CHICAGO-
The ice skaters are back in Chicago’s Millennium Park, the holiday lights are up along North Michigan Avenue, and the Christkindl Market is about to open as the city gears up for winter and the Christmas holidays.
The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park, one of 10 rinks around the city, opened Nov. 15. Skating there is free, with rentals at $7. You can skate there 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
This year for the first time, the park will also host carolers at Cloud Gate, the elliptical stainless steel sculpture at AT&T Plaza that reflects the city’s skies and skyline. Visitors can join choral groups every Friday night, Nov. 24-Dec. 22; caroling begins at 6 p.m. with a sing-along at 6:30 p.m.
The city’s traditional tree-lighting ceremony, first held in 1913, was to be held this year on Nov. 24 at 5 p.m. in Daley Plaza. The 90-foot-tall tree is actually made up of more than 130 smaller fir trees illuminated with red, gold, white, and green lights and 500 ornaments. Kids can visit Santa at the base of the tree through Christmas Eve.
The Christkindl Market, inspired by Germany’s famous Nuremberg Christmas market, also in Daley Plaza, with handmade gifts, crafts, ornaments and German food.
Two hundred trees along North Michigan Avenue are strung with a million lights for the holidays. The street, also known as the Magnificent Mile, is famous for shopping, and visitors can enjoy the stores’ holiday windows this time of year.
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