Are you looking for things to do this Christmas in Chicago with the kids? Maybe you are visiting Chicago for the holidays and want to see some famous Chicago attractions. How about a free visit with Santa? These are our staff’s top five choices for seeing Santa (mostly for free) in Chicago. Each is open to the public for extended hours throughout the Christmas season and located in a popular Chicago spot with other nearby Chicago attractions. Plan your visit then make a day of seeing all that Chicago has to offer this Christmas season.
- Downtown Chicago – Daley Plaza Santa
- Navy Pier – Navy Pier Santa
This is the best choice for families that want to be indoors or combine their day at the Winter Wonderfest. Admission to Navy Pier is free and this is a free Santa event. You will have to pay for any activities at the Winter Wonderfest.
• Saturday, November 28, 2009: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Sunday, November 29 to Tuesday, December 23, 2009: Daily from 11 am to 7 pm
• Thursday, December 24, 2009 (Christmas Eve): 11 am to 3 pm - Lincoln Park Zoo – Lincoln Park Zoo Santa
Come see jolly old St Nick for free at Lincoln Park Zoo which transforms into a dazzling wonderland with a series of free seasonal festivities. Enter a winter wonderland illuminated by more than two million lights at Lincoln Park Zoo’s annual ZooLights. This holiday classic has become one of the Windy City’s must-see seasonal events. Watch live ice carving then escape Jack Frost with an exotic trip past crocodiles, pygmy hippos and meerkats at the Regenstein African Journey. Animal exhibits generally stay open late as guests roam the beautiful grounds, prepare family crafts and enjoy the zoo’s incredible animals immersed in an atmosphere unlike any other.
• Friday, November 27 to Sunday, November 29: 5 pm to 9 pm
• Friday, December 4 to Sunday, December 6: 5 pm to 9 pm
• Friday, December 11 to Sunday, December 13: 5 pm to 9 pm
• Friday, December 18 to Wednesday, December 23: 5 pm to 9 pm2200 N. Cannon Drive
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 742-2000
www.lpzoo.com - Santa on the CTA Train
Every Christmas season The Chicago Transit Authority gives the citizens and visitors to the Windy City a marvelous gift—the CTA Holiday train. This spectacular and beautifully lit up train with Santa and his elves, runs on different CTA routes from Saturday, November 21st through Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009. The interiors of the cars are gaily decorated with a plethora of multi-colored lights, garlands and red bows with poles wrapped to resemble candy canes. Santa arrives in dramatic fashion, on a sleigh in an open flatbed car in the middle of the train—which has been outfitted with reindeer, Christmas trees and luminous shining lights. As the train pulls into a station Santa can be seen greeting the children and boarding passengers. Note: The hours shown are approximate:Chicago Transit Authority
567 W. Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60661
1-888-968-7282
Note: For detailed schedule for the Holiday Train check the CTA website: www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/holidaytrain.aspxSaturday, Nov. 21 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Red and Purple Lines Sunday, Nov. 22 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Red and Purple Lines Wednesday, Nov. 25 12 noon to 6 p.m. Pink Line and Loop ‘L’ Friday, Nov. 27 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Blue Line Sunday, Nov. 29 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Blue Line Wednesday, Dec. 2 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Green Line Thursday, Dec. 3 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Green Line Friday, Dec. 4 3 p.m. to 7 p.m Green Line Saturday, Dec. 5 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Green Line Wednesday, Dec. 9 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Brown and Orange Lines Thursday, Dec. 10 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Brown and Orange Lines Friday, Dec. 11 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Brown and Orange Lines Saturday, Dec. 12 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Brown and Orange Lines Wednesday, Dec. 16 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Red Line Thursday, Dec. 17 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Purple Line Friday, Dec. 18 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Red Line Monday, Dec. 21 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Red Line Tuesday, Dec. 22 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Purple Line Wednesday, Dec. 23 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Yellow Line Admission: Normal fares apply—there is no premium to ride on the Holiday Train.
- Breakfast with Santa at Macy’s in Chicago
You and your family are cordially invited to an exclusive breakfast with Santa Claus at one of the three Macy’s stores in the Chicago area. Enjoy a yummy, plated breakfast plus delicious cereals, children’s face painting and balloon artistry and a visit from Santa Claus himself. Remember to bring your camera for photos with Santa. While not free, this is a great opportunity to make a morning of it with your kids.
Saturday, December 5th, 12th & 19th
Sunday, December 6th 13th & 20th 2009
Sponsor: Macy’s on State Street
Event at: State Restaurant on 7
111 N. State Street
Chicago, IL 60602
www.visitmacyschicago.com
To book: call 1-800-206-1995 beginning November 8, 2009
for more information and to make reservations at any of the stores listed above.
Times: 9 am – Doors open at 8:45 am
Cost: Tickets are $16.00 per person, $12.00 for children under 10 years of age.
You’ll find jolly old St. Nick in the heart of downtown Chicago in the gaily decorated Santa House near the 85-foot tall Christmas tree in Daley Plaza. Santa’s house shares the Plaza with the authentic Christkindlmarket, a month long open air traditional German holiday market, where you can enjoy native foods, crafts and shopping from over forty vendors in timber booths. There’s plenty of holiday entertainment and cheer for both adults and children at this winter wonderland.You might also think about free ice skating at Millennium Park.
50 W. Washington St.
Chicago, IL 60602
Santa House Days and Hours: 2009 November 26th – Dec. 24th
• Mondays – Fridays 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
• Saturday – Sunday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Thursday – December 24th 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
