Festival of LIghts on Magnificent Miles Kicks Off Christmas in Chicago

The Magnificent Mile in Chicago gets festively decorated for the Christmas holiday season. The premiere shopping area of Chicago draws people downtown to see the lights, gaze and the festive store windows and to do their Christmas shopping every year. Holiday lights will be illuminated with the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, which includes Mickey Mouse, Disney characters, Santa Claus and fireworks on November 20 2010.

Trees along North Michigan Avenue have been brightly illuminated for Christmas for more than 40 years. Visiting the Magnificent Mile to see the festive decorations during the holiday season is a tradition for many people in the Chicago area. The weather may get frigid in December, but you will still see crowds of people walking on the sidewalk and enjoying the decorations and holiday atmosphere.

Magnificent Mile Holiday Lights Festival

On November 20, 2010 the holiday season on the Magnificent Mile is officially kicked off with a special event featuring Mickey Mouse, his Disney friends and celebrities. More than one million lights are illuminated along North Michigan Avenue. Santa Claus and his reindeer will fly over the John Hancock Center on the Magnificent Mile. The holiday event is highlighted by a spectacular fireworks show lighting the nighttime skyline over the Chicago River at 6:55 p.m.

Festivities begin on November 20 at 11:00 a.m., with musical artists performing on the Harris Stage at 401 N. Michigan Avenue. Performers have not been announced at this writing, so check the Magnificent Mile website for additional information as the date approaches.

Mickey Mouse will be the master of ceremonies as he leads the illumination of more than one million holiday lights on the Magnificent Mile, on North Michigan Avenue from Oak Street to Wacker Drive.

The Allstate Fireworks Spectacular over the Chicago River, at 6:55 p.m., is the finale of the holiday event.

The store of the Magnificent Mile will be open for extended hours for the event, so shoppers can do some holiday shopping from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on November 20, 2010.

The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival starts the holiday season with a bang. If you cannot make the festival, the lights will continue to decorate Chicago throughout the holiday season.

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