Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities for Chicago Families

Christmas or Xmas, Hanukkah or Chanukah, there are plenty of ways for families to enjoy the season around Chicago.

Find fun holiday events, Christmas activities in Chicago, including Christmas lights, Hanukkah celebrations, polar express and Christmas trains, Santa visits, and more seasonal fun in our awesome Chicago Holidays Guide

Holiday Activities for Chicago Kids
Breakfast with Santa at Drury Lane
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Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden. Photo courtesy of the event.
The Chicago Must-Do Christmas Events to Book Now Before They Sell Out
The Annual Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
25 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in Chicago for Kids
Cut your own tree this year at one of these Christmas tree farms near Chicago. Photo courtesy of Comstock Images
Top Christmas Tree Farms Near Chicago
Here's our list of the best Chicago neighborhoods to see holiday lights. Photo courtesy of the Larsen Christmas Lights Show
Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in Chicago
Visit Santa at the Midwestern Christmas town of Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Photo courtesy of cedarburgfestival.org
The Best Christmas Towns in the Midwest

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Those eight crazy nights are approaching and we’ve got everything you need to celebrate Hanukkah with your family. Photo courtesy Cottonbro Studios
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The Furoshiki method is a practical way to wrap gifts using pieces of cloth. Photo courtesy of Invaluable
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Latest Christmas/Hanukkah News

Light Up the Lake. Photo courtesy of Navy Pier
Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Chicago 2025
Brighten up your holiday nights with a visit to one of these elaborate lights displays and...
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The zoo is all aglow! Lincoln Park Zoo Lights photo by Brandon Tucker, courtesy of the zoo.
31 Free Holiday and Christmas Events in Chicago for Kids
Get ready for a season full of holiday fun—all of it FREE.
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Here's our list of the best Chicago neighborhoods to see holiday lights. Photo courtesy of the Larsen Christmas Lights Show
Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in Chicago
Check out these neighborhoods near Chicago for the best lights displays in the area.
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Armed with our giant list of Christmas crafts, you'll keep kids busy until the New Year!
101 Fun Christmas Crafts and Games for Kids to Do at Home
Keep kids busy until it's time to tear into stockings!
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Give them something to be excited about when it's time to open stockings!
25 Cool Stocking Stuffers for Kids for $10 or Less
No coal this Christmas, just cool gifts under ten bucks.
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Uh-oh! The elf tangled up your tree lights! Photo by Mark Baylor, courtesy of Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
  VIDEO
50 Best Elf on the Shelf Ideas for 2025: Easy & Funny Ideas to Delight Kids
Simple but hilarious Elf on the Shelf shenanigans that will delight your kids.
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