.
In the following years, they began planning window displays months in advance and transitioned from just selling toys to creating extravagant storytelling designs. People traveled from all over the Midwest to see their famous displays.
Soon, other businesses caught on and joined the holiday tradition of transforming their storefronts into a festive celebration.
How do I explain this to my kid?
“A store called Marshall Field’s wanted to sell more toys, so they decided to create a holiday window display. People loved it so much that the store created bigger and better window designs every year. Other businesses joined in and started decorating their windows too!”
What are the best holiday storefronts for kids to visit in Chicago?
- Macy’s (Marshall Field’s): Macy’s holiday windows will be on display from early November through January. Walk down State Street to see their annual design, and step inside to experience Santaland and Macy’s Christmas tree.
- Ralph Lauren: Featuring their iconic Polo Bear, the store uses AI to create a 3D display of the bear dancing and blowing kisses at pedestrians.
- P.O.S.H.: This antique houseware shop delivers a beautiful holiday display complete with falling snowflakes and a snow-covered village.
- The Art Institute: While not necessarily a window, the outside of the building covers its iconic lion statues in decorative wreaths and bows.
- Broadway Antique Market: Serving as the area’s oldest and largest antique store, their many windows are filled with Santa Claus, presents, sparkling trees and more. Most of the items on display are for sale, so if you spot something you like, stop in and take a look.
Fun facts about Chicago’s holiday window displays
- They inspired television favorites. Marshall Field’s created the character “Uncle Mistletoe,” which turned into a four-season television show called “The Adventures of Uncle Mistletoe.”
- Months of planning are involved. Large stores would hire entire teams to design their windows, usually taking 8-10 months to plan them.
- Take home part of a display. Classic display pieces have been auctioned off in recent years, allowing fans to take home their childhood favorites.
