Chicago audiences will have a new reason to step inside one of the city’s most beautiful churches this holiday season. CELESTIA, an immersive experience combining 360-degree projection mapping, orchestral music and storytelling, makes its Chicago debut Nov. 20 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic…
Greektown Chicago holiday events will bring blue and white lights, Greek Christmas carols, Santa and a neighborhood-wide art display to the West Loop beginning Sunday, Nov. 22. According to a press release by Greektown Chicago, the season will include a free tree-lighting ceremony, a rebate …
Holiday shopping is about to get a whole lot more interesting. The beloved Randolph Street Market Festival is returning to Chicago’s West Loop for two special Holiday Market weekends, Nov. 14-15 and Dec. 12-13, bringing its signature mix of vintage treasures, designer finds, handcrafted gift…
Chicago will hold its annual Veterans Day commemoration ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, at Soldier Field, bringing veterans, military families, elected officials, and community members together to honor those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. in the fi…
I swear I could smell the pine trees the moment I walked into the Walnut Room at Macy’s State Street for its 119th Great Tree Lighting on the morning of Nov. 7. The historic dining room was packed with diners and onlookers, all eager to catch a glimpse of one of Chicago’s most beloved holida…
The Black Harvest Film Festival returns to Chicago for its 32nd annual celebration of Black cinema, bringing together filmmakers, artists and audiences for 10 days of storytelling, cultural exploration and conversation.
Chicago shoppers will have four chances to buy handmade gifts, sample specialty foods, and support independent businesses when the Chicago Artisan Market returns to Fulton Market and Ravenswood during the 2026 holiday season. The indoor markets will feature artisans working in food, fashion,…
Seven decades of fashion, friendship and philanthropy came together for the Children’s Service Board’s 70th Annual Gold Coast Fashion Show, which raised more than $1.86 million for Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
Chicago’s holiday season will get a little extra Disney magic this year when Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse lead the 35th annual Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival on Saturday, Nov. 21. The beloved downtown tradition returns with a full day of free family activities, an evening parade,…
The holiday season gets a little brighter when Lightscape returns to the Chicago Botanic Garden on Nov. 13, bringing an illuminated evening trail, spectacular new art installations and plenty of opportunities for holiday photo ops.
As National Children’s Grief Awareness Day approaches, Rainbows for All Children is inviting the community to pick up a paddle and help bring greater attention to an issue that often goes unnoticed: the grief children experience when their families change or a parent is no longer present.The…
Chicago is getting another helping of Banana Ball, but this time the Savannah Bananas are trading baseball diamonds for the lakefront's biggest football stage.
After 35 years of helping Chicago teens discover their talents, build confidence and explore new possibilities, After School Matters celebrated its milestone anniversary at its 2026 Gala at the Obama Presidential Center’s Home Court.
Chicago’s holiday season will get a spectacular start on November 19 when 900 North Michigan Shops celebrates the 10th anniversary of Illuminate 900, its annual tree lighting extravaganza benefiting Make-A-Wish Illinois.
WINGS raised a record $1.2 million to support domestic violence survivors at its 26th annual Purple Tie Ball held at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel. More than 700 guests attended the grand masquerade-themed evening, which celebrated the organization’s work while raising c…
As the weather chills and the leaves begin to change, Chicago says goodbye to another summer and welcomes in the autumn. While there are tons of activities to enjoy this fall, no holiday captures the seasonal spirit quite like Halloween, and this year, whether you're looking for family-frien…
Chicago is preparing to host four major expos and conferences focused on construction, medical imaging, quantum technology and high-performance computing. Together, the events will bring professionals, researchers, investors and technology leaders to the city for education, networking and bu…
Music of the Baroque is giving Chicago’s summer fireworks season a classical twist with an elegant evening on Lake Michigan that pairs Handel’s triumphant music with dinner aboard a luxury cruise ship and a front-row view of Navy Pier’s fireworks.
Chicago Bears legend Charles “Peanut” Tillman will take center stage in one of the city’s most cherished holiday traditions when he serves as Grand Marshal of the 92nd Chicago Thanksgiving Parade on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 26.
Chicago’s Halloween fun isn’t just for humans. On Saturday, October 31, four-legged fashionistas will have their moment in the spotlight as three popular local destinations invite pets and their people to show off their most creative, cute and downright spooky costumes.
Chicago’s The Hand & The Eye will mark the fall season with a series of magic events at the historic McCormick Mansion, ending with its first Halloween celebration, “The Midway of Wonders." The Saturday, Oct. 31 event will take place 100 years after the death of Harry Houdini, according …
Chicago’s fashion community had its moment in the spotlight on October 1, when the Driehaus Design Initiative Alumni Show brought a runway full of homegrown talent to the Chicago History Museum for an evening celebrating the city’s creative spirit.
Everyone has a key to the city this weekend as residents and visitors alike embrace the opportunity to explore from a new perspective with the return of Open House Chicago on Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17. The event opens the doors to more than 200 architectural, historic, and cultur…
Chicago’s 2026 Halloween calendar will offer options for families, adults, animal lovers and theatergoers. The lineup includes Chicago Halloween events at two zoos, neighborhood celebrations, a rooftop costume party, a themed brunch and a limited run of a shadow-puppet production of “Frankenstein.”
Chicago’s lakefront is getting a seasonal makeover, and Navy Pier is giving visitors plenty of reasons to head east as temperatures cool. From free Halloween activities and indoor movies to live music, cultural celebrations and the return of a popular holiday attraction, the fall calendar of…
Fashion, philanthropy and a whole lot of Chicago flair came together Oct. 2 in the Walnut Room for The Chicago Lighthouse’s 2026 FLAIR “Eye on Style” fashion show and luncheon. Nearly 300 of the city’s top fashionistas helped raise over $219,000 for this much-loved nonprofit.
