101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Chicago - 2023

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 in 2023!

Santa Sightings

Nov 4 - Dec 24, 2023 (multiple dates)	Macy's Holiday Celebrations - Macy's State Street
Opening Nov 9, 2023	Santa Photo Experience - Woodfield Mall
Nov 10 - Dec 24, 2023	Photos with Santa - Fox Valley Mall
Nov 18 - Dec 24, 2023	Santa Visits - 900 North Michigan Shops
Nov 11 - Dec 23, 2023 (select dates)	Christmas Town at Summerfield Farm and Zoo
Nov 11 - Dec 24, 2023 (multiple dates)	Photos with Santa - Yorktown Center
Nov 16 - Dec 24, 2023	Pictures with Santa at the Lawn - Oakbrook Center
Nov 17, 2023	Santas Arrival - Hawthorn
Nov 17 - Dec 24, 2023 (multiple dates)	Photos with Santa - Fashion Outlets of Chicago
Nov 17 - Dec 24, 2023	Pictures with Santa - Northbrook Court
Nov 18 - Dec 24, 2023	Photos with Santa - Hawthorn
Nov 24 - Dec 23, 2023	Santa's Village - East Dundee
Nov 24 - Dec 23, 2023	Santa in the Village & Free Pictures with Santa - Historic Downtown Long Grove
Nov 27 - Dec 21, 2023	Santa's Workshop 2023 - Naperville Park District
Nov 30, 2023	Snacks with Santa - West Ridge Center
Dec 2 & 9, 2023	Santa at the Museum - Aurora Regional Fire Museum
Dec 9, 10, 16 & 17, 2023	Breakfast with Santa - Lambs Farm

Old-Time Christmas

Nov 17 - Dec 23, 2023 (select dates)	Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides - Historic Downtown Long Grove
Dec 2 - 17, 2023 (select dates)	Caroling Around Downtown

Light Displays

Nov 10, 2023 - Jan 7, 2024	Lightscape - Chicago Botanic Garden
Nov 12, 2023 - Jan 7, 2024	Holiday Magic in Motion - The Promenade Bolingbrook
Nov 16, 2023	Illuminate 900: Holiday Tree Lighting - 900 North Michigan Shops
Nov 17 - Dec 31, 2023	Sparkle Light Festival
Nov 17, 2023 - Jan 6, 2024	Willow Hill Lights - Northbrook
Nov 17, 2023 - Jan 7, 2024	Lincoln Park ZooLights
Nov 18, 2023	Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum
Nov 18, 2023	Tree Lighting Festival - Museum of Science + Industry Chicago
Nov 18, 2023	The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
Nov 18, 2023 - Jan 7, 2024	Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light - Museum of Science + Industry Chicago
Nov 23 - Dec 31, 2023	Naper Lights - Naperville
Nov 23, 2023 - Jan 7, 2024	Winter Lights at Central Park - Oak Brook Park District
Nov 24, 2023	Lights in the Heights - Memorial Park
Nov 24 - Dec 31, 2023	Light Up the Lake - Navy Pier
Nov 24 - Dec 31, 2023	Holiday Magic - Brookfield Zoo
Dec 2 - 23, 2023 (select dates)	Christmas in the Commons - New Lenox
Dec 7, 2023	Tree Lighting in Wilder Park - Elmhurt Park District

Living Nativities

Nov 24 - 26, 2023	Journey to Bethlehem - Faith United Church of Tinley Park
Dec 2, 2023	Christmas Wonder: A Journey to Bethlehem - New Life Church
Dec 10, 2023	Live Nativity - Naperville Campus

Holiday Theatre

Nov 11 - Dec 24, 2023	The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party - Chicago Children's Theatre
Nov 17 - Dec 1, 2023 (multiple dates)	The Snow Queen - Mariott Theatre
Nov 19, 2023	A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live On Stage - Genesee Theatre
Nov 24, 2023	The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays - Cadillac Palace Theatre
Nov 25, 2023	For King + Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas - NOW Arena
Nov 25 & 26, 2023	Beyond the Nutcracker - Athenaeum Center
Nov 25 - Dec 24, 2023 (multiple dates)	A Christmas Carol - Metropolis Peforming Arts Center
Dec 1 - 3, 2023	Winter Circus Spectacular - NOW Arena
Dec 2, 2023	Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland - Genesee Theatre
Dec 3, 2023	Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet - Rosemont Theatre
Dec 2 - 27, 2023	The Nutcracker - Joffrey Ballet \| Lyric Opera House
Dec 7 - 28, 2023 (select dates)	Twas the Night Before... by Cirque du Soleil - The Chicago Theatre
Dec 8 - 10, 2023	The Nutcracker - Athenaeum Center
Dec 12 - 17, 2023	The Hip Hop Nutcracker - Cadillac Palace Theater
Dec 11, 2023	Celtic Angels Christmas - Metropolis Performing Arts Center
Dec 16, 2023	Mannheim Steamroller Christmas - Rosemont Theatre
Dec 16 & 17, 2023	The Nutcracker - The MAC
Dec 19 - 31, 2023	How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical - Cadillac Palace Theater

Holiday Concerts

Nov 26, 2023	Elf in Concert - Rosemont Theatre
Nov 27, 2023	Pentatonix: The Most Wonderful Tour of the Year - Vibrant Arena
Dec 4 & 5, 2023	A Bing Crosby Christmas with Broadway’s Jared Bradshaw feat. the Music of the Andrews Sisters - Metropolis Performing Arts Center
Dec 10, 2023	The Chris White Jazz Trio Tribute to A Charlie Brown Christmas - Lincoln Park Zoo
Dec 11, 2023	Darren Criss "A Very Merry Crissmas" - Athenaeum Center
Dec 16 & 17, 2023	Nutcracker - Engage Dance Theatre & Raue Center for the Arts
Dec 23, 2023	For kids from 1 to 92 - Raue Center for the Arts
Dec 28, 2023	Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve - Allstate Arena

