Overview
- The city’s 112th official Christmas tree, a 68‑foot Norway spruce from Glenview with roughly 119,000 LED lights, was illuminated around 6:25 p.m. Friday in Millennium Park with fireworks following.
- Pre-show entertainment began at 5 p.m. with performances and remarks from city leaders, and the tree will remain on display through Jan. 11 near Michigan Avenue and Washington Street.
- The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival runs Saturday with Lights Festival Lane from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., a parade stepping off at 5:30 p.m. from Oak Street to Wacker Drive, and fireworks over the Chicago River at about 7:15 p.m.
- Chicago’s emergency-management office warned of heavy crowds, traffic and multiple street closures around Millennium Park on Friday and along North Michigan Avenue and nearby streets for Saturday’s parade.
- Seasonal staples opened Friday including Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza and Aurora (Wrigleyville opens Sunday) and Lincoln Park ZooLights, which runs through Jan. 4 with tickets generally priced between $7 and $12.