Want to know what’s happening this weekend in Chicago? Look no further. There’s a whole calendar of exciting events, exhibits, and activities taking place all over the city this month in Chicago.

This holiday weekend in Chicago is a jam-packed one, with tons to do for the entire family. Things to do on Thanksgiving Day in Chicago include the iconic Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, Christkindlmarket Chicago, and ice skating in Millennium Park.

Check out just a few of the top things to do this Thanksgiving weekend in Chicago, Thursday, Nov. 28 – Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. Please note that all events are subject to change.

The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade
Nov. 28
The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade

The award-winning Chicago Thanksgiving Parade returns for its 90th anniversary on Thursday, November 28, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. CT, traveling up Chicago's…

Nov. 28
State Street
From Ida B. Wells Drive to Randolph Street
Chicago Thanksgiving Day Signature Afternoon Lunch Cruise on Lake Michigan
Nov. 28
Chicago Thanksgiving Day Signature Afternoon Lunch Cruise on Lake Michigan

Gather with loved ones aboard our Signature Chicago Thanksgiving Lunch Cruise for a picturesque afternoon of togetherness, turkey, and all the trimmings! You’ll savor a…

Nov. 28
Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
City of Chicago Christmas Tree
Nov. 28 – Dec. 1
City of Chicago Christmas Tree

Chicago’s official Christmas Tree will be illuminated on Friday, November 22 at 6pm with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. The tree will remain illuminated through…

Friday November 22, 2024
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph St
Chicago Artisan Market – Ravenswood
Nov. 30 – Dec. 1
Chicago Artisan Market – Ravenswood

Shopping small, local and sustainable -- is about to get a little bigger -- at the Chicago Artisan Market in Ravenswood. Celebrate "Small Shop Saturday"…

Saturday November 30, 2024
4325 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago
4325 N. Ravenswood Ave.,
Festive Tea at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago
Nov. 29 – Dec. 1
Festive Tea at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago

Enjoy a delightful afternoon of scrumptious holiday-inspired treats during Festive Tea at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago every weekend from November 29 through December 22. Tea service…

Nov. 29 – Dec. 22, 2024
The Ritz Carlton Chicago
160 E Pearson St, Chicago, IL 60611
Chicago’s Bronzeville Largest Small Business Saturday Event
Nov. 30
Chicago’s Bronzeville Largest Small Business Saturday Event

"Join us for the 9th Annual Small Business Saturday 🎉 in Chicago’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood! Sponsored by American Express. Discover unique local shops, family activities, and holiday…

Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024
Absolutely Anything Essential
3521 S. King Drive
Rogers Park’s Small Business Saturday Celebrations
Nov. 30
Rogers Park’s Small Business Saturday Celebrations

Rogers Park Business Alliance (RPBA) celebrates Small Business Saturday on November 30th starting at 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Small Business Saturday will mark the…

Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024
Rogers Park
WBEZ & Las Locas Comedy Present: Mi Familia Loca – Home for the Holidays
Nov. 30
WBEZ & Las Locas Comedy Present: Mi Familia Loca – Home for the Holidays

Celebrate the holidays early with Las Locas Comedy at Robert’s Westside on Saturday, November 30. Las Locas is a monthly showcase featuring Latina and Latinx…

Nov. 30
Robert’s Westside
7321 Madison St
Heart of Chicago Soul Club All Vinyl Rare Soul Dance Party
Nov. 30
Heart of Chicago Soul Club All Vinyl Rare Soul Dance Party

Heart of Chicago is back at the Hideout Saturday, 11/30 for another grooving dance party. We are excited to welcome back our special Guest DJ…

Nov. 30
The Hideout
1354 W Wabansia Ave
A Christmas Carol
Nov. 29 – Dec. 1
A Christmas Carol

The “perfect Chicago holiday tradition” (Chicago Parent). Rediscover the magic of Dickens’ classic with a fresh, heartwarming adaptation that “makes you believe kindness can win”…

Nov. 16 – Dec. 30, 2024
Goodman Albert Theatre
170 N. Dearborn, Chicago, IL, 60601
Christkindlmarket
Nov. 28 – Dec. 1
Christkindlmarket

What can you expect at the market?  The German-style Christmas Market provides a safe outdoor experience for the whole family. All Christkindlmarkets are always free admission. The smell of roasted nuts,…

Nov. 22 – Dec. 24, 2024
Daley Civic Center
50 W. Washington St.
ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
Nov. 29 – Dec. 1
Lincoln Park Zoolights

Celebrate three decades of priceless holiday memories as Lincoln Park Zoo’s annual ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ returns for its 30th year this November. This beloved staple of…

Nov. 15 – Jan. 5
Lincoln Park Zoo
N Cannon Dr at W Fullerton Pkwy
Illumination: Tree Lights at Morton Arboretum
Nov. 29 – Dec. 1
Illumination: Tree Lights

This annual event is a spectacle of light, sound, and color against a backdrop of nature at the Morton Arboretum. Exciting features and immersive installations in this festive experience will delight all ages along a one-mile path. Warm up by a crackling fire and roast marshmallows for s’mores or stop in at the concession tent on Frost Hill for snacks and beverages.

