It’s a holiday weekend. If you have the day off or are trying to find a break from work, check out these stories from WTTW News and find some holiday cheer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Ice skating ribbon at Maggie Daley Park. (Courtesy of Maggie Daley Park)
|
From light shows to theater, themed bars and dance spectacles, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season. We’ve rounded up some of the season’s highlights in Chicago and the suburbs. Need to burn off some Turkey-related calories? Try a number of ice skating options in and around Chicago, including McCormick Tribune Ice Rink (through Feb. 2), Maggie Daley Park (through March 9), Parkway Bank Park (through Jan. 26) and select Chicago Park District locations throughout the city. Need a laugh? Check out the "Jack Frost Roasting on an Open Fire" revue at Up Comedy Club.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Learn more about advertising & sponsorship with WTTW.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
(Courtesy of Chicago Transit Authority)
|
Now that Thanksgiving is over, one of the city's most beloved holiday traditions can start. Today, the CTA Holiday Train begins its 2024 season running through late December. Riders can expect a six-car CTA train decorated with holiday scenes and lights, and Santa greeting riders from a flatbed. The holiday trains are running Nov. 29 to Dec. 23. The CTA has a list of specific times. Same goes for the Holiday Bus, which commenced Tuesday. Riders can expect to see Santa greeting commuters from the roof hatch of the bus. The buses are scheduled to run during specific times between Nov. 26 to Dec. 21.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
(Courtesy of Choose Chicago)
|
While downtown is known to host some of Chicago’s most popular wintertime traditions, you don’t need to travel too far from home to get into the holiday spirit. The local tourism agency Choose Chicago and the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events are hosting a series of holiday events in partnership with neighborhood chambers of commerce and community-based organizations. Holiday markets, tree-lighting ceremonies and more start this month and run through early January. Neighborhoods include Austin, Avondale, Bronzeville, Englewood, Humboldt Park, Hyde Park, Little Village, North Lawndale, Pullman and South Shore. Here is a full list of the holiday programming featured. More details can be found on the neighborhood holiday events page.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chicago's 2024 Christmas tree is 53-foot Colorado blue spruce from Logan Square. (Photo by Lori Sapio, courtesy of the Holden-Shaddick family)
|
Chicago has its official Christmas tree for 2024 and it’s a true city original, containing a significant amount of community history. The 53-foot Colorado blue spruce was donated by the Holden-Shaddick family of Logan Square, who inherited the tree when they purchased the historic Spencer Kimbell home in 2021. The spruce was planted 50 years ago by the late Jim Mulligan, a stalwart of the Logan Square neighborhood along with his wife Patricia. The tree lighting ceremony took place on Nov. 22 and the tree will display near Michigan Avenue and Washington Street through Jan. 8.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Where is your favorite place in the Chicago area to go holiday shopping? Tell us why.
|
|
|
Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
|
|
|
|
Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more.
|
Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
|
|
|
|
|
