It’s the most wonderful time of the year! You can almost feel the magic in the air when the holiday season arrives in Chicago. When you have kids, these moments are even more special when you watch their excitement for the holidays.
Especially in Chicagoland, the holiday season offers plenty of family fun with twinkling lights, magical attractions and more. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, or looking forward to New Year’s Eve, we’ve got you covered with lots of holiday fun.
Here’s how to make the season even brighter with these kid-friendly holiday happenings the whole family will love.
Take in all the holiday lights
How can you not marvel at all the holiday lights in Chicagoland? You can take a stroll in neighborhoods like Sauganash and Logan Square to see houses decked out. Many attractions are returning with their annual lights like Lincoln Park Zoo’s ZooLights and Six Flags Great America Holiday in the Park Lights. Some, like the new AMAZE Light Festival in Rosemont, will surely become a holiday tradition. You can even drive through some holiday light displays — a new one is Willow Hills Winter Magic.
Make plans for these holiday events
Many holiday events in Chicago have become cherished traditions for many families and we’re always happy to see them in return. This year, get some shopping done at the Christkindlmarket (located at Daley Plaza and Wrigleyville) or see decorated trees at Museum of Science and Industry’s Christmas Around the World and Holiday of Lights. Plus, families will love to see the return of the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival on Nov. 20!
Take a photo with Santa
Santa Claus is coming to town — and you won’t miss him with all these experiences across the Chicago area. In-person Santa visits are making a return this year with classics like Macy’s Santaland or Hyde Park Holly-Day. We even provided some virtual experiences if you want to surprise your child with a video call from Santa, too.
Shop local for the best toys
Don’t ship, shop local! That’s our motto when it comes with holiday shopping. And with supply chain demands, you might want to shop earlier than usual to make sure you get all your gifts. In our 2021 Holiday Gift Guide, we’ve teamed up with a few local toy stores to find the best toys under $50 for kids. Also, enter for your chance to win a $250 gift card from a Chicagoland toy store!
Hop aboard these holiday trains
Kids who love trains would love to take a ride on a holiday one. The holiday trains in Chicagoland offer plenty of festive ways to celebrate. And if your family loves The Polar Express, then there are holiday train experiences in Chicago and the suburbs that recreate that movie’s magic.
Skate around at an ice skating rink
While we can enjoy skating rinks all winter long, many of the outdoor rinks begin to open during the holiday season. You can stop at Maggie Daley Park Skating Ribbon or McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park for amazing views of the city skyline. There’s also plenty of other places to skate around across the city and suburbs.
Feel like royalty at a holiday tea
An afternoon tea with some festive flair is a perfect outing for a family. Many of these holiday tea experiences provide great kid-friendly options like hot chocolate and frosted sugar cookies. Dress up to the nines to really make it a special event. Or even take a quick photo for the family holiday card!
See a holiday classic — The Nutcracker
There are many holiday theater options in Chicago, but seeing The Nutcracker is always a show that families should see at least once. With the dance of the sugar plum fairies and the waltz of the flowers, kids will love to see a live ballet performance. There are also many Nutcracker performances that provide a little twist from the original.
Give back at one of these toy drives
As exciting as the holiday season could be, it’s important to think about others during these challenging times. Volunteering as a family is a great way to give back to the community. And since it’s a time where our children receive many gifts, they can return the favor by participating in a toy drive.
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