How to get in the Holiday Spirit
Our Holiday Family Favorite events in the city and suburbs of Chicago.
The holiday season is truly a magical time of year in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. Only during the months of November and December, do we really love braving the Chicago cold to see those dazzling lights, ride the most festive of trains, find the perfect tree and enjoy the best celebrations.
Here are just a few of our family favorites to add on to your own traditions… and don’t forget to check out my post on Holiday Festivities happening downtown and Hanukkah Events going on throughout the city and suburbs.
Brave the cold and enjoy the outdoor light displays
Photo via Sparkle Rosemont
The holiday season would not be complete, without walking through a beautiful display of holiday lights with a cup of hot cocoa in hand. The past couple of years, our ultimate favorite walk through has been the Sparkle Light Festival at Impact Field in Rosemont. The entire field is illuminated with millions of sparkling lights, where guests can walk through the different villages and immerse themselves in the large holiday features, all at your own pace. Kids also love the 2-story ice slide, the free Holly Trolly Train, interactive activities in the Kids Zone and writing letters to Santa.
But our all-time favorite FREE light display is the Holiday Lights in Lilacia Park in Lombard. This annual event has beautiful light shows and tree decorations, visits with Santa, complimentary hot cocoa & cookies and so much more!
Undoubtedly, Lightscape at the Chicago Botanic Garden and Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum are the most popular [1 mile] walk through trails for locals. In its 5th year, Lightscape has transformed its Garden with first-time dazzling landscapes, alongside the beloved classic displays. Guests can immerse themselves in the music, color and light, while enjoying festive food and drink. At Illumination: Tree Lights, festive music and lighting effects highlight 50 acres of beautiful trees. In its 11th year, you can also enjoy a full meal at their restaurant or stop at one of the concession tents for a snack and beverage, warm up by a fire pit and roast s’mores, or do some holiday shopping at the store.
Other popular favorites amongst locals are ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo and Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo. In its 29th year, ZooLights has many returning light attractions, as well as new dazzling displays, such as a garden-themed light show on the Zoo’s South lawn. You can also take photos with Santa, do holiday shopping and enjoy treats and seasonal snacks. Holiday Magic has been going on for even longer. Dazzling guests for over 40 years, it is Chicagoland’s longest running lights festival, with more than 2 million twinkling LED lights and interactive displays. Enjoy the holiday magic photo ops, family-friendly entertainment in the evenings, roaming carolers, shopping, festive food and so much more!
The Big & Bright Trail of Lights Show at Sonny Acres Farm in West Chicago is another beautiful walk through trail, featuring a beautiful light show, photos with Santa and a holiday market. There is delicious food for purchase and an open fire to keep warm and roast s’mores.
Want to enjoy more zoo light displays but at smaller venues? The Festival of Lights & Tree Sale at Cosley Zoo in Wheaton and Winterfest at Randall Oaks Zoo in West Dundee are perfect options for those littles. The free (donations are greatly appreciated) Festival of Lights event at Cosley Zoo has thousands of twinkling lights on display, along with a large selection of Christmas trees and wreaths for purchase. At Winterfest, for just $5, you can enjoy the holiday lights and community decorated trees, warm up by the bonfire, and plan a visit with Santa.
Another great holiday lights display for younger children is Kohlights at Kohl Children’s Museum. This festive light display is a complete immersive experience, allowing kids to explore the different interactions of light and color. New this year, guests of Kohlights will also have access to the indoor exhibits.
Stay tuned for a more detailed and comprehensive list of outdoor light displays and in the meantime, don’t forget to check your local town for any tree or menorah lighting ceremonies!
Enjoy dazzling lights in the comfort of your own car
Photo via Santa’s Rock n Lights
Don’t worry, for those that can’t bare the cold, there are many drive thru options you can do to experience the beautiful lights. So roll up those windows and turn up the radio to listen along to holiday songs while driving through these dazzling drive-through light displays:
Arctic Adventure
Six Flags, Gurnee IL
November 17-December 31, 2023, 6p-10p
Santa’s Rock n Lights
Lake County Fairgrounds, Grayslake IL
November 17-December 31, 2023, times vary by day
Willow Hill Lights
Willow Hills Golf Course, Northbrook IL
November 17, 2023-January 6, 2024, 5p
Shine Light Show - 2023/24 Dates & Times not yet announced.
