By Kent Ninomiya
Chicago is packed with fun things to do in December. It is a festive time in the Windy City. The streets and buildings are decorated with colorful holiday lights, festivals celebrate the season and shopping areas are buzzing with activity. Chicago usually has a light dusting of snow in December, adding to the atmosphere of the holiday season. It is a pleasant time of the year before the bitter cold of the Chicago winter strikes with a fury.
Michigan Avenue
Michigan Avenue is the main shopping strip in Chicago. In December, the area is decorated in festive holiday lights and wreaths. The center of activity is Water Tower Place. There you can ride a holiday decorated, horse drawn carriage though the streets.
State Street
State Street is the older shopping district in Chicago. It is famous for its December holiday window displays at the old Marshall Field's department store. Macy's bought the store but is continuing the window display tradition. Across the street is an open air ice rink where you can skate to holiday music.
Chicago Christmas Tree
The official Chicago Christmas tree stands in Daley Plaza. It is always huge and impressively decorated. The giant tree is actually more than one hundred smaller trees all stacked together to appear to be a single one. The Christmas tree lighting ceremony takes place at the beginning of December.
Christkindlmarket Chicago
Christkindlmarket Chicago is a long time holiday tradition in Chicago. It celebrates the holiday traditions of German immigrants who settled in the area. Here you will find German holiday arts, crafts, food and entertainment. Of course, there is also plenty of German beer flowing. You can find Christkindlmarket Chicago at Daley Plaza between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
Lincoln Park Zoo
Chicago's free zoo is ablaze in holiday lights in December. They call it "Zoolights." It also offers free activities and entertainment on several days in December. These include kids projects and ice carving. Santa is known to roam the zoo.
Brookfield Zoo
The Brookfield Zoo calls their December celebration "Holiday Magic." It features thousands of lights, decorations, carolers, storytelling and a laser show. The events are much more extravagant than the Lincoln Park Zoo, but the Brookfield Zoo is a short drive from Downtown Chicago and there is an admission fee. Admission is about $11 for adults and $7 for kids and seniors.
Navy Pier
Navy Pier extends out into Lake Michigan. It is the perfect vantage point to view the stunning Chicago skyline in December. Many buildings light up in green and red. Navy Pier also has a Winter Wonderfest in December. It features ice skating, holiday entertainment and carnival rides.
About the Author:
Kent Ninomiya is a veteran journalist with over 23 years experience as a television news anchor, reporter and managing editor. He traveled to more than 100 countries on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Ninomiya holds a Bachelor of Arts in social sciences with emphasis in history, political science and mass communications from the University of California at Berkeley.
