Events

What's on in Chicago

Town festivals, live music, markets, kids' stuff and the recurring meetups and support groups that don't usually make a calendar. Free events are marked.

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November 2026

Friday 13NOV

A Christmas Carol at Goodman Theatre Goodman Theatre, Albert Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn Street · Arts, Holiday, Family Maggie Daley Park Skating Ribbon Opens Maggie Daley Park, 337 E. Randolph Street · Outdoors, Family, Sports, Holiday Lightscape at the Chicago Botanic Garden Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe · Holiday, Outdoors, Family, Arts

Saturday 14NOV

Illumination at The Morton Arboretum The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle · Holiday, Outdoors, Family, Arts

Friday 20NOV

Christkindlmarket Chicago at Daley Plaza Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington Street · Holiday, Market, Food, Family Free Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville at Gallagher Way Gallagher Way, 3635 N. Clark Street · Holiday, Market, Food, Family Free Christkindlmarket Aurora at RiverEdge Park RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora · Holiday, Market, Food, Family Free ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark Street · Holiday, Family, Outdoors City of Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Millennium Park, near Michigan Avenue and Washington Street · Holiday, Family, Community, Music Free Millennium Park Holiday Market Millennium Park, Chase Promenade North, 201 E. Randolph Street · Holiday, Market, Community, Food Free

Saturday 21NOV

Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival North Michigan Avenue from Oak Street to the Chicago River; Pioneer Court, 401 N. Michigan Avenue · Holiday, Parade, Family, Music Free Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo Chicago Brookfield Zoo Chicago, 31st Street and Golfview Avenue, Brookfield · Holiday, Family, Outdoors

Thursday 26NOV

Chicago Thanksgiving Parade State Street from Ida B. Wells Drive to Randolph Street · Parade, Holiday, Family, Community Free Life Time Turkey Trot Chicago 5K and 8K Lincoln Park, south of Diversey Parkway near Cannon Drive · Sports, Outdoors, Holiday, Community

Friday 27NOV

Light Up the Holidays Festival and Parade in Joliet Downtown Joliet, City Square and Chicago Street · Holiday, Parade, Family, Community Free St. Charles Holiday Homecoming and Electric Christmas Parade Downtown St. Charles, 1st Street Plaza and Main Street · Holiday, Parade, Family, Community Free

December 2026

Thursday 3DEC

One of a Kind Holiday Show The Mart, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, 7th floor · Market, Arts, Holiday

Friday 4DEC

The Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive · Arts, Holiday, Family, Music Geneva Christmas Walk Downtown Geneva, Third Street and the Kane County Courthouse lawn · Holiday, Family, Community, Market Free Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Along Millennium Park, Grainger Plaza at Cloud Gate, 201 E. Randolph Street · Holiday, Music, Family, Community Free

Saturday 5DEC

Downtown Evanston Holiday Light Celebration Fountain Square, Davis Street and Sherman Avenue, Evanston · Holiday, Family, Community, Music Free

Sunday 6DEC

Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade Dan Ryan Woods, 8300 S. Western Avenue, north on Western Avenue · Parade, Community, Holiday Free

Friday 18DEC

Merry, Merry Chicago! with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Avenue · Music, Holiday, Family, Arts

Thursday 31DEC

New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Navy Pier Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue · Holiday, Outdoors, Community, Family Free