A Windy City holiday: Chicago’s 10 essential holiday activities
By Andi Ortiz
CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 05: Macy’s and Make-A- Wish® launch annual Believe campaign at Macy’sState Street store with The 109th Annual Great Tree Lighting ceremony on November 5, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for Macy’s)
When it comes to celebrating the season, Chicago is one of the best places to be. There’s plenty of choices, but these 10 activities are a must in this city.
Sledding, baking, snowball fights, shopping, feasting. When the holiday season rolls in, these are all a given. But everyone has their own holiday bucket list, from family traditions to hometown specials. When that hometown is Chicago, there are a few added necessities to get in the spirit.
The winter is when the city thrives most. It’s still the Windy City, so the weather can be brutal, especially near the lake, but the spirit is what gets people through. A simple walk through the streets will see countless street decorations, window displays and street musicians playing festive music.
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Around this time, an afternoon or night out has a lot more possibility. Every person and every business contributes in their own way and there’s something different to do every single day. For those just visiting the city, it can be hard to narrow the to-do list down. Even for longtime residents, picking one activity over another can spark a surprising internal conflict.
To help out, this list has picked out 10 of the most essential holiday stops in Chicago, ranging from carnivals to historic landmarks. Whether you make it one mega-day, or 10 days of fun, these things will make for a perfect Chicago holiday.