Wintrust Field, Schaumburg IL
Northbrook Court, Northbrook IL
Goebbert’s Drive Thru Light Show
Goebbert’s Farm, PIngree Grove IL
November 23-January 6, 2023, 5-11p
Larsen’s Light Show (Parking Lot show)
Goebbert’s Farm, PIngree Grove IL
November 23-January 6, 2023, 5-11p
Magical Christmas Drive Thru
Santa’s Village, East Dundee IL
November 24-December 23, 2023, 5p-930p
Festival of Lights
Phillips Park, Aurora IL
November 24-December 25, 2023, 5p-9p
Light of Christmas Drive Thru
Guaranteed Rate Field
November 20, 2023-January 3, 2024, 5p-9p
Christmas Carnival of Lights
Jellystone Park™, Caledonia WI
November 18, 2023-January 1, 2024
Sun-Thurs 5p-9p and Fri-Sat 5p-11p
For more info on all these light shows, read my blog post on the Best Drive-Thru Light Shows in Chicago and the suburbs.
BONUS!
Sometimes the best light shows are the ones that your neighbor does at their own home. There is no hassle of waiting in line and the best part is it’s all FREE! Thanks to @LightsonRevere, there is a wonderful interactive map that shows all the residential light displays in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, Kendall, Grundy and DeKalb counties!
Suburban Chicago Christmas Light Map
Plan your destinations and don’t forget to visit @LightsonRevere’s own light show at 45 Revere Drive, South Barrington.
Find the perfect tree… and cut it down yourself!
Abbey Farms | Photo by Kristel
There is nothing more liberating than walking through a tree farm and finding that oh-so-perfect tree….. and then taking a saw to it! There’s something beautiful about the whole experience and each farm has something special to offer. And don’t worry, if cutting down your own tree doesn’t sound like the best idea, most of these farms also have pre-cut trees for purchase. You can also read my blog post on 3 specific U-cut farms that we’ve been to:
Oney’s vs Abby Farms vs Richardson
DeKalb County
Camelot Christmas Tree Farm, DeKalb IL
Larson’s Family Farm, Sandwich IL
Kankakee County
Cupola House Tree Farm, Bourbonnais IL
Kendall County
Anderson Tree Farm, Plainfield IL
Lake County
Richardson Adventure Farm, Spring Grove IL
Kane County
Abbey Farms, Aurora IL
Lee’s Trees, Lily Lake IL
McHenry County
Ben’s Christmas Tree Farm, Harvard IL
Conifera Tree Farm, Harvard IL
Grandpa’s Christmas Tree Farm, Woodstock IL
Moehling Christmas Tree Farm, Woodstock IL
Oney’s Farm, Woodstock IL
Pine-Apple Farm, Cary IL
Pioneer Tree Farm, McHenry IL
Immerse yourself on a festive holiday train
CTA Holiday Train | Photo by Visual Acoustics via flickr.com
One of the most popular train rides and a family favorite tradition in Chicago is back this year! The Polar Express™ train is a magical one-hour experience, where passengers can enjoy the onboard entertainment and show. Leaving from Chicago Union Station, you can also enjoy drinking hot chocolate and eating shortbread cookies. Santa and his helpers will also board the train to greet each guest and to give out the first gift of Christmas: a silver sleigh bell.
While you’re in the city, keep an eye out for the CTA holiday train. For more than 30 years, the six-car train is decorated with holiday scenes and sparkling lights. Santa waves to the riders from his sleigh on an open-air flatcar, which replaces the head car of the train. But what many may not realize is one of the holiday train’s main purposes is to deliver food baskets to various charitable agencies throughout the city.
For another take on a Polar Express ride, drive out to Union IL to the Illinois Railway Museum for the Happy Holiday Railway. Enjoy a 40 minute train ride with treats and hot chocolate and of course a visit from Santa. New this year is an animated light show and holiday song presentation for onboard entertainment. Access to some of the museum’s display barns and the model railroad exhibit is included with your ticket.
For a another train museum experience, the East Troy Railroad Museum in Wisconsin is another great option. Their Christmas trains are available during the day and in the evenings and will take you on a magical ride to Santa’s Workshop at the Elegant Farmer, where you can take photos with Santa and partake in the fun activities.
