The best things to do in Chicago this weekend

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 millions of LED blubs. 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. New this year, bask in the holiday spirit in the light lounge; as always, guests will also be able to enjoy hot beverages and snacks at stands throughout the park.

Admission is $7 on most weeknights and Sundays and $10 on Fridays and Saturdays, with free admission tickets on Mondays. Check out the Lincoln Park Zoo website for information on special ticketed events during ZooLights, including Adults Night Out and a musical tribute to “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Skate under the Chicago skyline and within eyeshot 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—this rink is open through February 2, weather permitting.

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.

Admission to the Skating Ribbon is free Monday through Thursday and for 11am sessions Friday through Sunday (and $5 for other time slots Friday through Sunday, as well as holidays) if you bring your own skates. No skates? Entry is $17–$23 if you need to rent a pair. The Ribbon stays open through March (weather permitting) and even offers hours on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Join us for an all-day bash on November 16 in celebration of Time Out Market Chicago's fifth anniversary! Enjoy bites from the city's best restaurants and chefs, including $5 food and drink deals, along with live music, flash tattoos, a photo booth, live illustrations and more. Guests should also keep their eyes peeled for hidden golden tickets, which hold special prizes.

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 in bulbs that "sing" holiday songs. This year will feature dazzling installations debuting in the U.S. for the first time, plus weekly theme nights and adults-only evenings on November 21 and December 5.

Ready to get into the holiday spirit? The Morton Arboretum's annual holiday light show returns for its 12th anniversary as a mile-long, walk-through spectacle of LED lights and music, featuring a blend of new and returning light displays set amid 50 acres of trees. Back again this year is "Electric Illumination," a series of late-night parties with DJ-curated playlists that will synchronize progressive house and '80s dance beats with the light shows, as well as "IllumiBrew," a special evening where guests can sample beers and ciders from local breweries. Timed entry tickets for Illumination, which will run from November 16 through January 4, vary in price based on date and time.

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 coming to Chicago this season. Set inside the Virgin Hotels Chicago, Black Irish by Mariah Carey is a winter wonderland experience where guests can recreate the iconic cover photo from Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special, write letters to Carey herself and sip cocktails made with Black Irish, the Irish cream liqueur inspired by the singer’s heritage.

WhiskeyFest is not for the passive whiskey lover. It’s a night of tasting hundreds of the best whiskeys in the world including single malt and blended Scotch, bourbon, rye, Tennessee, Japanese, Canadian and craft-distilled whiskies. Make sure you’ve got the palate for it before investing in the experience, which includes learning how distilleries make their whiskies and a gourmet buffet.  

Goose Island’s Rare Day festivities are returning for a daylong gathering on the streets outside of the brewery's Fulton Street facility. You'll get one bottle of 2024 Bourbon County Rare Stout, one bottle of Bourbon County Proprietor's Barleywine, one bottle of Bourbon County Macaroon Stout, one bottle of Bourbon County Vanilla Rye Stout, a commemorative glass, a welcome pour and access to the Rare Day fest with five tasting tickets. Didn't get tickets? You can snag bottles of this year's Bourbon County beers when they officially drop on Black Friday.

Hundreds of revelers clad in full Viking attire descend upon Andersonville for this annual pub crawl, which is inspired by the Swedish holiday St. Morten’s Gås Day. You'll get a commemorative drinking glass and custom route lanyard at check-in. Want to lean into the Viking theme? Nab one of the pub crawl's cow horn-shaped drinking vessels. Returning this year is a viking rune scavenger hunt filled with surprises and prizes.

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.

Wander around with a Bloody Mary in hand at the annual holiday iteration of Randolph Street Market, which always boasts an eclectic smattering of vendors selling vintage furniture, handmade clothing, art, antiques and more treasures guaranteed to make for a memorable gift.

Immerse yourself in the best of contemporary Japanese indie cinema via the annual Chicago Japanese Film Collective festival, which will show 11 films via both in-person and virtual screenings. The 2024 theme, "Co-existence," spans a multi-genre list of titles including House of Sayuri, which brings Renji Oshikiri’s popular horror manga to the big screen. Grab tickets for showings at the Music Box Theatre, or hang indoors and stream selections online—you'll find a full schedule on the CJFC website. 

