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30 Happening Things to Do In Chicago This December 2024

By Shalin

Last Updated: December 5, 2024

By Shalin

Last Updated: December 5, 2024

30 Happening Things to Do In Chicago This December 2024

With December right around the corner, the festive season is also getting closer! The city slowly turns into a winter wonderland as it prepares for Christmas🎄 and the New Year🎊 with parties, light displays, Christmas markets, and so much more! The streets will be full of joyous faces coming back from or going to events and parties. There are loads of things to do in Chicago this December, and you can make the most of the month by checking out one or multiple of them, so gather your festive spirit and start the celebrations!🎉 With this list of events in Chicago, you will have a full calendar📅 to make the most of the month.

Some Vibey Spots To Check Out

From spots for delicious food and drinks🍱 to beautiful parks and special experiences, Chicago is packed with places to try and events and activities to do. You can try something new or check out a new place almost every day and still have plenty to do at any given time in the city. Check out some of the best happening things to do in Chicago this December with us.

Ice Skating in Chicago

Glide across the ice with other skaters! Winter❄️ has settled in Chicago, and with it comes a load of activities, such as ice skating. There are a variety of rinks for ice skating⛸️ in Chicago, including a couple that are open year-round to keep the skating fun going. Don’t miss the chance and join the fun at one of the many ice rinks scattered around Chicago. Make sure you bring your skates and gear along so you don’t have to pay the entry fees!

Chicago City Tours

Chicago is a massive place with tons of things to see and explore! While people often love exploring independently, sometimes a little help can be very good.✨ Explore the beauty of this city with food🥘 and drink,🍷 architecture,🏛️ and many other tours that are offered here! All you have to do is book your preferred tour, show up at the starting point, and have loads of fun as you stuff yourself with delicious food!🍲

Parks in Chicago

Also known as The City That Works, everywhere you look, you will see busy people running from one place, one task to another. One of the many ways to relax from the city’s bustle is by taking a stroll down a park🏞️ or enjoying a nice picnic🧺 with friends or family among nature. So come and take a break from city life in one of Chicago’s many beautiful parks. It will surely relax you and have you ready to face another day!

Food & Drink Places in Chicago

The city is known for many things, and its food is one of them. It is full of must-try dishes like deep-dish pizza,🍕 Chicago-style hot dogs,🌭 and more! From cozy cafes and street food stalls to stunning restaurants, Chicago has something flavorful at every turn. Just bring your appetite and maybe some friends when you check out these amazing food and drink spots in Chicago!

Special Experiences in Chicago

If you want to experience Chicago’s exquisite charm and uniqueness, you have come to the right place. From the stunning skyline and cultural delicacies to fascinating architecture and thrilling adventures, you will have a one-of-a-kind experience no matter where you go or what you do. Get ready to make some unforgettable memories with our curated list of some of the special experiences in Chicago.✨

‘Tis The Season To Be Jolly

With Christmas🧑‍🎄 around the corner, the celebrations are in full swing! We have exhibitions, light displays💡, decorated Christmas trees🎄, holiday markets, and more to enjoy. Get a head start on the celebrations and Christmas shopping, and enjoy all the fun Christmas events in Chicago this December with this list I have curated just for you!

Winter Solstice Festival

The Winter Solstice Festival at North Park Village is a fun winter celebration for you, your friends, and your family! There are a bunch of fun outdoor activities, like stargazing✨ with Chicago, taking a walk in the winter air, enjoying tasting chestnuts🌰, and so much more! Enjoy winter in a cozy park surrounded by happy faces and your friends and family!

📍North Park Village Nature Center Park, Chicago

🗓️ December 14, 2024

Christmas Around The World

The Griffin Museum of Science & Industry has their Christmas Around the World and Holiday of Lights exhibits🌟. You can experience over 50 twinkling holiday trees and displays, each decorated to represent a different country and their celebrations! Not only that, they have a 21-and-up after-hours holiday party. Grab a seasonal cocktail🍹 or some hot cocoa, take a selfie with Santa or Krampus, and explore the museum🏛️ after it’s been closed to the public.

📍Griffin Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago

🗓️ December 12, 2024

Jack Frost Christmas Pop-up

We all love pop-ups; there are one or more for every season and every festival! If you remember Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up🎃, the same people now bring its winter❄️ sibling to you at the Fulton Market! Enjoy this two-acre attraction that contains a Christmas market, photo opportunities, and a variety of other activities like ice skating, bumper cars, axe throwing, curling, and more. Apart from that, you will also have the chance to sip on boozy hot cocoa and other holiday cocktails🍹 to unwind as you wander through a light-filled Christmas tree walk.

