Christmas at Cantigny
*The event has already taken place on this date: Sun, 01/04/2026
Please help us keep this calendar up to date! If this activity is sold out, canceled, or otherwise needs alteration, email mindy@kidsoutandabout.com so we can update it immediately. If you have a question about the activity itself, please contact the organization administrator listed below.
Festival Highlights:
- NEW! Northern Lights in the Rose Garden
A brand-new, can’t-miss installation transforms this iconic garden into a breathtaking lightscape inspired by the aurora borealis. - NEW! Specialty Themed Nights
Unique programming adds extra sparkle, including A Wickedly Popular Christmas, which features the music and colors of Wicked on Sunday nights through 12/14 to Lights, Camera, Action!—a post-Christmas show set to iconic movie soundtracks and epic sing-alongs (12/26-1/4). - The Colonel’s Christmas Tour
A one-of-a-kind guided tour with McCormick House director Will Buhlig, blending history, design, and holiday traditions. 12/4, 12/11 & 12/18 only. $75 (including Christmas at Cantigny Light Show admission, early admission, and a drink) - Historic McCormick House
Step inside the fully decorated mansion, including Freedom Hall and its showstopping 20-foot Christmas tree. Upstairs, the Noel Lounge offers chef-crafted small plates, curated wines, and craft cocktails in a cozy, elegant setting. - Outdoor Ice Skating Rink
Glide across the 100-by-40-foot rink ($7 admission; $3 rentals), then warm up in the heated hospitality tent or reserve a private Cocoa Cabana with fire tables, heated seating, and full food and beverage service (starting at $125). - Christmas Spirits Upgrade
Add on a festive tasting adventure: three winter-friendly craft cocktails at stations along the light path, plus a commemorative Cantigny mug ($40). - Noel Shop at the McCormick House
Shop for the holiday gifts and other fun holiday keepsakes, plus exclusive Christmas at Cantigny merchandise.
- Visitor Center
Warm up with a hot beverage and snack in Le Jardin, or shop from a selection of homegrown Cantigny Poinsettias.
Christmas at Cantigny runs November 21–December 23, Wednesday–Sunday, 4:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. (closed Monday & Tuesday), with extended hours on weekends and for special events. Lights, Camera, Action! runs December 26-January 4. Timed tickets and reservations are available at Cantigny.org.
Private Events and rental opportunities are available throughout the season.
About Cantigny
Cantigny, in Wheaton, Illinois, is the 500-acre estate of Colonel Robert R. McCormick (1880-1955), long-time editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune, and founder of the Chicago-based Robert R. McCormick Foundation. It is home to gardens, walking trails, a museum dedicated to the 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, a highly ranked 27-hole public golf course, and a golf academy for all ages. More information is online at Cantigny.org, including hours, admission fees, and upcoming events.
*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.