Grab your glow sticks for a two-mile fun run at Brookfield Zoo. Participants of all ages are welcome, including children in strollers, so bring the whole family for your first chance to see this year’s holiday lights at the zoo. After the race, hang out in the pavilions, where there will be music plus food and drinks for purchase.

Head to KOVAL Distillery to shop a variety of goods from 25 local artisan makers. You’ll be able to peruse items like jewelry, knit goods, home decor, prints, paintings, candles and more, all while sipping on a drink.

Directed by Jenn Thompson, this new touring production about the hard-knock life of America's most optimistic orphan comes to the Chicago Theatre for a three-week run. Audiences will be reminded that even in the toughest of times, hope is just around the corner.

Oenophiles, head to I|O Godfrey’s year-round rooftop for a four-hour wine fest. The event will offer a bevy of wine tastings plus panoramic skyline views, warmth from fire pits, freebies and more. Tickets are $59-$75.

Red Bull SoundClash, a unique live concert experience, is coming to the Aragon Ballroom. The evening will feature a musical clash between two rising Latin artists: Chicano singer-songwriter DannyLux and Mexican MC Tornillo. They’ll perform and battle on opposing stages, with the audience crowning a winner—as measured by an applausometer.

Located right across from Gallagher Way (and its winter wonderland), Wrigleyville cocktail spot Mordecai is spreading holiday cheer by decorating its second floor bar with festive string lights, hanging ornaments, colorful tinsel, mounted wreaths and more. The mixologists are complementing the space with creative libations like a winter-inspired old fashioned and gingerbread milk punch. Reservations are required so don’t forget to secure a spot before swinging by.

Now in its 30th year, the Gene Siskel Film Center's annual showcase of stories celebrating the Black experience takes place from November 8-21. This year's lineup includes Charles Burnett’s never-released feature Annihilation of Fish, and A Yellow Circus, an unapologetic coming-of-age tale about a group high school girls abandoned at the beach. As usual, there's also a series of robust short film programs, accompanied by panels and workshops. Visit the Black Harvest Film Festival website for a complete schedule of screenings and ticketing options.

The 2003 holiday movie Elf takes center stage at this Wrigleyville pop-up located inside of Stretch Bar & Grill, which gets dressed up with more than 1,000 decorative elves, Christmas trees and plenty of festive Christmas lights. Take a seat at tables stocked with the four main food groups (candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup) and treat yourself to a plate of Buddy's breakfast pasta (spaghetti loaded with maple syrup, chocolate fudge and syrup, mini marshmallows and strawberry frosted pop tarts) or a beer served in a 36-ounce elf boot. Want to catch a glimpse of Buddy the elf himself? Visit the pop-up between Thursday and Sunday, when he's known to make appearances from time to time. 

This new exhibition from Chicago Gamespace and the Cleve Carney Museum explores the history of legendary Chicago video game company Midway and its rise to prominence in the ‘90s. Take a look at behind-the-scenes videos, interviews with former game designers, and art, or try your hand at any of the 15 playable arcade games. Midway’s celebrated legacy includes hits like NARC, Smash TV, Terminator 2, Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam and Cruis’N USA.

Iconic chocolate brand Hershey has brought its first-ever immersive attraction to Water Tower Place, transporting guests to a whimsical, real-life candyland. Upon entering the indoor play experience, guests will explore various themed zones to discover what makes Hershey treats so special. From navigating a Twizzlers maze to celebrating the perfect combination in Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, it’s family-friendly fun that tugs at the heartstrings. Plus, when you’re finished, stop by the retail store to snag limited-edition merch.

Come join us at Time Out Market Chicago during football season to catch the Bears in action on the big screen. We'll be showing the games—with sound—each week on a 32 feet wide by 6 feet tall screen, and you can chow down on a variety of delicious eats like fried chicken, burgers and tacos while sipping a cold beer or cocktail. So gather the crew and cheer on the Bears!

