CURB APPEAL IN WINTER
Christmas Lights in Chicago
Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival in Chicago returns this Saturday. This annual nighttime parade is considered the largest in the country, and it features celebrities, marching bands, floats, and live performances. The lights are set off by dazzling fireworks, and you can watch the show on ABC 7 Chicago.
This event is sponsored by the Magnificent Mile Association, a nonprofit organization. It serves as the kick-off to the holiday season in Chicago. Originally started in 1949, the festival has since grown in scope. This year’s parade includes festive favorites, including the Disney characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Live music is also performed throughout the parade.
The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival is open to the public, and there is no fee to attend. It is an ideal place to spend an evening, and there are many holiday shopping opportunities. There are also many free events, including live music in Pioneer Court. There are official websites for the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, which provide maps and information on hotels and other accommodations nearby.
The festival starts Saturday with a tree-lighting parade led by Mickey and Minnie Mouse. The parade will feature floats, giant helium balloons, marching bands, and live entertainment. The parade will end with fireworks over the Chicago River. You can watch the parade live or stream it online.
The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival is an annual event in Chicago that features jaw-dropping light displays, a grand tree-lighting parade, and exceptional live entertainment. This event is the perfect way to kick-off the festive season in the Windy City. The festivities are also an excellent opportunity to meet local artists and shop for unique treasures.
If you’re traveling by car, consider using public transportation to get to the festival. The CTA Red Line train can take you to the festival, but road closures can affect bus service. Wheelchair access is available at the Dusable Bridge, which closes to automobile traffic in the evening.
Holiday Magic at Brookefield Zoo
This holiday season, the Brookfield Zoo returns to Chicago with its holiday lights. For over 40 years, this annual event has delighted visitors with great photo ops and animal viewing. Brookfield Zoo is one of Chicago’s largest zoos, so tickets are essential. Holiday Magic runs from Dec. 22 through Dec. 31, but be sure to check the hours before you go.
In addition to the million lights and holiday decorations, the zoo is also home to a zoo scavenger hunt, which will send visitors searching for one of 24 giant gnomes. The zoo also features a giant, life-sized cutout of Santa, festive themed selfie frames, and a giant box for gift-giving.
Holiday Magic at Brookefield Zoo is the longest running holiday lights show in Chicago, featuring over one million LED lights and synchronized music. Highlights of the show include a 600-foot tunnel of lighted animals that change colors in time to music. The show also features a forty-one-foot-tall Christmas tree with illuminated animal sculptures.
The 36th annual Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo features more than one million twinkling LED lights, a 41-foot talking tree, and ice carving demonstrations. You can also enjoy live entertainment, a model train display, and visits with Santa. And, of course, there’s no shortage of food and drink. Brookfield Zoo’s restaurants will feature seasonal fare and more!
The zoo’s 41-foot-tall tree, which boasts a light-up canopy, is the centerpiece of Holiday Magic. Thousands of LED lights cascade down its branches to music set to seasonal tunes. Visitors can also enjoy a light-up scavenger hunt and a skating rink.
Wagner Christmas Lights
The annual Christmas lights show at the Wagner Park is a beautiful way to end the holiday season and get the entire family in the holiday spirit. This free public event is hosted by the Friends of Hiawatha Park and is a favorite among locals and tourists alike. Visitors can enjoy the display from five to ten pm, seven days a week, from now until January 16, 2022.
The show takes place seven days a week, starting at 5:00 pm on weekends and running until ten pm on weekdays. During the show, visitors can experience the sounds and lights of the holiday season, synchronized with music. The show boasts over 45,000 lights and 120 blowmolds. The show also showcases handmade items such as ornaments, stockings, and more.
The popular Lightscape Event returns for another year, with new trails and lighting displays. Visitors will walk through a 1.25 mile-long lighted path around the main island. Visitors can expect to spend 45 to 75 minutes viewing the exhibit. It is possible to see the entire display during one visit, but tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. Parking is also required to attend the event.
The Wagner Christmas lights in Chicago are a fantastic way to experience the holiday season in the Windy City. The festival began in 1949 and is now one of the country’s largest holiday celebrations. In addition to the spectacular light displays, the festival also features a variety of new exhibits, including train rides and tubing in Rosemont.
Holiday Magic at Millennium Park
The annual One of a Kind Holiday Show is one of Chicago’s premier holiday events, gathering talented makers, designers, and artists. Thousands of shoppers flock to the event each year to find unique gifts. In its 21st year, the show continues to be the best place to shop for handmade products in the Chicago area.
The event’s highlights include a 17-foot-tall Christmas tree, a silver and gold-plated reindeer, and an illuminated Christmas tree. Visitors can also enjoy the annual festival’s many free family-friendly activities. And don’t forget to check out the annual reindeer run, which takes place on November 19th!
Another Chicago holiday highlight is the Lightscape at the Chicago Botanic Garden, which features a gorgeous illuminated trail. This immersive experience features light installations of all sizes, moving lights, and beautiful music. Visitors can walk through the 1.25-mile trail to see the displays. The garden also has a fire garden and light flowers made from light.
The “official” Christmas tree in Chicago will be in Millennium Park. It’s located near the intersection of Washington St. and Michigan Ave. The lighting ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a fireworks show. This festive event is free to attend. The park’s ice rink is also open and features skate rentals.
Chicago’s Holiday Magic Festival features over two million twinkling LED lights. The festival also features live holiday performances. This is one of the city’s most popular holiday events and features a spectacular Christmas tree. In mid-November, there’s a special lighting ceremony at the Mag Mile, and many people consider the event incomplete without a visit.
Another Chicago holiday event is ZooLights, which is a free, family-friendly light show in Lincoln Park Zoo. It has more than one million lights and seven themed worlds, including a 2.5-story snowman. You can also ride on the trackless Arctic Express train or take a tubing slide.
Chicago ZooLights is one of the city’s favorite holiday events. This colorful light show returns to the park for the 28th consecutive year and will include an elaborate ferris wheel and an expansive light tunnel.