Christmas Tree Experience

Opening Nov 13, 2023	Ivy's Christmas Trees
Nov 24 - Dec 30, 2023	Festival of Lights & Tree Sale - Cosley Zoo
Open Nov - Dec, 2023	Anderson Tree Farm
Open Nov 24 - 26 & Dec 2 & 3, 2023	Pioneer Tree Farm
Nov 18 - Dec 10, 2023	Abbey Farms
Opening Nov 24, 2023	Tammen Treeberry Farm
Opening Nov 24, 2023	Camelot Trees
Opening Nov 24, 2023	Larson's Family Farm
Opening Nov 24, 2023	Conifera Tree Farm
Nov 24 - Dec 3, 2023	Richardson Farm U-Cut Christmas Trees
Nov 24 - Dec 3, 2023	Moehling Christmas Tree Farm
Nov 24 - Dec 3, 2023	Ben's Christmas Tree Farm
Nov 24 - Dec 10, 2023 (select dates)	Grandpa's Tree Farm
Nov 24 - 26, 2023	Oney's Tree Farm

Ice Skating

Open Year Round	Fifth Third Arena - Chicago Blackhawks Community Ice Rink
Open Year Round	Morgan Park Sports Center Ice Rink
Open Year Round	McFetridge Sports Center Ice Rink
Open Year Round	Heartland Ice Arena
Open Year Round	Park District of Franklin Park Ice Arena
Open Now through Jan 28, 2024	Skating at the Park - Parkway Bank Park
Opening Nov 17, 2023	Ice Skating Ribbon - Maggie Daley Park
Nov 21, 2023 - Jan 7, 2024	Winterland at Gallagher Way
Nov 24, 2023 - Feb 19, 2024	Wentworth Ice Rink
Nov 2023 - March 2024	Ice Skating in Millenium Park - McCormick Tribune Ice Rink

Hanukkah

Dec 3 - 23, 2023 (select dates)	Hershel & The Hanukkah Goblins - Strawdog Theatre Company
Dec 3, 2023	See, Sing, Celebrate! \| Hanukkah - Kol Hadash Sunday Schoool at Deerfield High School
Dec 4, 2023	Shine Bright: A Hanukkah Workshop - West Ridge Center
Dec 7, 2023	Latke Fun Chanukah Party - PJ Library
Dec 10, 2023	Hanukkah Family Celebration & Lunch - Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation Sunday School
Dec 10, 2023	Chanukah at Candycopia - Oak Park

Shopping & Craft Fairs

Nov 10 - 12, 2023	Winterfest Art Market - The Dock at 150 First Street
Nov 11, 2023	Making Spirits Briht Pop-Up Winter Shopping Market - Hinsdale Covenant Church
Nov 11, 2023	2023 Winter Market - Palos Heights
Nov 11, 2023	Holiday Craft Fair - Triphahn Center & Ice Arena
Nov 11, Dec 2 & 16, 2023	Art and Market - Society 57
Nov 17 - Dec 20, 2023	21st Annual Winter Arts & Craft Expo - Evanston Art Center
Nov 17 - Dec 31, 2023	Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville - Gallagher Way
Nov 25, 2023	Holiday Pop-Up Craft Show - Arts in Bartlet Center for the Arts
Nov 25 & 26, 2023	Marmion Christmas Craft Show - Marmiom Academy
Nov 26, 2023	Holiday Craft Fair - Spring Valley Nature Club Nature Center
Dec 1, 2023	Kris Kringle Market - Palos Heights
Dec 2, 2023	Santa's Workshop at Wilder Mansion
Dec 2, 2023	Cookie Walk & Craft Fair - Journey of Hope UMC
Dec 9, 2023	Holly Jolly Market - North Center Town Square

New Year's Eve

Dec 29, 2023	Noon Year's Eve - Palos Heights Recreation Center
Dec 29, 2023	Teenie Weenie New Year's Eve Ball - Simkus Recreaion Center
Dec 31, 2023	New Year's Eve Fireworks - Navy Pier
Dec 31, 2023	Bubble Bash: A Family-Friendly New Year's Eve - DuPage Children's Museum
Dec 31, 2023	Countdown to Fun - Discovery Center Museum

Miscellaneous

Nov 17, 2023	Holiday Walk - Historic Downtown Long Grove
Nov 24 - 23, 2023	Happy Holiday Railway - Illinois Railway Museum
Nov 30 - Dec 17, 2023 (select dates)	Holiday Express - Blackberry Farm
Dec 1, 2023	Cocoa Crawl in Aurora - Downtown Aurora
Dec 2, 2023	Holiday Parade on Harlem - Palos Heights
Dec 2, 2023	Grinchmas! - Highland Park Country Club
Dec 2, 2023	The Great Ornament Hunt - Heller Nature Center
Dec 2, 2023	Hyde Park Holly-Day Celebration
Dec 2 & 3, 2023	Polar Express Storytime Train - Geneva Train Station
Dec 2 & 3, 2023	15th Annual Christmas Express - CASA of River Valley
Dec 3, 2023	North Shore Winter Classic Skating Competition - Centennial Ice Arena
Dec 3, 2023 - Jan 1, 2024	The Polar Express Train Ride - Chicago Union Station
Dec 14, 2023	Gingerbread House Workshop - West Ridge Center
Dec 16, 2023	Home for the Holidays - Downtown Oak Park
Dec 16, 2023	WWE Live Holiday Tour Supershow - Vibrant Arena
Dec 16, 2023	Winter Solstice - Heller Nature Center
Dec 22, 2023	Winter Wonderland - Discovery Center Museum