Ice flows on the Chicago River in December

Why you should visit Chicago in December

There’s nothing more seasonal than a frozen river or steady snowfall. And these are things Chicago in December has in droves.

If you’re looking for the full festive experience, there are few US destinations that come close. By day you can take in the city’s wealth of cultural attractions. Then by night there’s a long list of special events that use the hours of darkness to bring even more sparkle to what could otherwise be a very drab end to the year.

Here are five very good reasons why you should visit Chicago in December.

 

1. Family-friendly holiday activities

Chicago in December

1. Family-friendly holiday activities

You certainly won’t be worrying how you’re going to entertain the kids if you travel to Chicago in December. Alongside Centennial Wheel and the other rides of Navy Pier, the Christmas period sees this entertainment complex welcome Light Up the Lake.

Although festive lights play a big part, this December spectacle brings together a gift market, ice rink and visits to Santa all under one roof. Children can enjoy a turn on its trains, whilst adults might instead like a little R & R at the holiday beer garden.

The same location also boasts Chicago Children’s Museum, which is less a traditional museum and more a place for children from babies up to develop and discover the world around them.

If that’s high on the itinerary, then another Chicago attraction to check out is Lincoln Park Zoo, whose global A to Z of animals starts at aardvarks from the plains of Africa and ends with yellow-spotted river turtles from the Amazon rainforest.

 

2. Festive cheer around every corner

Chicago in December

2. Festive cheer around every corner

Commuting may not sound like something to do during your Christmas vacation, but with Chicago Transport Authority’s Holiday Train in service from the end of November through to the Christmas shutdown, you may want to change your mind.

Carriages of this metro train are decorated inside and out – with the exterior garlanded in lights, making an after dark trip a must. But that’s not all, Santa waves to users from his position behind his reindeer – an all for a good cause.

Lighting displays aren’t hard to find in Chicago during December, with Morton Arboretum just one potential attraction getting in on the act. Far from the standard Christmas lights you might expect, 50 acres of trees are illuminated not just in light, but also color and sound.

Closer to downtown, you only need to take in a short part of the Magnificent Mile to discover an area of the city ablaze with seasonal lighting displays. One of the city’s major shopping destinations, with almost 500 stores to choose from, you’ll also find storefronts attempting to out compete each other with the wow factor.

 

3. Evening events to warm heart, soul and fingers

Chicago in December

3. Evening events to warm heart, soul and fingers

Evenings aren’t hard to fill with delights. A great place to start (and maybe end) any evening in Chicago in December is the Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza. Open daily from mid-November until Christmas Eve, this German-themed market of roughly 40 individual stalls is the biggest in the US. Meet up with friends or simply peruse the stalls in search of unique Christmas gifts, splendid souvenirs and a long list of edible treats, from currywurst to cookies.

Lovers of culture and tradition might also want to seek out the city’s theatre spaces. Adaptations of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol have now been staged for half a century, whilst ballets to look out for include Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, set on Christmas Eve.

As elsewhere, New Year’s Eve is all about midnight fireworks, launching from barges at the end of Navy Pier. Grab a ticket for the Resolution Gala at the pier’s Grand Ballroom and you’ll be able to enjoy the spectacle with a glass of champagne in hand. Alternatively, the display is visible from much of Chicago’s shoreline on Lake Michigan as well as from special midnight dinner cruises.

 

4. World class museum collections

Chicago in December

4. World class museum collections

Occupying the only structure still in existence from the 1893 World Columbian Exposition (or World’s Fair), the Museum of Science and Industry has a range of artefacts and objects relating to scientific discovery. In December, it also hosts its celebration of Christmas around the world – something it has been doing since 1942.

Today it includes around 50 Christmas trees decorated by volunteers to represent seasonal traditions around the world as well as incorporating non-Christian winter festivals such as Hannukah.

Further north, the Field Museum is one for those fascinated by the wider world. Amongst its most popular exhibits are Máximo – the largest dinosaur ever found – and the DNA Discovery Center, where windows reveal real-life scientists working to map out the genetic codes of a whole range of species.

5. Unforgettable snowy scenes

Chicago in December

5. Unforgettable snowy scenes

Chicago in December regularly sees snow accumulate to about 2.5 inches – enough to create a wonderful wintry blanket without bringing things to a shuddering stop. Millennium Park, a westward extension of Grant Park, typifies scenes across the city whilst also hosting one of its main outdoor ice rinks.

McCormick Tribune Ice Rink is a good size and also watched over by a modern Chicago icon – the reflective ‘bean’ sculpture by Anish Kapoor officially entitled Cloud Gate.

For dreamy vistas from higher up, look no further than the Willis Tower. Still known to many locals by its original name of the Sears Tower, the 60 second elevator ride takes you to the ear-popping height of 1353 feet. The tower’s 103rd floor Skydeck observation deck provides unrivalled views of the city by day and night, taking in sights such as the Magnificent Mile and Lake Michigan. On a clear day, views extend across four different states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Save on admission in Chicago in December

Anyone who loves their winters cold and snowy is sure to adore Chicago in December. Not only is the weather worthy of a Christmas movie, but there are a huge array of special attractions and events to look out for, from seasonal lights to New Year’s fireworks.

Travel to Chicago with Go City and you’ll get massive savings on many of the city’s top-rated attractions too. Let’s face it, you don’t have to be Scrooge to love a bargain, making Go City a no brainer! So grab a Chicago pass and save while you sightsee this December!

