On of my (and many others) favorite things about the holiday season are the Christmas light displays. Fortunately, there is no shortage of glowing and twinkling strands of lights in Chicago. Here are some places to see Chicago Christmas lights.
1. Chicago Christmas Tree
Photo courtesy City of Chicago
The most appropriate spot to start a tour of Chicago Christmas lights would probably be the Chicago Christmas tree located in Daley Plaza. The tree is set up each year around Thanksgiving, and is adjacent to the Christkindlmarket.
2. Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade
Photo via Festival of Lights
This popular parade down the North Michigan Avenue shopping corridor the Saturday before Thanksgiving draws hundreds of thousands of people as Mickey Mouse leads the procession lighting up over one million lights. The lights stay on throughout the Christmas season.
3. Lincoln Park ZooLights
Photo via Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo gets into the holiday season with "ZooLights", when it decks itself with lights, Santa's Safari, ice carving demonstrations, and more.
4. Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic
Photo via Brookfield Zoo
Not to be outdone, Brookfield Zoo also decorates for Christmas with almost a million lights, a laser light show, carolers, storytellers and more.
5. Navy Pier Winter Wonderfest
Photo © Prescott Carlson
Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier has one advantage over other displays -- it's inside! A definite plus during Chicago's sometimes brutal winter cold.