Friday November 15, 2024 Saturday January 4, 2025

The Morton Arboretum

Lightscape crop
Dec. 1
Lightscape

Embrace the spirit and beauty of the season at Lightscape, setting the Garden aglow with light, music and art. This year’s reimagined trail takes our holiday celebration to new heights and lights with dazzling installations debuting in the U.S. for the first time. Leave your to-do list at home and make lasting memories at Lightscape.

Friday November 15, 2024 Sunday January 5, 2025

Chicago Botanic Garden

AbA_IceSkatingMillenniumPark_30 (1)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 1
McCormick Tribune Ice Rink

Ice skating at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park is now open for the season! Glide across the ice in the shadow of “The Bean” and the glittering city of Chicago Christmas Tree.

Admission to the ice rink will be free, but reservations are required.

Friday November 15, 2024 Sunday February 2, 2025

Millennium Park

Chicago Fair Trade’s Holiday Pop-Up
Nov. 29 – Dec. 1
Chicago Fair Trade’s Holiday Pop-Up

Chicago Fair Trade’s Holiday Shop is now open on The Magnificent Mile! Stop by 663 N Michigan Ave to explore this festive fair trade experience…

Nov. 29 – Dec. 1, 2024
663 N Michigan Ave on The Magnificent Mile!
663
9th Ward Christmas Crawl
Nov. 30
9th Ward Christmas Crawl

The 9th Ward Christmas Crawl is a unique, community-focused event designed to showcase the cultural and historical heritage of the 9th Ward through a festive,…

Saturday November 30, 2024
A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum
10406 S. Maryland Ave.
Winter Lights of Pullman
Nov. 30
Winter Lights of Pullman

Celebrate the joy of the season at Winter Lights of Pullman on Saturday, November 30, from 2-5PM. This free, family friendly event at Pullman National Historical Park…

Saturday November 30, 2024
Pullman National Historical Park
610 East 111th Street
Beyond the Nutcracker | 10th Anniversary
Nov. 30 – Dec. 1
Beyond the Nutcracker | 10th Anniversary

Named Top 10 Nutcrackers in Chicago by Pointe Magazine Embark on a mesmerizing journey around the world with Ballet 5:8’s enchanting production of Beyond the…

Nov. 30 – Dec. 1, 2024
Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture
2936 North Southport Avenue
Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo Chicago
Nov. 29 – Dec. 1
Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo Chicago

Join Brookfield Zoo Chicago for the Chicagoland's longest-running holiday light festival! You'll step into a wonderland of Holiday Magic, where enchanting scenes come to life…

Nov. 22 – Dec. 31, 2024
Brookfield Zoo Chicago
3300 Golf Rd
Puerto Rican Steel Flag Lighting Celebration
Nov. 30
Puerto Rican Steel Flag Lighting Celebration

Kick off Small Business Saturday with a tree lighting celebration at La Casita de Don Pedro y Doña Lolita and a holiday pop-up event featuring…

Saturday November 30, 2024
Puerto Rican Steel Flags
W Division St & N Mozart St
Dressed in History: A Costume Collection Retrospective
Nov. 29 – Dec. 1
Dressed in History: A Costume Collection Retrospective

What do a red sequin burlesque costume, a pair of original Air Jordan 1s, a baby’s wool bathing suit, and an enormous white tulle Christian…

Nov. 8 – July 27, 2025
Chicago History Museum
1601 N. Clark St.
Irish American Heritage Center Christmas Bazaar
Dec. 1
Irish American Heritage Center Christmas Bazaar

The Irish American Heritage Center's annual Christmas Bazaar returns on Sunday, December 1.  Festivities include more than 100 vendors selling food, crafts, jewelry, art, and…

Sunday December 1, 2024
Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox Ave, Chicago, IL 60630
4626 N Knox Ave
The RSC’s Pericles
Nov. 29 – Dec. 1
The RSC’s Pericles

Royal Shakespeare Company returns to Chicago for the first time in 30 years as part of a new, ongoing partnership with CST Direct from a run…

Oct. 20 – Dec. 7, 2024
Chicago Shakespeare Courtyard Theater
800 E. Grand, Chicago, IL, 60611
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Nov. 29 – Dec. 1
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

IT’S TIME TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC Broadway’s Spellbinding Sensation Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is coming to Chicago on its first-ever North American Tour. Join the…

Sept. 10, 2024 – Feb. 1, 2025
James M. Nederlander Theatre
24 W. Randolph St.
ART on THE MART
Nov. 28 – Dec. 1
ART on THE MART

ART on THE MART is one of the world’s largest digital art platforms that transforms an architectural landmark into a permanent, larger-than-life canvas. A shining…

Sept. 12 – Nov. 20, 2024
THE MART
222 W Merchandise Mart Pl

Explore our events calendar for more Chicago events and happenings.