101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Chicago - 2024
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!
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Santa Sightings
| Nov 2 - Dec 24, 2024 (multiple dates) | Macy's Holiday Celebrations - Macy's State Street |
| Opening Nov 18, 2024 | Santa Photo Experience - Woodfield Mall |
| Nov 7- Dec 24, 2024 | Photos with Santa - Fox Valley Mall |
| Nov 16 - Dec 22, 2024 (select dates) | Christmas Town at Summerfield Farm and Zoo |
| Nov 16- Dec 24, 2024 (multiple dates) | Photos with Santa - Yorktown Center |
| Nov 16 - Dec 24, 2024 | Pictures with Santa at the Lawn - Oakbrook Center |
| Nov 14 - Dec 24 2024 | Santas Arrival - Hawthorn |
| Nov 15 - Dec 24, 2023 (multiple dates) | Photos with Santa - Fashion Outlets of Chicago |
| Nov 15 - Dec 24, 2024 | Pictures with Santa - Northbrook Court |
| Nov 14 - Dec 24, 2024 | Photos with Santa - Hawthorn |
| Nov 24, 2024 | Santa Sails the Seadog to Harry Caray's | Navy Pier |
| Nov 29 - Dec 29, 2024 | Santa's Village - East Dundee |
| Nov 29 - Dec 22, 2024 (multiple dates) | Santa in the Village & Free Pictures with Santa - Historic Downtown Long Grove |
| Dec 2 - Dec 22, 2024 | Santa's Workshop - Naperville Park District |
| Dec 7 & 14, 2024 | Santa at the Museum - Aurora Regional Fire Museum |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 7, 2024 | Breakfast with Santa - Lambs Farm |
Old-Time Christmas
| Nov 23 - Dec 22, 2024 (select dates) | Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides - Historic Downtown Long Grove |
| Dec 7 - 22, 2024 (select dates) | Caroling Around Downtown |
| Dec 10, 2024 | A Chanticleer Christmas - Symphony Center Orchestra Hall |
Light Displays
| Nov 15, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025 | Lightscape - Chicago Botanic Garden |
| Nov 21, 2024 | Illuminate 900: Holiday Tree Lighting - 900 North Michigan Shops |
| Nov 23, 2024 | Light Up the Park – Parkway Bank Park |
| Nov 22, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025 | Willow Hill Lights - Northbrook |
| Nov 15, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025 | Lincoln Park ZooLights |
| Nov 16, 2024 - Jan 4, 2025 | Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum |
| Nov 23, 2024 | The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival |
| Nov 18, 2024 - Jan 6, 2025 | Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light - Museum of Science + Industry Chicago |
| Nov 28 - Dec 31, 2024 | Naper Lights - Naperville |
| Nov 22, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025 | Winter Lights at Central Park - Oak Brook Park District |
| Nov 29, 2024 | Lights in the Heights - Memorial Park |
| Nov 29 - Jan 5, 2025 | Light Up the Lake - Navy Pier |
| Nov 22 - Dec 31, 2024 | Holiday Magic - Brookfield Zoo |
| Nov 30 - Dec 22, 2024 (select dates) | Christmas in the Commons - New Lenox |
| Dec 5, 2024 | Tree Lighting in Wilder Park - Elmhurt Park District |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Winter Fireworks | Navy Pier |
Living Nativities
| Nov 29 - Dec 1, 2024 | Journey to Bethlehem - Faith United Church of Tinley Park |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Christmas Wonder: A Journey to Bethlehem - New Life Church |
| Dec 15, 2024 | Live Nativity - Naperville Campus |
Holiday Theatre
Holiday Concerts
Christmas Tree Experience
| Opening Nov 18, 2024 | Ivy's Christmas Trees |
