The best Christmas things to do during the holidays in Chicago

The iconic German-inspired holiday market brings just over a month of Christmassy celebrations to the Loop, Wrigleyville and suburban Aurora for its 30th anniversary this year. Browse stalls stocked with handmade gifts, German food and plenty of hot beverages to keep you warm while you wander around and soak in the festive atmosphere. Don't leave without trying spiced glühwein, a German hot wine concoction that's best enjoyed in the market's famous boot mugs.

Every year, Millennium Park is adorned with an epic Christmas tree that remains on display until the beginning of the new year. The larger-than-life attraction is festooned with twinkling lights and crowned with an illuminated star. Spectators can check out the festive tree near Washington Street and Michigan Avenue through early January. Want to see the tree light up for the first time this season? The annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony returns this year on Friday, November 20.

Having retired cofounder Robert Joffrey's production of The Nutcracker after nearly 30 years, the Joffrey Ballet debuted a brand-new version in 2016, set in Chicago against a revamped backdrop of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. This year's production will be staged at the Lyric Opera House, featuring music performed by the Lyric Opera Orchestra and the choreography of Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon. The Chicago-inspired iteration of the classic Christmas ballet will have you humming "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" for days after you leave the theater.

The night after Christkindlmarket opens and the city's Christmas tree is illuminated, the Magnificent Mile rings in the holiday season with its annual parade. You'll be able to watch lights in more than 200 trees along Michigan Avenue sparkle as a procession of floats, giant helium balloons, marching bands and celebrities pass by. As usual, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will act as the Grand Marshals. Show up early (beginning at 11am) to check out activities along Michigan Avenue and get a picture with Santa.

Skate under the Chicago skyline and within sight of the Chicago Christmas Tree at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park. Plus, take advantage of free skating lessons on most Saturdays and Sundays, where you can learn both beginner- and intermediate-level skills. Note that you'll need to make a free online reservation for both regular skating and lessons, and if it seems too warm to skate, call ahead.

Situated in the heart of downtown Chicago with the city's sweeping skyline as a backdrop, the Skating Ribbon at Maggie Daley Park is a winter attraction unlike any other. Skaters can lace up and wind around a winding, ice-covered path that's twice the length of a lap around a traditional rink. Reservations for the popular ice rink should be made in advance, as they tend to fill up quickly.

The Cubs may be hibernating for the winter, but Gallagher Way provides some excellent reasons to hang out in Wrigleyville during baseball's offseason. The Wrigley Field-adjacent space hosts a variety of seasonal activities, including photos with Santa, a winter market, carnival rides and holiday movie screenings. Opening on November 20, you'll be able to shop for gifts, sip a hot beverage and enjoy delicious treats through December 31. The best part? There's no cost to enter.

The Goodman Theatre’s annual holiday production of the Charles Dickens classic returns to the stage, with Tim Hopper taking on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. The play has been a staple of the Goodman's calendar for more than 40 years, allowing returning attendees and new generations to see the quintessential Christmas story unfold before their eyes. Prepare to be visited by three spirits—and don't be surprised if A Christmas Carol's touching tale of redemption makes you shed a few tears.

Every year, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry puts up its four-story Grand Tree and surrounds the towering pine with more than 50 trees that represent Chicago's various communities and their respective holiday celebrations. Visitors will be able to take in even more seasonal cheer at the accompanying Holidays of Light exhibit, which recognizes the traditions of Chinese New Year, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Hanukkah, Visakha Puja Day and St. Lucia Day. Admission to Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light is included with a regular Museum of Science and Industry ticket.

The Chicago Botanic Garden hosts this annual (and quick to sell out) display of festive lights, giving guests a host of shimmering reasons to visit the forest preserve during the holiday season. Set along an illuminated path, the after-dark experience features a series of installations to explore, including a 110-foot tunnel made up of 100,000 lights and a group of trees festooned with bulbs that "sing" holiday songs. 

To see one of the largest displays of holiday lights within city limits, you need to head to Lincoln Park Zoo, where the annual ZooLights display strings up more than 3 million LED bulbs. While most of the animals will be keeping warm inside, visitors are welcome to wander through the park, snapping photos of the various displays and taking part in a variety of activities throughout the holiday season. As always, guests will also be able to enjoy hot beverages and snacks at stands throughout the park.

The team behind the popular Drunk Shakespeare series puts a spirited spin on the holidays with the return of Drunk Christmas Carol. The 90-minute rendition of Charles Dickens' iconic story features a completely sober cast, minus one actor who takes five shots before performing. 

The Newberry Consort,which presents deeply researched music from the Renaissance, Baroque and other historical periods long since passed, hosts this yearly holiday concert with historical flair, in which a group of performers recreates scenes from 17th-century Mexico at Christmastime. Hear songs that would have been performed in convents and cathedrals. Concerts will take place this year in Evanston, Uptown and the Gold Coast. 

It’s not the holidays until you’ve heard "All I Want for Christmas Is You" a thousand times, so it only makes sense that a Mariah Carey-themed pop-up bar is returning to Chicago this winter season. The Queen of Christmas' cocktail pop-up at Experience 868 in River North is decked out with festive decor, photo-ops and a lineup of holiday-inspired drinks made with her Black Irish cream liqueur. 

Renegade Craft Fair returns just in time for the holiday shopping sprint, taking over Morgan MFG's industrial digs. Attendees will be able to shop the handmade wares of more than 170 vendor booths, selling everything from candles and screenprints to jewelry and pottery. The fair also boasts food and drink from local restaurants, so you won't have to go hungry (or thirsty) while you shop.

Slide past an indoor skydiving center and Fogo de Chão on the Chicago Wolves Ice Rink at Rosemont's Parkway Bank Park this winter, where you can hit the ice on most days through the end of January. Admission to the ice rink is free, and skates can be rented for $8. 

Looking to support local artists during the gift-giving season? The One of a Kind Holiday Show gathers more than 600 artists and makers at the MART for a seasonal bazaar of handcrafted goods. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the four-day show is a one-stop shop for unique gifts for every person—and pet—in your life. Plus, a portion of the proceeds from each ticket sold will benefit Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.