The next stop is not exactly a train, but a magical trolly ride at the Volo Auto Museum. The Time Warp Express is an immersive experience with an interactive story and stunning light displays. Santa will be at the station for photo ops, and complimentary hot cocoa and cookies will be available to enjoy. The pizzeria and ice cream parlor will also be open to purchase food and festive drinks.
In its 25th year, the Canada Pacific Kansas City Holiday Trains will once again be riding across North America to raise money, food and awareness for food banks in their communities. The CPKC Holiday train is not a train that takes passengers, but you can follow along as to what stops it will be making to play free concerts by professional musicians from the brightly decorated train’s stage. Check out their schedule to find the most convenient location near you!
For more holiday train rides, don’t forget to check your local park district events!
Visit Santa… with your pet!
Photo via Getty Images
Santa Paws is waiting to meet your furry friend!
DuPage County
Yorktown Center, Lombard
November 14, December 5 & 12, 2023
Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook
November 20-December 5, 2023, Mondays & Tuesdays
Naperville Riverwalk, Naperville
November 28, 2023
Fox Valley Mall, Aurora
November 27, December 4 & 11, 2023
Happy Dog Barkery, Downers Grove
December 2, 2023
Hinsdale Humane Society, Hinsdale
December 2, 2023
Cortesi Veterans Memorial Park Depot, Villa Park
December 6, 2023
Two Bostons Pet Boutique
Glen Ellyn & Naperville- November 26, 2023
Springbrook & Burr Ridge & Wheaton- December 2, 2023
Market Meadows & Geneva- December 3, 2023
Lake County
The Hering Homes Team, Coldwell Banker Realty, Grayslake
December 2, 2023
Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills
November 27 & December 4
Bark University, Mundelein
December 9, 2023
Cook County
Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg
November 19 & December 10, 2023
Fashion Outlets of Chicago, Rosemont
November 20, 27 & December 4, 2023
Chicago Ridge Mall, Chicago Ridge
November 20-December 18, 2023, Select Mondays
Animal Care League, Berwyn
December 3, 2023
Pet People by Hollywood Feed Store, Northbrook
December 3, 2023
Joy’s Best Friends Best Bites, Orland Park
December 3 & 10, 2023
Community Park, Westchester
December 8, 2023
Cheney Mansion, Oak Park
December 9, 2023
Joseph C Vallez Activity Center, Berwyn
December 9, 2023
La Grange Park Recreation Center, La Grange
December 9, 2023
Twin Lakes Deck, Palatine
December 9, 2023
Sedgwick Park, La Grange
December 10, 2023
Be sure to also check the following local stores near you: Kriser’s, Bentley’s, PetSmart, Pet Plus Supplies, Petco, Tractor Supply Company, Bass Pros Shops and Cabela’s.
Take in a live theater show
The Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker | Photo by Cheryl Mann via chicagoreader.com
A Christmas Carol
Goodman Theater, Chicago
November 18-December 31, 2023
A Christmas Carol
Metropolis Performing Arts Center, Arlington Heights
November 25-December 24, 2023
Charlie Brown Christmas
Genesee Theater, Waukegan
November 19, 2023
Cirque Musica
Genesee Theater, Waukegan
December 2, 2023
Elf in Concert
Rosemont Theater, Rosemont
November 26, 2023
Hanukkah A Cappella
West Suburban Temple Har Zion, River Forest
December 7, 2023
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
Chicago Loop Synagogue, Chicago
November 3-December 23, 2023
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Cadillac Palace Theater, Chicago
December 19-31, 2023
It’s a Wonderful Life
American Blues Theater, Chicago
December 8-31, 2023
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
Rosemont Theater, Rosemont
December 3, 2023
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Cadillac Palace Theater, Chicago
December 12-17, 2023
The Magic of the Nutcracker
Genesee Theater, Waukegan
December 21, 2023
The Nutcracker
Anthenaeum Theater, Chicago
December 8-10, 2023
The Nutcracker
Joffrey Ballet, Civic Opera House, Chicago
December 2-27, 2023
The Nutcracker
Harris Theater, Chicago
November 24, 2023
The Nutcracker
Raue Center for the Arts, Crystal Lake
December 16-17, 2023
The Nutcracker
North Shore Center, Skokie
December 1-2, 2023
‘Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil
The Chicago Theater, Chicago
December 7-28, 2023