| Nov 29 - Dec 30, 2024 | Festival of Lights & Tree Sale - Cosley Zoo |
| Open Nov - Dec, 2024 | Anderson Tree Farm |
| Nov 29 - Dec 8, 2024 | Pioneer Tree Farm |
| Nov 23 - Dec 23, 2024 | Abbey Farms |
| Opening Nov 29, 2024 | Tammen Treeberry Farm |
| Opening Nov 29, 2024 | Camelot Trees |
| Opening Nov 29, 2024 | Larson's Family Farm |
| Opening Nov 24, 2024 | Conifera Tree Farm |
| Nov 29 - Dec 22, 2024 | Richardson Farm U-Cut Christmas Trees |
| Opening Nov 29, 2024 | Moehling Christmas Tree Farm |
| Nov 29 - Dec 8, 2024 (select dates) | Ben's Christmas Tree Farm |
| Nov 29 - Dec 7, 2024 (select dates) | Grandpa's Tree Farm |
| Nov 29 - Dec 8, 2024 | Oney's Tree Farm |
| Dec 6, 2024 | Tree Lighting Ceremony |
| Dec 6, 2024 | Holiday Tree Lighting Village of Bartlett |
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 |
| Nov 23, 2024 - Jan 26, 2024 | Skating at the Park - Parkway Bank Park |
| Opening Nov 5, 2024 | Ice Skating Ribbon - Maggie Daley Park |
| Opening Nov 29, 2024 | Wentworth Ice Rink |
| Nov 15, 2024 -Feb 2, 2025 | Ice Skating in Millenium Park - McCormick Tribune Ice Rink |
Hanukkah
| Dec 8, 2024 | Adult & Tot Make ‘n Take: Hanukkah Menorah and Handmade Card - Kol Hadash |
| Dec 8, 2024 | jBaby Chicago Class Registration @ Jewish United Fund |
| Dec 11, 2024 | Shine Bright: Hanukkah Event at West Ridge Center |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Bubbles Academy - Chicago Kids Chanukah Party! |
| Dec 14, 2024 | JUF : jBaby Chicago : Chanukah Havdalah at the Lake County JCC |
| Dec 15, 2024 | Torah Tots |
| Dec 15, 2024 | Hanukkah Family Celebration & Lunch - Form - Kol Hadash |
| Dec 15, 2024 | Mini Maccabees in the Kitchen: Cooking for Hanukkah @ RJD Young Families | Jewish United Fund |
| Dec 15, 2024 | JUF Young Families Celebrates Chanukah with Bubbe and Zayde |
| Dec 21, 2024 | Handmade Chanukah Craft Party! | Glenview |
| Dec 21, 2024 | jBaby & PJ Library| Festival of Lights| Lisle |
Shopping & Craft Fairs
| Nov 23 - Dec 20, 2024 | Annual Winter Arts & Craft Expo - Evanston Art Center |
| Nov 21, 2024 | Holiday Shopping Kickoff! |
| Nov 30, 2024 | Holiday Pop-Up Craft Show - Arts in Bartlet Center for the Arts |
| Nov 30, 2024 | Marmion Christmas Craft Show - Marmiom Academy |
| Dec 1, 2024 | Holiday Craft Fair - Spring Valley Nature Club Nature Center |
| Dec 6 & 7, 2024 | Kris Kringle Market - Palos Heights |
| Dec 1 & 8, 2024 | Merry and Bright Christmas Gift Market |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Santa's Workshop at Wilder Mansion |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Cookie Walk & Craft Fair - Journey of Hope UMC |
| Dec 6, 2024 | Winter Market - Gallagher Way |
| Dec 14 & 15, 2024 | Holly Jolly Market - North Center Town Square |
| Dec 21, 2024 | Timber Ridge Shopping |
New Year's Eve
| Dec 31, 2024 | Noon Year's Eve - Palos Heights Recreation Center |
| Dec 27, 2024 | Teenie Weenie New Year's Eve Ball - Simkus Recreaion Center |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Rockin’ New Year’s Eve with Nat Zegree and the Oh Boys! | Show |
| Dec 31, 2024 | New Year's Eve Fireworks - Navy Pier |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Bubble Bash: A Family-Friendly New Year's Eve - DuPage Children's Museum |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Countdown to Fun - Discovery Center Museum |
Miscellaneous
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