Ever since the calendar turned from October 31st to November 1st, many people  have been in full Christmas mode. The hard and challenging year of 2020 is almost coming to an end, and people are looking forward to the Christmas season as a way to see family and friends and finish off the year on a positive note. With that being said, every year Chicago has so many fun activities and things to do during the holiday season, but of course, with COVID-19, some things may be not available to the public. However, they have adjusted some activities, and there are still tons of fun and safe things to do in Chicago this year with you and your family.

This year in Chicago there are many fun light displays to see all around the city. There will be a drive-through tree light display at the Morton Arboretum that will be on through January 3rd. As always, the Lincoln Park Zoo will also have their annual Zoolights experience. From November 24th to January 3rd, you can take a stroll through the zoo and see all the amazing lights. You can also visit Chicago’s large Christmas tree in Millenium Park that will be shining its bright lights all the way through January 7th. Naperville will be having their 8th annual lights display on the Naperville Riverwalk. The people who run this say it is a free event that is meant to bring holiday cheer and festivities to the community in a way that is conducive to social distancing. Finally, you can take a stroll through the Brookfield Zoo and see all of the fantastic light shows there, including a 600-foot long tunnel with colorful lights all synchronized to music.

If you are not into seeing light shows, there are some other fun things you can do with the whole family. The Maggie Daley Ice Skating Park is a figure eight skating rink right outside the city with a great view and railings for some of the less experienced skaters. You can also make your own scavenger hunt around the city and people will be able to see some of Chicago’s best sights while being socially distanced. If you’re not in the mood to make up your own hunt, there are plenty of ones already made on the internet. This year in Replay Lincoln Park, there will be drive in movies available. In an effort to create magical experiences for families during a non-traditional holiday season, guests will experience a holiday style movie experience, enhanced with twinkling decor and appearances by The Grinch, Santa, Mrs. Claus, reindeer, and some of your other favorite characters. 

Even with this year’s predicaments, Chicago will still be one of the top spots to visit during this holiday season with your friends and family.