The six-time Tony Award-winning production kicks off its national tour with a five-month run in Chicago. Nineteen years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, they’re back on a most extraordinary new adventure—joined by a brave new generation, including Harry’s son Albus—that threatens to change the past and future forever. The play has sold over 10 million tickets worldwide since its world premiere in London in July 2016, and holds a record 60 major honors.

On the third Friday of every month,  resident artists at Bridgeport's Zhou B Art Center open their studio doors to the public for a night of mixing, mingling and, of course, art. Tour individual artist work spaces and shop for one-of-a-kind works from local painters, sculpters, photographers and more.

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry has debuted an exhibit dedicated to the science and technology behind the world’s longest-running film franchise, James Bond. Fans can check out 13 vehicles and over 90 additional artifacts, including the prototype jetpack used in Thunderball, an MI6 Retina Scanner from GoldenEye and the Parahawk snowmobile hybrid from The World Is Not Enough. You’ll also be able to step into a lab space inspired by “Q” and test your skills developing the perfect vehicle for spy activities, designing stunts and more.

The largest and most immersive touring Titanic exhibition has come to Westfield Old Orchard mall in Skokie. Visitors will experience a narrative journey that brings to light the fates of the passengers and crew aboard the famous ship. Marvel at hundreds of artifacts that survived the sinking, plus props and costumes featured in James Cameron’s blockbuster film Titanic. Music from the era plays as patrons walk through detailed recreations of the ship’s interiors, including the grand staircase, while the Discovery Gallery simulates what discovery teams saw during dives to the Titanic’s wreckage site.

One of Navy Pier’s newest attractions transports guests to some of Chicago’s most epic places via exhilarating flights. The multi-sensory experience incorporates drone technologies with aerial shots and first-person views to showcase the city like never before. Guests will swoop, dip and turn in motion seats as they climb up skyscrapers, check out iconic landmarks, float through fireworks and more.

Displaying a 25-story-tall video installation on the side of THE MART, ART on THE MART is the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, with programming that changes seasonally. ART on THE MART's array of 34 digital projectors show the creations after dusk every evening. It’s best viewed from the section of the Chicago Riverwalk between Wells Street and Franklin Street.

Head to 360 Chicago on Saturdays for yoga with a killer view. Instructor Britta Eumann will lead an hour-long class on the 94th floor of 875 N Michigan Avenue (formerly the John Hancock Center) that’s suitable for all ages and skill levels—you just need to bring your own mat and arrived properly dressed. Registration is $55 and includes a cocktail or coffee, plus admission to the observation deck so you can stick around and snap some photos after you're done striking poses on the mat.

One of Chicago's most popular farmer's markets, Green City Market welcomes vendors selling regional produce to the south end of Lincoln Park (between Clark Street and Stockton Drive) on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Amid the rows, you’ll find farm-fresh eggs from Michigan, cheese from Wisconsin and scrumptious pies baked by Chicago’s own Hoosier Mama Pie Co.

Bye Bye Liver combines two robust Chicago traditions: comedy and heavy drinking. The show opened over a decade ago for a three-week run, then kept getting extended. A cast of four to six performers portray characters at the fictional "Franks Bar," telling stories that explore the city's robust drinking culture. Each show incorporates interactive audience drinking games, allowing you to sip a cocktail or beer while taking cues from the cast. And if you're up for a nightcap after the performance, you can stick around for the official after party and mingle with the cast.

For more than 30-years, the Neo-Futurists have been delighting late-night crowds with performances that pack 30 miniature plays into a 60-minute show. The company's signature show is more unpredictable than ever these days, with a handful of compact new plays premiering every week. Within the span of 10 minutes, you may be treated to a poignant monologue about everyday life or an irreverent diatribe delivered by a pantsless member of the cast—all inspired by the experiences of the performers on stage. Always changing and evolving, it's the rare show that truly offers something different everytime you show up to see it.

This weekly “live magazine” is a cavalcade of culture, politics and wit featuring journalists, actors, comedians and musicians offering idiosyncratic reports on the news of the day. Head to Uptown’s iconic Green Mill for drinks, hot takes and laughs; the longstanding Saturday afternoon edition tends to run about two and a half hours.