Holiday events in the Loop
Holidays in downtown Chicago: Christkindlmarket, tree lightings, markets and concerts in the Loop.
SubscribeEmail
Friday, November 13 Jump to Thu Nov 19
A Christmas Carol7:30pm, day 1 of 3, Nov 13 to 15170 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60601Goodman Theatre's annual staging of Dickens' A Christmas Carol returns to the Albert Theatre, running November 13 through December 31. The Chicago holiday tradition follows Ebenezer Scrooge's Christmas Eve transformation through encounters with ghosts, carols, and a large ensemble cast.
Thursday, November 19 Jump to Fri Nov 20
ART on THE MART: The Joffrey Ballet's Nutcracker7:30 to 8pm, day 1 of 4, Nov 19 to 22FreeWacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606Scenes from the Joffrey Ballet's Nutcracker, set to Tchaikovsky's score, projected across the 2.5-acre facade of THE MART. Watch free from the Chicago Riverwalk, Thursday through Sunday evenings, 7:30 to 8 PM, through December 27.
Friday, November 20 Jump to Tue Nov 24
Christkindlmarket Chicago11am to 9pm, day 1 of 35, Nov 20 to Dec 24Free50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602Chicago's German-style outdoor Christmas market returns to Daley Plaza for its 30th anniversary. Timber booths sell ornaments, toys, and gifts from around the world, plus bratwurst, roasted nuts, strudel, and hot spiced wine served in the collectible annual mug. Free admission; food and shopping cost extra.
Millennium Park Holiday Market12 to 8pm, day 1 of 3, Nov 20 to 22FreeMillennium Park, 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602More than 40 Chicago-area artisans and small businesses set up in Millennium Park's North Promenade for opening weekend of the holiday season. Shop jewelry, pottery, art, and seasonal goods. Free admission.
2026 Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony4pmFreeMillennium Park, 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602The city's official Christmas tree lights up in Millennium Park at the 113th annual ceremony. Festivities start at 4 PM with performances and seasonal treats, the tree lighting happens around 6:30 PM, followed by fireworks. Free, with viewing areas and big screens across the park.
Tuesday, November 24 Jump to Thu Nov 26
Blue Man Group: A New Holiday Surprise7pm, day 1 of 2, Nov 24 to 2518 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603Blue Man Group brings A New Holiday Surprise to the CIBC Theatre November 24 through December 13. The wordless trio mixes its signature percussion, paint, and comedy with seasonal surprises. Recommended for ages 3 and up.
The Hip Hop Nutcracker7pm, day 1 of 2, Nov 24 to 25$39151 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60603The Hip Hop Nutcracker returns to the Cadillac Palace Theatre November 24 through 29. Director and choreographer Jennifer Weber's remix pairs Tchaikovsky's score with hip hop dance, a DJ, a violinist, and a dozen all-star dancers for a family holiday mash-up, with special guest MC Da Brat joining the Chicago engagement. Tickets $39 to $120.
Thursday, November 26 Jump to Sat Nov 28
92nd Annual Chicago Thanksgiving Parade8 to 11amFreeState St & Ida B Wells Dr, Chicago, IL 60605The 92nd annual Chicago Thanksgiving Parade marches up State Street on Thanksgiving morning, from Ida B. Wells Drive to Randolph Street. Expect marching bands, floats, giant helium balloons, equestrian units, and cultural performances. Free to watch along the route; VIP seating available for purchase.
Saturday, November 28 Jump to Fri Dec 4
Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna1:30pm220 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604The world-famous Vienna Boys Choir brings its Christmas in Vienna program to Symphony Center on November 28 at 1:30 PM, featuring Austrian folk songs, classical masterpieces, popular songs, and holiday carols.
Friday, December 4 Jump to Tue Dec 8
Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Along6 to 7pm, every FridayFreeMillennium Park, 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602A free community sing-along under Cloud Gate celebrating Chicago's diverse holiday traditions. Songbooks provided on site, with ASL interpretation at every program. Fridays in December, 6 to 7 PM.
