KidsOutAndAbout is Chicago's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, so click through to make arrangements. Enjoy the holidays!
If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Mindy Mangan at mindy@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!
Below are items that have been posted to our calendar. If you are affiliated with a business hosting a holiday event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to post! Click here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!
If you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter for Chicago, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you! In the meantime, enjoy the ideas below for holiday family fun!
Santa Sightings
Meals with Santa
Old-Time Christmas
Light Displays
| Multiple dates starting Nov 8, 2025 |
Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light - Museum of Science + Industry Chicago |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 14, 2025 |
Lightscape - Chicago Botanic Garden |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 14, 2025 |
Willow Hill Lights - Northbrook |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 15, 2025 |
Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum |
| Nov 18, 2025 |
Illumination Sensory Night - Morton Arboretum |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 21, 2025 |
Lincoln Park ZooLights |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 21, 2025 |
Holiday Magic - Brookfield Zoo |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 21, 2025 |
Winter Lights at Central Park - Oak Brook Park District |
| Nov 22, 2025 |
Light Up the Park – Parkway Bank Park |
| Nov 22, 2025 |
The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2025 |
Trolley Tour of Lights - Timber Ridge |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 27, 2025 |
Naper Lights - Naperville |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 28, 2025 |
The Aurora Festival of Lights |
| Dec 4, 2025 |
Tree Lighting in Wilder Park - Elmhurt Park District |
| Dec 4, 2025 |
Sensory Friendly Holiday Magic at the Brookfield Zoo |
| Dec 5, 2025 |
Winterland Tree Lighting at Gallagher Way |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
Holiday Tree Lighting Village of Bartlett |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 6, 2025 |
Christmas in the Commons - New Lenox |
Living Nativities
Nutcracker Performances
Holiday Theatre
Holiday Concerts
| Multiple dates starting Nov 5, 2025 |
Million Dollar Quartet Christmas - Marriott Theatre |
| Nov 19, 2025 |
Pentatonix - Vibrant Arena |
| Nov 29, 2025 |
Jim Brickman - A Celebration of Christmas Classics - North Shore Center |
| Nov 29, 2025 |
Straight No Chaser - The Chicago Theatre |
| Nov 30, 2025 |
Handel's Messiah - North Shore Center |
| Dec 1, 2025 |
Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Handel Messiah |
| Dec 5, 2025 |
Gavin Coyle & Friends - A Celtic Christmas |
| Dec 7, 2025 |
Rain - A Tribute to the Beatles - Genesee Theater |
| Dec 7, 2025 |
DuPage Chorale |
| Dec 7, 2025 |
The Chris White Jazz Trio Tribute to A Charlie Brown Christmas - Lincoln Park Zoo |
| Dec 8, 2025 |
DuPage Community Concert Band - A Holiday Spectacular |
| Dec 10, 2025 |
Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour 2025 - Genesee Theatre |
| Dec 10, 2025 |
A Carpenters Christmas - Raue Center for the Arts |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 13, 2025 |
Home Alone in Concert - Symphony Center Orchestra Hall |
| Dec 15-16, 2025 |
The Lovettes: Boogie Woogie Santa Claus |
| Dec 18 - 21, 2025 |
Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings - Stan Mansion |
| Dec 19 - 20, 2025 |
Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Merry, Merry Chicago |
| Dec 20, 2025 |
The Holiday in Concert - Auditorium Theatre |
| Dec 20, 2025 |
A Motown Christmas - Des Plaines Theatre |
| Dec 20, 2025 |
Mannheim Steamroller - James M Nederlander Theatre |
| Dec 26, 2025 |
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve |
Christmas Tree Experience
| Opening Nov 17, 2025 |
Ivy's Christmas Trees |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 28, 2025 |
Festival of Lights & Tree Sale - Cosley Zoo |
| Open Nov - Dec, 2025 |
Anderson Tree Farm |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 22, 2025 |
Abbey Farms |
| Opening Nov 23, 2025 |
Conifera Tree Farm |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 28, 2025 |
Pioneer Tree Farm |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 28, 2025 |
Tammen Treeberry Farm |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 28, 2025 |
Camelot Trees |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 28, 2025 |
Larson's Family Farm |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 28, 2025 |
Richardson Farm U-Cut Christmas Trees |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 28, 2025 |
Ben's Christmas Tree Farm |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 28, 2025 |
Oney's Tree Farm |
Ice Skating
Hanukkah
Shopping & Craft Fairs
| Nov 10 & 11, 2025 |
Holiday Market in the Garden Shop |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 21, 2025 |
Annual Winter Arts & Craft Expo - Evanston Art Center |
| Nov 22, 2025 |
Fall Craft Fair - Prisco Community Center |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 23, 2025 |
The Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville |
| Nov 30, 2025 |
Merry and Bright Christmas Gift Market |
| Nov 29, 30, 2025 |
Marmion Christmas Craft Show - Marmiom Academy |
| Dec 5 & 6, 2025 |
Kris Kringle Market - Palos Heights |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
Cookie Walk & Craft Fair - Journey of Hope UMC |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
Cookie Walk & Craft Fair - Journey of Hope UMC |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
Santa's Workshop at Wilder Mansion |
| Dec 6, 13, 2025 |
Holiday Pop Up Boutique - Arts in Bartlet Center for the Arts |
| Dec 13 & 14, 2025 |
Holly Jolly Market - North Center Town Square |
New Year's Fun
Miscellaneous
| Nov 1, 2025 |
Pumpkin Smash |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2025 |
Winterland - Gallagher Way |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 28, 2025 |
Happy Holiday Railway - Illinois Railway Museum |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 5, 2025 |
Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 5, 2025 |
Holiday Express - Blackberry Farm |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
The Great Ornament Hunt at the Heller Nature Center |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
Hyde Park Holly-Day Celebration |
| Dec 6 & 7, 2025 |
Polar Express Storytime Train - Geneva Train Station |
| Dec 6 & 7, 2025 |
Annual Christmas Express - CASA of River Valley |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 7, 2025 |
Storytime with the Grinch - Blackberry Farm |
| Dec 11, 2025 |
Santa's Workshop - Schaumburg Community Recreation Center |
| Dec 12, 2025 |
Grinchmas - Coyote Crossing Mini Golf |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 22, 2025 |
Tennis Winter Break Camp 1 |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 29, 2025 |
Tennis Winter Break Camp 2 |
Below are holiday events that have been posted to our calendar by local organizations. If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com and BeyondTheNest.com at ross@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!
