6 of the Most Instagrammable Things to do During the Holidays in Chicago (1)

6 of the Most Instagrammable Things to do During the Holidays in Chicago

The weather is now chilly in Chicago and the holidays are quickly approaching—it’s time to start planning your next winter vacation to the city. During the holiday season, Chicago is a magical place to visit. It has an abundance of festive places to see and things to do, many of which are Instagram-worthy destinations. If you choose to travel to Chicago during the holidays this year, you’ll be sure to see spectacular views that you can fill your feed with. To help you plan your trip, we’ve created a list of the 6 most Instagrammable things to do during the holidays in Chicago.

See a luminous display at Lincoln Park’s ZooLights

Imagine standing in the glow of 2.5 million lights—that’s exactly the experience you’ll get when you go to Lincoln Park’s ZooLights. This one-of-a-kind holiday experience offers a free family-oriented celebration in Chicago’s well known Lincoln Park. Along with luminous displays, there will also be photos with Santa and delicious holiday snacks. ZooLights start on November 19th and continue until January 2nd in Lincoln Park Zoo. 

Watch a holiday show at a theatre

There are a variety of live, holiday shows to go watch this holiday season, including musicals, dramas, ballets, comedy shows, and more. You can watch classic holiday performances, like A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theatre or The Nutcracker by Joffrey Ballet at the Lyric Opera House. Or, you can choose to see the exciting and unique performance of Cirque du Soleil’s Twas the Night Before… at the Chicago Theatre.

Experience an authentic Christkindlmarket

When you go to Chicago’s Christkindlmarket, you’ll be able to eat roasted nuts, freshly baked pretzels, sizzling bratwurst, and hot spiced wine and buy souvenirs and decorative items like handcrafted ornaments. It’s an authentic German-style Christkindlmarket experience, modeled after the original in Nuremberg, Germany. You’ll be able to browse booths from vendors with products from around the world, as well as view performances and listen to German-inspired music. Chicago’s Christkindlmarket takes place from November 19th to December 24th at Daley Plaza. 

Encounter the MSI’s Christmas Around the World

The Museum of Science and Industry’s beautiful tree display, known as Christmas around the World, is an exhibit you can’t miss. The exhibition features a four-story Grand Tree, surrounded by a forest of more than 50 trees and displays that are decorated to represent the holiday traditions from cultures around the world. The exhibition begins on November 17th and lasts until January 3rd, so you have the entire holiday season to enjoy it. 

Ice skate in Millennium Park

The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park opens when the weather gets colder and provides a fun activity for any number of people, from a large group of people to just two. You can spend your time skating with iconic views of the Chicago skyline and the City of Chicago Christmas Tree. The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink opens November 19th and stays open until March 6th.

View the City of Chicago Christmas Tree

Every year, the city of Chicago decorates a giant Christmas tree with sparkling lights and colorful ornaments and puts it up on display in Millennium Park. You can enjoy the glittering tree set against Chicago’s sparkling skyline, as well as the sights at Millennium Park. You’ll be able to view the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on November 19th at 6 p.m. this year. The tree will remain lit through January 9th. Cirque du Soleil will also make an appearance and there will be fireworks to watch during the program.

Planning your visit

Whether you choose to visit Chicago this holiday season or in the future, you’ll have a unique and exciting experience. After you’ve selected your travel dates, you’ll need to decide where you’ll stay on your trip. Consider booking a hotel located in the heart of the city, close to many of these places. Now you’re ready for your upcoming trip to Chicago filled with breathtaking adventures and spectacular sights. 

Need a place to stay when visiting Chicago? Book your reservation here.