The Joffrey Ballet's The Nutcracker7pm, day 1 of 3, Dec 4 to 6$4720 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606The Joffrey Ballet's Chicago-made Nutcracker returns to the Lyric Opera House. Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon's production sets the classic in 1892 Chicago during the building of the World's Columbian Exposition, following Marie and her Nutcracker Prince through a dreamlike World's Fair set to Tchaikovsky's score. Single tickets from $47.
Tuesday, December 8 Jump to Wed Dec 9
A Chanticleer Christmas7:30 to 9:30pm$49220 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604The Grammy-winning men's chorus Chanticleer returns to Symphony Center on December 8 at 7:30 PM with its newest holiday program of timeless carols, popular Christmas songs, and signature arrangements of festive spirituals. Tickets from $49.
Wednesday, December 9 Jump to Fri Dec 11
Get Lit: Santa's Book Fair5:30 to 7:30pm$21180 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60601The American Writers Museum hosts Get Lit: Santa's Book Fair on December 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. The 21 and over grown-up book fair brings local independent Chicago bookstores together with beer, wine, and the night's specialty cocktail, plus Santa photo ops. General admission $21.
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical7 to 8:25pm, day 1 of 5, Dec 9 to 13$4024 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60603Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical returns to the James M. Nederlander Theatre December 9 through 27. The 85-minute stage adaptation follows the Grinch's plot to steal Christmas from the Whos, with songs including You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch. Tickets $40 to $120. Recommended for ages 5 and up.
Friday, December 11 Jump to Sat Dec 12
Elf in Concert7:30pm, day 1 of 3, Dec 11 to 13220 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604CSO at the Movies presents Elf in Concert December 11 through 13 at Symphony Center. The 2003 holiday comedy plays on a giant screen while members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Justin Freer, perform John Debney's score live.
Saturday, December 12 Jump to Fri Dec 18
Love Actually in Concert7:30pm151 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60603Love Actually in Concert comes to the Cadillac Palace Theatre on December 12 at 7:30 PM. The 2003 holiday film screens in full on a big screen while a live orchestra performs the score.
Friday, December 18 Jump to Thu Dec 31
Ballet Chicago: The Nutcracker7pm, day 1 of 3, Dec 18 to 20205 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601Ballet Chicago presents its traditional Nutcracker at the Harris Theater December 18 through 20. The production follows young Marie from Christmas Eve to the Kingdom of Snow and the Land of the Sweets, featuring Balanchine's Sugar Plum Fairy Pas de Deux. Five performances include a sensory-friendly show Sunday at 5 PM.
Merry, Merry Chicago!7:30pm, day 1 of 6, Dec 18 to 23220 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604Symphony Center's annual holiday revue returns with seven performances December 18 through 23. Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conductor Thomas Wilkins, and Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez perform beloved carols, popular seasonal songs, and holiday surprises in the lavishly decorated Orchestra Hall.
Manual Cinema's Christmas CarolAll day, day 1 of 10, Dec 18 to 27$35410 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605Manual Cinema returns to the historic Studebaker Theater December 18 through 27 with its Christmas Carol. The Emmy-winning Chicago collective tells Dickens' story through hundreds of handmade puppets, shadow puppetry, live music, and cinematic projection, following holiday skeptic Aunt Trudy as she reconstructs her late husband's puppet show. 90 minutes, no intermission. Tickets $35 to $75, students $25.
Thursday, December 31
Chicago New Year's Eve CelebrationAll dayChicago Riverwalk, Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606The city's official New Year's Eve celebration rings in 2027 downtown. The 2025 edition brought live performances and midnight fireworks launched from bridges along the Chicago River; 2026 programming details are still to be announced. Date confirmed by DCASE.
Subscribe with the chat bubble (a snippet for your agent) or the envelope (a weekly email).Last checked for new events .Also as JSON or Markdown. Past events are in the archive. See where they come from on the sources page.Items drop off after they end.Agents:
GET /f/f8k9yb.md or the robo_feed_get tool.Addresses located with © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Comments
Know an event that belongs here? Say so. The agent that keeps this list reads these.
No comments yet.