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Christmas Events In Chicago at Night

December 7th, 2007 by shannon b

Photo uploaded by Zesmerelda.

Q. We will be Chicago on the 27th of December for a total of 3 nights; please, can you give some suggestion of night time events?

A. Lisa, good question! After you’re done using your Go Chicago Card during the day, what should you do fill up those winter nights? To open this question up a bit for all of our Go Chicago Card customers in town during the holidays, I’ve decided to give a list of fun things to do every night during the week of Christmas including the three days that you’re in town.

Sunday, December 23rd
It’s a Wonderful White Christmas
It’s time to warm up those vocal cords and make sure your peepers are top of the line because it’s Chicago’s 24th Annual Christmas Sing-A-Long and Double Feature. White Christmas and It’s A Wonderful Life are the perfect Christmas-time movies to get in the mood for the season. Plus, it’s the perfect haunt after an early evening of ice skating at one of the many rinks in Chicago that are open between November 24th and February 28th.

Monday, December 24th
The Four Seasons Is Nuts
While you may or may not be able to afford to sleep over at the Four Seasons, everyone can afford their complimentary roasted chestnuts served between 5pm & 7pm in the Seasons Lounge. Also feel free to wash down those holiday treats with the Four Season’s Kahlua-inspired Ebenezer’s Eggnog ($13). So go on! Dress up with a little holiday flair and enjoy the finer things in life, well at least until December 25th.

Wednesday, December 25th
Light Up A Life
If you can tear your family away from their new toys long enough to take a leisurely winter drive, you’ll get the chance to head on over to the Arlington Racetrack and enjoy the Winterland of Lights a 1.6 mile course featuring millions of lights with holiday themes. Your admission fee goes directly to Clearbrook, a non-profit Illinois human service agency whose goal is to illuminate the lives of adults and children affected by mental disabilities. The best part is that you can give back to the Illinois community 9 pm daily (10 pm on Fridays) until January 1, 2007. Admission is $10 a car.

Thursday December 26
Winter Wonderful
After the chaos of gift-giving has subsided make your way over to Navy Pier for Winter Wonderfest, where you can ice skate and enjoy inflatable games. If you have little ones, they’ll enjoy the Carousel Rides while you wander past the hundreds of decorated trees with your family and friends. Admission starts at $15. Open 10 am - 8 pm until January 6, 2008.

Friday, December 27th, 2007
Warm Up In The Jungle
If you’ve never seen Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy, now is the time to gaze upon high-flying aerialists, contortionists, and acrobats who leap out of what could be a Tarzan dream. Fly with them through this enchanted world of vines and strongmen at the Chicago Theater at 7:30 pm.

Saturday, December 28th, 2007
Lions and Tigers and Lights, Oh My!
It may be a jungle out there but at the Lincoln Park Zoo it’s a jungle, savannah, ocean, and forest. At Zoolights, spot your favorite zoo animals in this stunning visual display which will have you wild with excitement. This incredible visual menagerie can be seen from 5 pm-9 pm, Friday & Saturday until January 9, 2007.

Want to see some real animals? Roar with laughter at The Playground Theater when the sketch comedy group Koko turns us all into laughing hyenas. Show starts at 8 pm!

Sunday, December 29th, 2007
Jam Out With Andy
You never know who will stop in for a quick jam session at Andy’s Jazz Club. Jam sessions are a well-known tradition in Jazz music used to search for artistic expression in a casual, energetic environment. Andy’s Jazz session is a favorite hangout of professionals as well as newbies looking to break into the scene through this loose and exciting form of expression. For $5, you can kick back on a leisurely Sunday, enjoy Andy’s comfort-food packed menu and listen to this improvisational adventure in sound. Starts at 7:30 pm every Sunday night.

If you think this post was helpful, leave your own question on our Ask A Travel Expert post!

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Chicago’s Top 5 Attractions at Christmas

December 4th, 2007 by shannon b

Q.) We are traveling to Chicago this Thanksgiving Weekend, what attractions do you recommend?

A.) Hi Pam! Unfortunately, you caught us here at Smart Destinations at a time when we were all gearing up for the Thanksgiving holiday. I apologize that we were too late to answer you question about what attractions to see in Chicago on Thanksgiving weekend, but we thought it might be nice to write a response about what Go Chicago Card travelers should do if they’re in town for the Christmas holiday weekend.

Shedd Aquarium
If you’re in Chicago around Christmas, make sure you venture down to Lake Shore Drive to oggle the Shedd Aquarium’s newest holiday gift to marine biologists everywhere: a Baby Beluga Whale!

According to Frommers, “this marble octagon building is filled with thousands of denizens of river, lake, and sea. The only problem with the Shedd is its steep admission price.” Fortunately for you, the Shedd’s much-desired All Access Pass is included in the cost of your Go Chicago Card. For more details on making the most of your Chicago visit, check out ChicagoTraveler’s Guide to Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium.

Sears Tower Skydeck
Many travelers making their first visit to Chicago want to know which attraction is better: John Hancock Building or Sears Tower. Well, if you could take off work and travel for weeks at a time, you’d probably be happy visiting both. Each attraction has its perks. For example, the John Hancock offers something that the Sears Tower can not… a view of the Sears Tower. But in the end, who can pass up looking out about one of the world’s most influential cities from in the world’s tallest building?

Take in Chicago’s awe-inspiring views with the SkyDeck’s high powered telescopes. On a clear day, not only can you see four states (Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan) but you’ll really understand what a powerful city Chicago really is as you gaze out upon 40 miles of Chicago streets, outstanding bodies of water, and the rolling beautiful of Chicago’s surrounding suburbs.

And unlike many other Chicago attractions which are closed Christmas day, the Skydeck is open 365 days a year which means all your relatives are free to spread their yuletide cheer from way up above!

Field Museum
Indiana Jones movies seem to come to life in this world-renowned museum featuring over 6 acres of exhibits including the Field’s famous Egyptian Mummies, “Sue” the Field’s in-house T-Rex and the latest exhibit, Evolving Planet which takes a look at the past, present & future of life all the way from the single-celled organism to when dinosaurs walked the earth to the latest human evolutionary developments.

Museum of Science & Industry
The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry had a new temporary exhibit which should not only get you in the mood to continue your travels throughout the US and beyond but it should also strum up some holiday spirit as well! The exhibit Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light features decorates trees from around the world in what the museum is calling a “dazzling forest of trees and displays lovingly created by the citizens of Chicago.”

The museum also presently houses the much beloved Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit (runs until January 2008) and the infamous U-505 Submarine, a real WWI & WWII German Submarine which significantly altered the outcome of WWII when special code breaking documents were discovered on board by Allied troops.

Whatever your pleasure, one can easily spend a whole day (warm & safe from Chicago’s frigid winter) while perusing these outstanding exhibits.

Magnificent Mile
What Christmas trip would be complete without a visit to Chicago’s best mile of shopping? Spend an afternoon at Chicago’s iconic department store Marshall Fields or swing by Burberry (where you can buy a designer scarf to mask your neck from winter weather) or just pop for some holiday-decoration therapy at Crate and Barrel, home to hundreds of Christmas-themed home & cooking gifts. Your family will thank you for your generosity and perhaps you’ll find a little gift for yourself along the way?

Planning a trip to Chicago? Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the Go Chicago Card.

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