📍170 N Green St, Chicago

🗓️ From November 29, 2024 to January 05, 2025

Winterland at Gallagher Way

Enjoy Christmas🎄 in style at Winterland at Gallagher Way! Check out the carnival rides, food and drinks with seasonal goodies and festive-themed items, live music, meet and take photos with Santa🧑‍🎄, and more. You can also ride the holiday train around Winterland and challenge your friends and family to some Winterland bumper car rides. If that isn’t enough for you, they have a tree-lighting ceremony and Christmas movie screenings🎥 waiting for you as well!

📍Gallagher Way, Chicago

🗓️ From December 6, 2024 to December 21, 2024

Light Up The Lake

Experience the winter season’s magic with Light Up The Lake! Stroll through the dazzling outdoor lights and race down the ice slide🛝; you can even try axe throwing🪓 or take a spin in the Pier Park rides🎢. You can also explore craft workshops at the local holiday artisan markets, catch fireworks🎇, or cozy up by the firepits🔥 in the Beer Garden. Make unforgettable memories this season with the fantastic Light Up The Like at Navy Pier!

📍Navy Pier, Chicago

🗓️ From November 29, 2024 to January 05, 2025

Festive Spirit On Wheels

Christmas is the season of giving🎁, and Chicago believes in giving it their all during festive seasons. Not only do they have Christmas markets, light displays, and more among the many things to do, but they also have festive spirit on wheels🚌. Enjoy a party on a bus, ride the holiday train, or simply check out caravans decked out in holiday decor. There is something to enjoy for everyone!

Coco-Cola Holiday Caravan

The Coca-Cola Caravan is hitting the road, decked out in holiday lights to spread joy across the country. Stop by for a chance with Santa🧑‍🎄 or the iconic Coca-Cola Polar Bear🐻‍❄️, enjoy a free sample of ice-cold Coca-Cola🥶 products, and even get your very own personalized Coca-Cola Zero Sugar can!

📍Navy Pier, Chicago

🗓️ December 14, 2024

BYOB Holiday Lights Trolley

The BYOB Holiday Lights Trolleya Christmas party on wheels🚌—is returning to Chicago! Bring your own beverages🍾 and enjoy the vintage trolley ride to see Chicago’s best holiday landmarks. Get the chance to check out sights like Wrigleyville Christkindlmarket, The Magnificent Mile, and a drive-by of Millennium Park and more! Not only that, your ticket includes a complimentary snack🍘 before departure, a 3-hour ride with a tour guide, entry to the Zoo Lights, and many more activities and prizes on the trolley🚋!

📍Matilda, Chicago

🗓️ From November 29, 2024 to December 13, 2024

CTA Holiday Train and Bus

The CTA has been running their holiday-themed public transport for over 30 years now! The CTA Holiday Train & Bus🚌 make all the stops along their respective routes, but their main purpose is to deliver joy and the holiday spirit⭐ to the people as they go about their daily commute. Each transport🚅 is wrapped with holiday and seasonal images🎄. Thousands of twinkling lights outline the shape and windows, with even more lights running across the tops.

🚄 From November 29, 2024 to December 23, 2024

🚌 From November 26, 2024 to December 21, 2024

A Very Merry Market

With the amount of things to do in Chicago this December, there are bound to be Christmas markets. The city is home to a magical array of Christmas markets, from artisan pop-ups to traditional markets! Take your pick and check out these amazing markets🏪. You will surely find something for everyone on your list and for yourself, too!

Christkindlmarket

The Christkindlmarket is a German-style Christmas market that offers a cozy atmosphere, Christmas decorations, and festive music. Of course, that isn’t all! Upon entry, you will be greeted by roasted nuts🥜, fresh pretzels🥨, bratwurst🌭, and hot spiced wine!🍷 The food and drinks, the vendor products from around the world,🌎 and everything else make for a unique experience. Get ready to eat, drink, and shop to your heart’s desire!

📍Daley Plaza, Chicago

🗓️ From November 22, 2024 to December 24, 2024

Sauced Night Market Before Xmas

SAUCED Night Market Before Xmas is going to guarantee you have the most wonderful and the sauciest time of the year! With over thirty local vendors, you can shop for anything from cozy sweaters to handbound notebooks and one-of-a-kind art. Check names off of your holiday list as you buy them gifts🎁 from the market. It has everything you need and more! Hungry after all the shopping? Don’t worry; the market even features special treats🧁 and drinks🍷 to satisfy your cravings.

