Sharing Some of Chicago’s Best Winter Events

Chicago, the city of the big shoulders but winters can be brutal. Nevertheless, there is a lot the city has to offer to keep Chicagoans warm and interested. Here we are Sharing Some of Chicago’s Best Winter Events.

Zoolights

ZooLights at the Lincoln Park Zoo is fun for the whole family, adults as well as children. It’s a spectacle for the eyes, and the hot cocoa is a delight to the tongue. In addition to the lighted displays, you’ll find ice skating, ice carving demonstrations, snacks, and hot drinks. Lincoln Park Zoo is always free, but nearby parking is not. Let ParqEx help you with the parking situation, and go enjoy ZooLights. It’s open from now until January 1, 2017.

 

Winter WonderFest

Winter WonderFest is the annual indoor winter carnival at Navy Pier. Enjoy carnival rides, a toboggan tunnel, ice skating (Go Blackhawks!), miniature golf, and an artificial snow tubing hill. It’s great for the whole family, although children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. It’s open from now until January 8, 2017.

The Goodman Theatre hopes you have a Dickens of a good Christmas, and has two plays to make sure you enjoy the holiday season. A Christmas Carol is playing in the Albert Theatre, the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his redemption as he rediscovers the meaning of Christmas. A Christmas Carol runs from November 19 to December 31. Twist Your Dickens at the Owen Theatre is a warped comedy reworking of Dickens’ beloved tale, best suitable for audiences age 16 and up due to mature language and content. “This twisted take on Charles Dickens’ classic skewers Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and pop culture’s most beloved holiday specials.” Twist Your Dickens runs from December 2 to December 30.

 

Christkindlmarket

A Christkindlmarket is a German tradition, featuring unique shopping opportunities, traditional German food, beer and Glühwein (hot spiced wine) for the adults, and hot apple cider and hot cocoa for the youngsters. Chicago’s Christkindlmarket is at Daley Plaza until Saturday, December 24. Strudel, cookies, candy, cheese, sausage — you’ll find plenty to tempt your appetite. Enjoy the live music and sing along with the carols. If you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping yet, you’ll find a wide variety of gifts to buy.

 

Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry is worth visiting any time of year, with such exhibits as the U-505 submarine, the Colleen Moore Fairy Castle, and the model trains, but right now is an especially good time to visit. The Christmas Around the World exhibit at the museum of Science and Industry celebrates many different Christmas traditions, with 50 trees and exhibits to show off holiday traditions from around the world.  Dancers and musicians will demonstrate customs and cultural activities from Ecuador, Norway, Ireland, Bulgaria, Mexico, Scotland, Austria, Lithuania, Greece, and other countries. The exhibit continues until January 2, 2017.

 

Chi-Town Rising

Chi-Town Rising, Chicago’s largest outdoor celebration, returns for its second year on Saturday, December 31, 2016. Greet the new year with fireworks at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on East Wacker Drive. The event is free, but please do register; tickets are required to gain access to the viewing areas. It’s an all-day event. At 9:00 that morning is the Chi-Town Rise and Shine 5K Race and Fun Run at Millennium Park. That afternoon from 3:00 to 6:00 is the Family Countdown Celebration at Wrigley Square in Millennium Park. The theme is Around the World for New Year’s Eve, making it both fun and educational, and admission is free. The star of the show, if you’ll forgive the pun, is the Chi-Town Rising New Year’s Eve Celebration, from 8:00 pm Saturday night to 12:30 am Sunday morning. Enjoy the fireworks, watch the star ascend the west tower of the hotel, and eat and drink with friends old and new.

 

“Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning.” Chicago is a city that knows how to celebrate, and that’s especially true in the winter. For more information about where to go and what to do in Chicago, and where to park once you get there, contact us.

 

 

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