Are you spending Thanksgiving in Chicago and looking for fun things to do besides eating turkey? There are many things to do in Chicago on Thanksgiving and even more during Thanksgiving weekend. Here are some of the best things to do in Chicago for thanksgiving, including holiday events and activities and some advice before the holiday season starts in earnest. Hence, you need to know about Thanksgiving in Chicago.
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Things to do in Chicago on thanksgiving:
Below are the top things to do in Chicago thanksgiving (Thursday, 24 November 2022).
1. Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade:
The Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual family-friendly parade. It features huge helium-filled balloons, floats, marching bands, dance groups and horseback rides, local sports teams, etc. Watch the colorful parade, including more than 100 parades and live performances.
2. Outdoor ice skating:
There are many places to go outdoor ice skating in Chicago for thanksgiving. One of the best and perfect ice skating spots is at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph St.), in front of the famous Bean Statue. Admission is free, but tickets must be booked online. The booking date will be released 2 weeks in advance of the session date. Another ice skating with great skyline views is the rink at Maggie Daley Park (337 E Randolph St.), adjacent to Millennium Park.
3. Visit a German-style outdoor Christmas market:
Christkindlmarket is an authentic German outdoor market. Visitors can shop for Christmas ornaments and products from around the world and try various German food and beverages, such as roasted nuts, fresh pretzels, sausages, and hot spiced wine. You can purchase a special edition souvenir jug to remember your trip. The market is located in two locations in Chicago: Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago and Gallagher Way in Wrigleyville.
4. Standing on the ledge at The Skydeck at Willis Tower:
Although many museums and indoor attractions are closed for Thanksgiving, The Skydeck, Willis Tower’s 103rd-floor observatory, remains open. For the best Instagram photos, head to The Ledge, a glass terrace that extends four feet from the 103rd floor. It is one of the best places in Chicago for thanksgiving.
5. Enjoy the Winter Flower Show at the Garfield Conservatory:
The Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the largest and most beautiful botanical conservatories in the United States, often referred to as “Landscape art under glass,” Garfield Park Conservatory showcases thousands of plant species from around the world through its eight indoor exhibition gardens. Visitors can enjoy the lush greenery and indoor tropical temperatures all year round! Their winter flower show, Serenity, kicks off the day before Thanksgiving. It is one of the best things to do in Chicago on thanksgiving.
6. See the holiday lights:
Hop in the car and drive to see the holiday lights. Some of the large popular light shows are closed on Thanksgiving. But there are holiday light shows and a free holiday light show that opens near Chicago. Holiday light shows and suburban shows open in Chicago during thanksgiving.
7. Holiday tour:
There are a few tours that focus on the Chicago attractions during the holidays, which you can join on thanksgiving Chicago weekend if your time is short for your vacation travel. Check out the walking tour or Segway tour.
8. Visit the Christmas tree Farm:
Another must-do Chicago for thanksgiving weekend is to visit one of the many Christmas tree farms in the Chicago area to pick and cut your own Christmas tree. If you don’t want to cut down the trees yourself, you can enjoy the atmosphere of holiday photography and buy new cut trees.
9. The Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Along:
Do you enjoy singing? Sing and celebrate the holidays next to The Bean on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The new Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Along series is an annual holiday tradition in Chicago. But it has been rethought to cover more of Chicago’s background, beliefs, culture, and holiday music traditions.
10. Dining at the Walnut Room:
Dining at the Walnut Room is a holiday tradition in Chicago. Located on the 7th floor of Macy’s State Street (formerly Marshall Field’s), Walnut Room was the first restaurant to open in the mall. During the holiday season, Diners can enjoy views of Macy’s “big tree” at the center of the restaurant while dining on holiday classics. This seasonal menu features traditional Walnut Room items such as Mrs. Hering’s original 1890 chicken pot pie, slow-roasted turkey, turkey cider glaze, meatloaf, spiced salmon, carrot cake, and more.
Reservations are open and available on OpenTable for the holiday season here. For parties of more than 16 people, the Walnut Room will ask guests to book using an online form. It is the best place for Chicago Thanksgiving dinner parties.
11. Light up the lake at Navy Pier:
Light up the Lake at Navy Pier is Chicago’s newest vacation adventure. The temperature-controlled indoor experience features a sprawling light garden of large sculptures composed of more than 600,000 twinkling lights; a large alpine ice skating rink and a real holiday beer garden ride a small train.
12. Ride the CTA Holiday train:
The CTA Holiday Train is a unique holiday tradition in Chicago. As the train entered each station, Santa waved to riders on open-air sleighs carrying reindeer and festive plants. Each car of the train is wrapped in images of holidays and seasons. Thousands of twinkling lights show the outlines of trains and windows, with more lights running through the top of the car. It is an excellent Chicago thanksgiving events for more people.
FAQ:
You won’t have to deal with crowds in early November. But the holiday season starts to bring in tourists from mid to late November. Many thanksgiving events take place at the end of November.
It usually snows for about two days in November with only 2 inches of snow falling in total.
January is the coldest month in Chicago.
Bottom line:
If you are spending Thanksgiving weekend in Chicago, you will find fun activities. As you can see, there are many things to do in Chicago for thanksgiving. Have you ever been to Chicago during Thanksgiving? There is more to Thanksgiving weekend than eating turkey.
