Things to Do in Downtown Chicago Over the Holidays

UPDATED FOR 2013!
So you just moved to Chicago (or maybe you’ve lived here a while) and you’re looking for fun things to do in Chicago over the holidays. The Luxury Chicago Apartment Update has decided to take a break from talking about the downtown Chicago apartment rental scene to bring you this fun post about all of the cool things to do in Chicago this winter.

• Snag tickets to the Nutcracker with the Joffrey Ballet. Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet performance is a holiday tradition in this city. Daily shows are 2 and 7 p.m. at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 East Congress Parkway. The show runs from December 6-28, 2013.

• Visit the Lincoln Park Zoo’s annual ZooLights event. The zoo decorates its grounds and trees with multi-colored lights and animal figures. ZooLights is free and is sponsored by ComEd. Activities include ice carving demonstrations, a Holiday Express Train and more. ZooLights runs through January 5, 2014. Admission is free.

• Have a holiday breakfast at The Shedd Aquarium, snap a photo with Santa and watch their spectacular A Holiday Fantasea aquatic show with dolphins, belugas and sea lions. Tickets are $49.95 for adults and $39.95 for children (ages 3-11), which includes a Total Experience Pass, breakfast, gift, private viewing of the 15-minute The Polar Express 4-D Experience, photo with Santa, and reserved seating for A Holiday Fantasea. Shedd members receive a $5 discount on tickets.

• Attend Navy Pier’s Winter WonderFest for a fun time that includes a Chicago Blackhawks indoor ice skating rink, rides and holiday entertainment. Tickets start at $13. The event runs through January 12, 2014.

• Skate under Chicago’s skyscrapers at Millennium Park. This outdoor skating rink is FREE and open daily through March. Skate rentals are available for $10. Afterwards dine at one of our favorite restaurants, Wildberry, in Lakeshore East.

Happy Holidays from the Luxury Living Chicago Realty Team!