Saturday, November 21, 2026 · 11:00 AM
North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
Free
Kick off the holiday season at the Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, starting with the free-admission Lights Festival Lane outdoor fest featuring Santa photo ops, live performances, and family-friendly fun. As evening falls, the celebration moves to Michigan Avenue for the nation's largest nighttime parade, complete with Disney characters, floats, musical acts, and giant balloons, all capped by a fireworks show over the Chicago River.