Christmas Fun in Chicago

Grab your family and enjoy some of the Christmas fun in Chicago to get your family in the Christmas spirit -- also known as the Windy City. The following are just a few of the many Christmas events that Chicago has to offer.

Get a head start on the holiday shopping season at the Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair located on 4415 N. Western Ave. at the Queen of Angels Guild Hall. This Christmas fun event offers shopping, photos with Santa, games and crafts for the young'ins, and much more. It takes place on November 10, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m..

On November 15, the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their annual Holiday Gala at the Dank Haus beginning at 6:00 p.m. (4740 N. Western Avenue). This annual community gathering is an excellent way to ring in the holiday season while enjoying dinner, live musical entertainment, dancing and a silent auction. The cost is $60 per person and there will be an open Cash bar. You must reserve your spot before the event. Call 773-728-3890 for reservations.

The best way to begin the Christmas season would be to take your family to Chicago's Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. This is an annual event, held the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Merchants will have their breath-taking window displays up and they'll be even more holiday shopping opportunities. Mickey Mouse will lead the illumination of the lights on North Michigan Avenue, and soon thereafter, your family will enjoy a fireworks display over the Chicago River. The Christmas lighting of more than one million lights begins at 6:00 p.m.

Experience some German Christmas fun in Chicago beginning on Thanksgiving Day (November 22, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) and ending on Christmas Eve. The German Christmas is the 12th annual Christkindlmarket, and it will feature unique ornaments, rare European fabrics and textiles, German food and wine, a Thanksgiving Day parade, holiday tree lighting, a Lantern Parade for the children and much more Christmas fun. Admission will be free.

Are you and your family looking for some more free Christmas fun in Chicago? Then head to Lincoln Square for their 2nd annual Lincoln Square Holiday Festival. There you'll enjoy food, drinks, cultural performances, musical entertainment, activities for the children as well as the official tree lighting on Saturday. In addition, Santa has scheduled his stop for Sunday and you can bet he'll be waiting to hear what you want for Christmas! The Christmas fun on Lincoln Square starts November 30 at 10:00 a.m. and ends on Sunday, December 2 at 8:00 p.m..

Does your family love a good parade? If so, the 63rd Street Holiday Parade takes place on December 1 at 1:00 p.m.. The parade begins on 63rd Street from Tripp to Oakley.

Take the kids to Sheil Community Center, located on 3505 N. Southport Avenue, to watch The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, a theater production by Barbara Robinson. When: November 30, December 2 or December 14 at 7:30 p.m.. Or on December 16, during the afternoon hours (2:00 p.m.). This Christmas fun event in Chicago is for ages 6 and up. Admission is $5 per person.

Again, this is just a sample of the Christmas fun in Chicago. Enjoy and have a happy and safe holiday season!