📍Chicago Athletic Association, Chicago

🗓️ From December 13, 2024 to December 14, 2024

Hyde Park Handmade Artisan Bazaar

The Hyde Park Handmade is an artisan market celebrating 10 years of showcasing hundreds of neighborhood craft, fashion, and food makers. This indoor market🏪 has everything you need, featuring makers from all over Chicago. Enjoy this unique shopping experience with cocktails, food, lounge areas, and a DJ🎛️!

📍The Promontory, Chicago

🗓️ December 22, 2024

Chicago Fair Trade Holiday Pop-Up Shop

This December, support the local businesses at Chicago Fair Trade’s Holiday Pop-Up Shop. This unique shopping experience makes it easy to find one-of-a-kind holiday gifts🎁 with fair trade, eco-friendly products from over two dozen local businesses for you to explore! Enjoy things from gourmet treats🧁 and drinks🍹 to cozy apparel and home décor!

📍The Magnificient Mile, Chicago

🗓️ From November 29, 2024 to December 30, 2024

Light Up Your Day

Celebrate this magical time of the year✨! Enjoy dazzling light displays with their bright and beautiful colors, shapes, and more. From beautiful, light-covered trails to drone shows, Chicago has a bit of everything for you, so check out these beautiful light displays before they are gone!

Lightscape – Chicago Botanic Garden

Experience an illuminated trail for enchanting winter nights. Light, music, and art set the scene at the Chicago Botanic Garden, taking your holiday celebration to new heights! Embrace the spirit and beauty of the season with a stroll under the Lightscape✨ or enjoy an adults-only night👯 where you can admire the Christmas lights in Chicago and take a stroll and sip cocktails. 🍸

📍 Chicago Botanic Garden

🗓️ From November 15, 2024 to January 05, 2025

Illumination: Tree Lights at Morton Arboretum

Celebrate the holidays and marvel at how light transforms a magnificent landscape at the 12th annual Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum. Enjoy the beautiful light displays, warm up by a crackling fire🔥, and roast marshmallows for s’mores; stop by the concession tent⛺ for snacks and beverages, or enjoy a laser light finale! Apart from the 17 displays of lights and music🎵 that highlight the beauty of trees in winter, there is also an event for 21 and older where you can sample local brews🍺 and other special events.

📍The Morton Arboretum, Chicago

🗓️ From November 16, 2024 to January 04, 2025

Zoo Lights

The ZooLights feature over three million lights⭐, including hundreds of luminous LED displays and festive seasonal experiences. Not only that, they have new artistic interactive displays and programming! Celebrate the new and the nostalgic with 30 years of ZooLights as you explore the thrilling holiday light tunnel or ride the iconic Ferris Wheel🎡 with incredible views of the skyline and all the twinkling lights. You can also indulge in hot chocolate☕ or roast s’mores on an open fire🔥. On select nights, sing alongside carolers or be amazed by professional ice carvers🧊 along with a new light lounge!

📍Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago

🗓️ From November 15, 2024 to January 05, 2025

Holiday Drone Show

Enjoy the winter❄️ season with amazing festive-themed drone shows⭐! Look at pretty lights and intricate and beautiful shapes and designs formed in the sky with about a thousand drones.

📍Navy Pier South Dock, Chicago

🗓️ December 06, 2024 and December 13, 2024

Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo

Get ready to visit Chicago’s longest-running lights festival. Running for more than 40 years and featuring over two million twinkling LED lights💡, along with two immersive lighting areas at the zoo, you are guaranteed to have an exciting time! Experience Candy Cane Lane and the Sparkling Coast alongside the holiday market, a meeting with Santa🧑‍🎄, seasonal treats and drinks, a gift spot🎁, and more.

📍Navy Pier, Chicago

🗓️ From November 29, 2024 to December 31, 2024

Some Drinking Involved

Unwind and relax during this festive season with a drink!🍸 Chicago has no lack of fantastic food and drink places and events where you can be yourself and enjoy a couple of drinks! Explore different pubs with a pub and bar crawl in Chicago, or reward yourself with a beer🍺 after a run🏃; there is so much to do!

