Guide to Celebrating the Holidays in Chicago Illinois!

The city of Chicago has lots of fun tourist destinations all year long. The holidays are an especially wonderful time to make a trip to this city. The following list of events has something for everyone and it is definitely worth looking into this year!
From November 10-December 2 the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is taking place at Rosemont Theatre. This event is a tradition in which 140 people take the stage. The infamous Rockettes are sure to entertain through spectacular costumes and traditionally loved Christmas songs. For tickets please visit: http://chicagotravel.goldcoasttickets.com.

Macy's on State Street will unveil their display window on November 11 at 9:30am. The display will feature Santa Claus and his reindeer inspired by P.L. Travers' Mary Poppins.

On November 12, St. Alphonsus Church will be hosting their Christmas Fair on 1429 West Wellington Street. The fair takes place from 7am-7pm and will feature beautiful crafts from around the world.

Also on November 12, Macy's will light the great tree in the Walnut room on State Street. The Macy's Tree is always spectacular and this year it includes exclusive ornaments by Vera Wang and Wedgwood. The tree will continue to be on display from November 12-January 7.

Another exciting event is the performance of A Christmas Carol. The performance will take place at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL from November 15-December 22. Two special performances will take place on Wednesday December 6 and 20 at 7:30pm, with a family-friendly dinner menu including "Humbug Hamburgers" and "Cratchit's Chicken Fingers" for kids. Please contact www.ticketmaster.com or www.drurylaneoakbrook.com for tickets or reservations.

A Christmas Carol will also be performed at the Goodman Theatre located on 170 North Dearborn. For more information on this performance please call 312 443 3800.

The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival will take place November 18-19 on Michigan Avenue from Wacker Dr. to Oak St. This weekend contains lots of other special events including an American Girl performance on Pioneer Court (noon,1,2,and 3pm)

The lighting of North Michigan Avenue will take place Saturday evening beginning at 6pm. Mickey Mouse and friends will lead the way down the Magnificent Mile. The light show will conclude with a holiday fireworks show at Michigan Avenue and the Chicago River.

On Sunday the 19 of November guests are encouraged to shop, dine, and play on the Magnificent Mile. Holiday window displays are sure to attract and help guests enjoy the holiday season.

Thanksgiving weekend (November 22-26) marks the official beginning of Christmas Season will appear within world-class department stores. Also, on the 23 of November, the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place beginning on State Street and heading towards downtown Chicago. This parade will host more than 300,000 guests and includes over 100 Marching Bands, helium Balloons, Holiday Floats, as well as National and Local celebrities. The parade will also feature the official arrival of Santa Claus at the end of the parade. It is scheduled to begin at 8:30am.

Also In November, just after Thanksgiving day, the Holiday Tree Lighting will take place in Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. The 24th of November is the day when thousands of people will flock to downtown Chicago to see the brilliant lighting of Chicago's famous Christmas tree. The mayor and other area celebrities will officially kick-off the 2005 Holiday Season. This event includes live Musical Entertainment, great shopping bargains, and lots of other fun activities. All the fun is scheduled to begin at 4:30pm.

Another exciting holiday event taking place in downtown Chicago is the fabulous Christmas Decorations. Beginning December 20 and lasting until December 30 all the world-class department stores will have beautiful displays that are worth the trip! Nordstrom, Marshall Field's, Bloomingdale's, and Nike Town should definitely be on your list of stores to visit this holiday season. The streets themselves will be beautifully decorated and you are sure to find lots of cheerful faces.
The Christkindel Markt also takes place in the Daley Center every year in Chicago. This is a 500 year old tradition in the market squares of Germany and a beloved celebration for many Chicagoans. There are several booths with cultural crafts and delicious food. Be sure to try some schnitzel and hot chocolate at this great event. You can also purchase decorations and ornaments that are handcrafted and beautiful.

New Year's Eve in downtown Chicago will also certainly be exciting. Fireworks will be displayed over Monroe Harbor and the crowds will gather at Buckingham Fountain. The most exciting part of this event is that admission is free!