Ian Packham
Go City Travel Expert

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The Ferris Bueller Guide to Chicago

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Seren Morris
A visitor viewing the art museums of Chicago
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Best art galleries in Chicago

A haven for art lovers, Chicago had more galleries than anywhere in the United States bar New York. Its artistic heritage goes right back to the early days of the city, and has escaped its gallery walls to spread across its streets. Chase Tower Plaza provides a home for Marc Chagall’s Four Seasons mural, Daley Plaza a 50 foot sculpture by Picasso, Brunswick Plaza Miro’s Chicago and Millennium Park Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate – otherwise known as ‘the bean’. What’s particularly wonderful about the best art galleries in Chicago is that they encompass all artistic styles and ages – from contemporary photography to outsider art. Nor is it limited to the second city’s grand institutions. Chicago’s smaller independently run art galleries have equally captivating collections. Where should you spend your time as an art lover in Chicago? The answer lies within the next 800 words. Art Institute of Chicago Founded in 1866, the Art Institute of Chicago is the gallery from which much of the city’s pleasure in artistic pursuits has developed. Its collection is both expansive and world class, totaling some 300,000 individual objects from ancient Middle Eastern artefacts to modern textiles. Some of its most famous residents include Hopper’s Nighthawks and Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, alongside Grant Wood’s American Gothic. Museum of Contemporary Art Whilst it cannot compete with the 5000 years of human endeavor covered by the Art Institute, the Museum of Contemporary Art more than holds its own with its rotating series of exhibitions focused on the art of the latter twentieth century to the present day. Its box-like gallery space provides a home for works including Andy Warhol’s Vote McGovern – a ghoulish image of President Richard Nixon. Borrowing much of the art that hangs on its walls both nationally and internationally, a visit is never the same twice. Zolla/Lieberman Gallery It’s only because of Zolla/Lieberman Gallery that the River North Art District exists. When it arrived in 1976, the area was a down-on-its-luck industrial district whose industry had long gone, leaving ‘Smokey Hollow’ all but derelict. Since its first show, the gallery has sought a path which isn’t restricted by either genre or the status of its artist. It supports a great deal of new talent as well as those who have already made their name. Each exhibition lasts just a couple of months. Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art It was the early 1990s which witnessed the birth of Intuit, a gallery created to celebrate and promote the work of outsider and folk artists. It means that many of the 1100 pieces in its permanent collection were created by self-taught artists who felt in some way marginalized, providing a fascinating insight into the thoughts of populations often underrepresented within artistic communities. Their artists may not be household names, but that’s not to say you won’t find something thought-provoking or touching should you choose to visit when in Chicago. Rhona Hoffman Gallery The West Town district’s Rhona Hoffman Gallery is one of Chicago’s small art galleries with a big personality. Heavily involved in community events such as EXPO Chicago, its main remit is to bring young and emerging artists to new audiences. Global in scope, it has historically lent towards female artists, with notables it has championed including Cindy Sherman and Barbara Kruger. As a mixed media gallery, expect anything from video installations to sculpture. Stephen Daiter Gallery Another River North pick, Stephen Daiter Gallery dedicates itself to twentieth century photography from America and Europe. From traditional portraits and still lives to experimental styles and photojournalism, it focuses on the very best vintage photography from the Bauhaus school to the homegrown Chicago School of Design. Its contemporary program brings it right up to date. Vertical Gallery One of the newest kids on the block, Vertical Gallery was the dream of Patrick Hull, former Vice President, Marketing & Sales at Birkenstock USA and opened in 2013. Aiming to rival all the east or west coasts can offer when it comes to street art and pop culture, it has become the jumping off point for several artists entering larger galleries in Chicago and beyond. If their work doesn’t bring a wry smile to your face, you’ll be one of very few who leave unimpressed. Chicago Truborn Literally unmissable due to its front facing multi story mural, Chicago Truborn was unveiled in 2011 as a place to see art in an unintimidating environment. A must-visit Chicago gallery for anyone who’s ever considered becoming a collector, Truborn’s art is some of the most affordable in the city, although this shouldn’t suggest its artists are somehow less talented. What’s more, there’s a new exhibition every five weeks to look forward to from the hottest crop of street, urban and graffiti artists. Corbett vs Dempsey The Corbett in question here has taught at the Art Institute of Chicago for more than 40 years, whilst Dempsey has had an illustrious career as the house manager of a Chicago film center. The result is a gallery just as eclectic. The mix of brick, plaster and polished floors shows off the contemporary paintings well, with film and musical works creating a very special ambience. There’s also an art bookshop and record store selling the gallery’s Corbett vs Dempsey label, whose list contains the likes of Sun Ra. Chicago Gamespace Much has been made of the artistic integrity of video games in recent years, and Chicago Gamespace came about as a living museum of the most important arcade games – most of which can be played. As well as a permanent collection of machines from Pac-Man to Mortal Kombat, the walls hang with stills and origin artworks, with prints available from the onsite shop. Roughly a mile west of Chicago History Museum and the animals of Lincoln Park Zoo, the only downside is that Chicago Gamespace is only open on Sunday afternoons. See the best art galleries in Chicago with Go City What unites the best art galleries in Chicago isn’t the size of their permanent collections or the focus of their curatorial teams, but the energy and love they put into sharing their art with the public. Big and small, classic and contemporary, together they form one of the most important cultural gatherings in the entire country. Head to Chicago with Go City and you can bask in reduced admission to many of the windy city’s top attractions, including the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Ian Packham

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