Twelve Bars of Christmas (TBOX) Pub Crawl

TBOX is an epic pub crawl! Imagine a bunch of friends meeting early morning and getting drunk.🥂 If that is your vibe then this is a must-go event for you! With over 25 bars to visit and all the proceeds going to charity, this is something you will enjoy without any regrets! Celebrate the Holidays with an all-day costume extravaganza and a couple drinks with people just as jolly as you!🎊

📍3655 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago

🗓️ December 14, 2024

Holiday Winter Dash Beer Run

Celebrate the holiday season with the annual Winter Dash 0.5K run! You are in for a fun-filled day of running🏃, beer🍺, and good vibes. Start together with all the other participants and run, walk, or jog before celebrating with a local craft beer at the finish line. Not only that, but you also have the chance to win sweet prizes like merchandise or beer🍺 to take home, access to event festivities like live music🎵, games🎮, and goodies with our partners and sponsors, and more!

📍Goose Island Beer Co. & Midwest Coast Brewing, Chicago

🗓️ December 08, 2024

A Show With Some Expensive Popcorn

The festive season tends to get hectic with all the decorating and preparations for festivities and parties🎉! So why not unwind with a show? Check out this list of shows in Chicago this December that are guaranteed to relax you. Take your pick from a variety of live performances, movies📽️, and music events in Chicago to make your December exciting and memorable.

Blue Man Group

Everyone knows them and loves them! The Blue Man Group is a performance art company that incorporates many kinds of music🎶 and art🖼️, both popular and obscure, in their stage productions. Celebrate the festive month🎄 with one of their last few performances in the city. Not only is it a fun performance for all ages, it will be a day full of good vibes, fun, and excitement!

📍Briar Street Theater, Chicago

🗓️ From November 29, 2024 to December 29, 2024

The Movie Menu

The Movie Menu🎬 offers an epic feast of films! Are you ready for an exciting selection of cinematic delights, popcorn🍿, and fun? Apart from that, they also have a delicious food and drink menu🧾 to enjoy with your film! Get your friends and family, or come alone and enjoy a night filled with laughter, suspense, and entertainment!

📍 1837 W Fulton St, Chicago

🗓️ December 07, 2024

Chicago: Home of House Exhibit

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of house music🎶. This one-of-a-kind exhibit pays homage to the energy, music, and dance of Black and Latino youth on Chicago’s south and west sides that laid the critical foundation for Chicago House music. The exhibit will explore the history of the artists and labels that built the style of House pioneers and practitioners. If you are a music geek, make sure to check out this exhibit!

📍Navy Pier, Chicago

🗓️ From November 29, 2024 to December 15, 2024

The Nutcracker at The Joffrey Ballet

Everyone knows the Nutcracker! It is a Christmas classic ballet🩰 that tells the story of a young girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas Eve. In the spirit of the festive season🎄, this ballet is back in theaters. Make sure to check it out! It is a classic you can watch as often as your heart desires and not grow tired or bored!

📍The Joffrey Ballet, Chicago

🗓️ From October 21, 2024 to December 27, 2024

Welcoming The New Year

Experience New Year’s Eve celebrations as you say goodbye to the current year and welcome the new one! Chicago has a lot of things to do for New Year’s Eve. From fireworks and parties to countdowns🕛, it will be one of the most epic nights of the year. Come check out this list we have curated for you of things happening on New Year in Chicago!

New Year’s Eve Fireworks

Celebrate the last day of the year with Chicago’s renowned award-winning fireworks!🎆 Welcome the New Year with a mesmerizing and free firework showcase that will illuminate the lakefront with vibrant lights and colors. Make sure to arrive early to secure a good spot or check out their viewing lounge so you can enjoy the view of the New Year’s Eve fireworks display at midnight.🌃

📍Navy Pier, Chicago

🗓️ December 31, 2024

Grand Chicago New Year’s Eve 2025

Experience the grandest New Year’s Eve celebration!🪩 Gather on the city’s largest dance floor💃 to welcome the New Year. With live music, DJs, and a 70-foot balloon drop, you will find yourself swept up in the exciting atmosphere of the city’s most elegant New Year’s Eve event.

📍Aon Grand Ballroom, Chicago

🗓️ December 31, 2024

Wrapping It Up!

That is all for now! I hope you enjoy this list of the best things to do in Chicago this December. Take a look through this list curated just for you and pick your favourite events! Worry not because if none of them catch your eye, there are many more events and activities waiting for you.✨

Author Bio

Shalin

With a curious mind and the urge to explore and try everything new, Shalin loves creating lists of things to do, food and drinks to try, and places to visit. His handpicked events are a mixture of every sort of fun you can have, activities you can enjoy, and events that will fill you with adrenaline. Let his to-do lists fill up your schedule with excitement!

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