Travel Guide
Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
Everything you need to know β hours, tickets, tips, and how to make the most of your visit.
Overview
About Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
Chicago's Magnificent Mile, the stretch of North Michigan Avenue from the river to Oak Street, sparkles with more than a million lights on its trees each holiday season. The season kicks off with the Lights Festival parade on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and the lights stay up into January.
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Insider Knowledge
Travel Tips
Walk north from the DuSable Bridge to the historic Water Tower in the evening for the best effect.
Nearby
Must See Attractions
nyc-and-chicago-at-christmasBryant Park Winter Village
A holiday village in Midtown Manhattan behind the New York Public Library, with an ice rink, a European-style market of more than 100 glass kiosks selling gifts and food, and a cozy rinkside bar. Rink admission is free if you bring your own skates.
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nyc-and-chicago-at-christmasChristkindlmarket Chicago
Chicago's beloved German-style Christmas market in Daley Plaza in the Loop, inspired by Nuremberg's, with wooden huts selling ornaments, nutcrackers, bratwurst, potato pancakes, stollen and hot spiced Gluhwein in collectible boot-shaped mugs. A second market sets up at Gallagher Way by Wrigley Field.
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nyc-and-chicago-at-christmasDyker Heights Christmas Lights
A residential Brooklyn neighborhood where homeowners go all-out with giant inflatable Santas, animated nutcrackers and hundreds of thousands of lights. The densest displays sit roughly between 11th and 13th avenues from 83rd to 86th streets, making it one of New York's most memorable free holiday outings.
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nyc-and-chicago-at-christmasLincoln Park ZooLights
A long-running Chicago holiday tradition that fills Lincoln Park Zoo with millions of lights, glowing animal sculptures, ice carving and holiday music. It runs on select nights from late November into early January and makes a festive evening walk for all ages.
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nyc-and-chicago-at-christmasMagnificent Mile Lights Festival
Chicago's Magnificent Mile, the stretch of North Michigan Avenue from the river to Oak Street, sparkles with more than a million lights on its trees each holiday season. The season kicks off with the Lights Festival parade on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and the lights stay up into January.
View Details
nyc-and-chicago-at-christmasRockefeller Center Christmas Tree
New York's most famous holiday tree, a towering Norway spruce usually 70 to 90 feet tall, topped with a Swarovski star and strung with about 50,000 LED lights above the Rink at Rockefeller Center. It's typically lit the Wednesday after Thanksgiving and stays up into mid-January.
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