Searching for what to do this weekend in Chicago? Below are the best things to do in Chicago this weekend (December 6-8, 2024) – from holiday events and activities to other fun weekend events. (If you are planning ahead, you can also find the best things to do next weekend here.)
I suggest bookmarking this blog post as it is updated regularly with new events and activities.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission if you make a booking using my links at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Best Weekend Events in Chicago
Below are the best weekend events in Chicago:
Deck The Hall at Old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church – December 5-7, 2024
One of a Kind Show – December 5-8, 2024
Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Along (previously “Caroling at Cloud Gate”) – Friday, December 6, 2024, 6pm | FREE
Winterland Tree Lighting Ceremony at Gallagher Way – Friday, December 6, 2024, 6-7pm | FREE
Holiday Drone Show at Navy Pier – Friday, December 6, 2024, 9pm | FREE
Winter Fireworks Show at Navy Pier – Saturday, December 7, 2024, 9pm | FREE
Winter Market at Gallagher Way – December 6-8, 2024
Julmarknad: Swedish American Museum Christmas Bazaar – December 6-8, 2024
Drie-cember Holiday Market (Driehaus Museum) – December 7-8, 2024, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm
Santa Hustle 5K – Saturday, December 7, 2024
Wicker Park Holiday Tree Lighting – Saturday, December 7, 2024, 10 am – 5pm
The Chris White Jazz Trio Tribute to A Charlie Brown Christmas (at Lincoln Park Zoo) – Sunday, December 8, 2024, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
More Weekend Events in Chicago
Below are more events taking place this weekend in Chicago:
Winter Walk on Wilson (Uptown) – Friday, December 6, 2024, 5:00pm – 8:30pm | FREE (RSVP to win prizes)
20th Annual Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade (Austin) – Friday, December 6, 2024 | FREE
Sip & Shop in West Town – Saturday, December 7, 2024, 12-5pm
Speaker Series: Orchids of the Chicago area! at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum – Saturday, December 7, 2024, 11am – 12pm
Holiday Trolley/ El Aventón Navideño (Little Village) – December 7-8, 2024, 11am – 6pm | FREE
Clark Street Cookie Crawl in Lincoln Park – Sunday, December 8, 2024, 1:00-3:30pm
More Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend
In addition to the weekend events listed above, below are more of the best things to do in Chicago this weekend:
Winterland at Gallagher Way
Winterland at Gallagher Way is opening this weekend for the holiday season with music, Santa, seasonal food and drinks, carnival rides and bumper cars.
Where: Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613
Cost: Admission to Gallagher Way is free and requires no tickets. Ride tickets will be available on site for purchase.
Winterland: An Immersive Holiday Experience
Winterland: An Immersive Holiday Experience is an indoor family friendly whimsical holiday wonderland filled with festive delights and sparkling lights.
Where: Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Cost: $15.00 for adults and $12.50 for children 12 and under. Click here to purchase tickets in advance.
Light Up the Lake at Navy Pier
Light Up the Lake is opening this weekend at Navy Pier. In addition to free outdoor holiday lights, there are fun activities and attractions such as axe throwing and a new ice slide.
Where: Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Cost: Includes both free and ticketed activities. Single and pre-bundled tickets are available.
Ride the CTA Holiday Train (or Holiday Bus)
Both the CTA Holiday Train and Holiday Bus will be running this weekend. See transitchicago.com/holidayfleet for full details on dates, times and routes.
Christkindlmarket
Shop, eat and drink at Christkindlmarket, the popular German-style outdoor market located at Daley Plaza. (Christkindlmarket is always very crowded on the weekends so it is best to visit on a weekday if your schedule allows.)
Where: Daley Plaza, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Cost: Admission is FREE.
ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ at Lincoln Park Zoo is a cheerful, family-friendly holiday event features hundreds of luminous LED displays and seasonal experiences, all under the glow of millions of lights.
Go Outdoor Ice Skating
Both the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink right in front of the Bean and skating ribbon at Maggie Daley Park are open and require advance reservations. You can find more places to go outdoor ice skating here.
Take a Holiday Tour of Chicago
If you enjoy holiday attractions, holiday themed tours are a good way to see a few attractions in a short amount of time:
Festive Food & Walking Tour
Seasonal Stroll Walking Tour of Holiday Attractions
Guided Holiday Walking Tour and Food Sampling
Titanic: The Exhibition
Titanic: The Exhibition is ending its limited time run in the Chicago area in a few weeks. This interactive experience allows you to step inside recreations of the Titanic’s interior. Immerse yourself in the stories of its passengers, see hundreds of artifacts, and discover the tale of the design, creation, launch, maiden voyage, and tragedy of the historic ship.
Where: 4963 Old Orchard Shopping Center, Skokie, IL 60077 (about 17 miles from downtown Chicago)
Cost: Price varies. Click here for full prices and to purchase tickets in advance.
As you can see there are many things to do in Chicago this weekend. If you are looking for more things to do in the Chicago area, you can find the best things to do in the suburbs here. If you are looking for things to do during the week, you can find more things to do in Chicago in December here.
