Holiday Getaways in Chicago & Beyond
From the sparkle of Chicago’s skyline to glowing gardens and arboretums just beyond the city, the holidays shine bright in the Middle of Everything.
Holiday Things to Do
Christkindlmarket Chicago
Description: Wooden stalls fill Daley Plaza with ornaments, gifts and German-style treats — roasted nuts, bratwurst, pretzels and spiced glühwein — beneath the Picasso sculpture. Admission is free, and 2026 marks the market’s 30th anniversary. Sister markets also open in Wrigleyville (Gallagher Way) and Aurora (RiverEdge Park).
Dates: Nov. 20 – Dec. 24, 2026 (Daley Plaza and Aurora); Wrigleyville market runs through Dec. 31
Location: Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago
The Walnut Room at Macy’s on State Street
Description: A Chicago holiday ritual: lunch or dinner on the seventh floor of Macy’s, set around the 45-foot “Great Tree.” The Walnut Room is the first restaurant to open in a department store (1907), and the classic menu includes Hering’s chicken pot pie. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Dates: Nov. 7, 2026-Jan. 17,2027
Location: Macy’s on State Street, 111 N. State St., 7th floor, Chicago
ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
Description: A Chicago tradition for more than three decades: Lincoln Park Zoo glows after dark with more than 3 million lights and hundreds of LED displays. Stroll the light tunnel, ride the Ferris wheel for skyline views, and warm up with hot chocolate, churros or s’mores by a fire pit. Select nights bring carolers and ice carvers.
Dates: Nov. 20, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 . Tickets $7–$20 depending on date; free with registration on Mondays (excluding Dec. 21 and 28).
Location: Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago
Places to Stay
The Godfrey Hotel Chicago
Type: Boutique hotel, River North — home of the I|O Godfrey rooftop and its Winter Wonderland igloos (127 W. Huron St.)
Nearby To: Christkindlmarket (Daley Plaza) and The Walnut Room, both a short ride into the Loop
The Peninsula Chicago
Type: Luxury hotel off the Magnificent Mile
Nearby To: Magnificent Mile holiday lights and shopping; short ride to The Walnut Room and Christkindlmarket
Chicago Athletic Association
Type: Boutique hotel in a landmark 1890s athletic-club building on Michigan Avenue, across from Millennium Park
Nearby To: Millennium Park Ice Skating & Christmas Tree; Christkindlmarket
Places to Eat & Drink
Santa Baby Bar
Type: Over-the-top Christmas pop-up bar with festive cocktails and comfort food, Wrigleyville (family-friendly by day, 21+ after 8 p.m.) Dates and times: November 20 through January 3 | Weekdays 11 AM · Weekends 9 AM. Address: 3505 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657
Nearby To: Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville at Gallagher Way
The Berghoff Restaurant
Type: Iconic Chicago German restaurant & brewery with old-world German Christmas decorations. Pair classic German fare like schnitzel, giant Bavarian pretzels, and potato pierogi with seasonal craft brews from the on-site Adams Street Brewery. Open daily from 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM.
Nearby To: Christkindlmarket and Millennium Park Ice Skating & Christmas Tree
Lou Malnati’s
Type: Chicago deep-dish institution since 1971, with several locations across the city and suburbs.
Nearby To: Christkindlmarket and downtown holiday shopping (Hours vary by location)
Beyond Holiday Things to Do
All Aglow Holiday Lights Display – Rockford
Description: The outdoor gardens at Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens sparkle with roughly 300,000 lights, hand-made candy canes and illuminated stars. The half-mile, one-way walk-through display glows from dusk to dawn, and viewing the outdoor display is free (donations welcome).
Dates: November 28, 2026 - January 10, 2027
Location: Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. Second St., Rockford
Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden
Description: An after-dark, 1.3-mile illuminated trail of light and sound installations winding through the Garden, now in its eighth year. The lineup is re-curated every year, so returning visitors see new displays alongside long-time favorites. Timed tickets sell out so be sure to book ahead!
Dates: Nov. 28, 2026 – Jan. 11,2027
Location: Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe[SL1] [SL2]
Morton Arboretum Illumination
Description: A one-mile, ADA-accessible walking trail through the Arboretum’s tree-filled landscape, transformed by 22 displays of light, color and music, including colorful animal sculptures from the Vivid Creatures exhibition. Warm up by the bonfires with a hot chocolate. Timed tickets are required.
Dates: Nov. 14, 2026 – Jan. 2, 2027
Location: The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle
Places to Stay
Deer Path Inn
Type: Historic 15th-century Tudor-style luxury boutique hotel and guesthouse
Nearby To: Chicago Botanic Garden
Embassy Suites in Rockford
Type: All-suite riverfront hotel in downtown Rockford, with a rooftop bar and lounge
Nearby To: All Aglow Holiday Lights Display
Hotel Arista
Type: Boutique hotel at CityGate Centre in Naperville, with a full-service spa and on-site dining
Nearby To: Morton Arboretum Illumination
Places to Eat & Drink
Abreo Rockford
Type: Chef-driven restaurant, wine bar and garden patio in downtown Rockford, with a seasonal menu built around local farms (515 E. State St.)
Nearby To: All Aglow Holiday Lights Display; Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront (just across the river)
Guildhall
Type: American bistro with European influences
Nearby To: Chicago Botanic Garden
Looking for more ways to celebrate the season? Explore holiday events, light displays and winter getaways across the state in Middle Wonderland.
Enjoy Illinois Inspiration Guide
Find unexpected ways to enjoy Illinois in this biannual inspiration guide that explores every corner of the state. Each issue offers a mix of travel stories, stunning photography and timely trip ideas that'll help you make the most of each season.
Share your Moments
#EnjoyIllinois