Christmas in the City

BY KELLE HAMPTON

Although I've lived in Florida for 13 years, I can say with certainty: my heart belongs in the Midwest.

If there’s one time of year I feel a throbbing reminder of this, it’s Christmas. I faithfully abide by the “It is what you make it” rule, but even with my holiday freak flag unfurled to “fully festive” (cue reindeer socks, twinkle lights, and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” on a 24-hour loop), there isn’t a gingerbread-baking session in the world that competes with the cozy holiday scenes I remember—huddled by the fire in Fair Isle sweaters as the snow fell outside. Every year, I attempt to recreate that magical holiday feeling.

But last year, I had had enough with the sound of lawn mowers and the sight of flip flops while attempting to watch White Christmas. That was it. I was taking my family to the Promised Land of Christmas—a weekend in the place that, to me, holds all the storybook magic of the holidays … Chicago.

Ice Skating in Millennium Park

Ever wished you could climb into one of those ceramic Christmas village scenes? Here’s your chance. The iconic McCormick Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park is free and open to the public ($10 skate rental). With the skyline backdrop and twinkling tree lights surrounding the rink, you’re sure to make a winter memory…even if you fall. If you do happen to take a spill, you can nurse your broken pride with hot dogs and hot cocoa at The Park Grill.

Christmas Classics at the Music Box Theater

We didn’t get a chance to do this last year, but it’s No. 1 on this year’s list. I was sold when I read “old-fashioned event” and “vintage theater” on the Music Box website and was practically hyperventilating with holiday cheer as I read on: each show features a screening of one of two holiday classics, It’s a Wonderful Life or White Christmas, preceded by a full carol sing-along with Santa accompanied by a live organist. It's easy to see why the Music Box is an annual holiday tradition for so many Chicagoans.

Christkindlmarket

A truly unique holiday shopping experience, Christkindlmarket is a large open-air festival inspired by the famous holiday market founded in Nuremburg, Germany, in 1545. Celebrating European traditions and offering fine handmade gifts that can’t be found in traditional retail shops, the market has become a favorite holiday ritual for locals and tourists alike. Sip spiced wine and sample Strudel and potato pancakes while you shop. Along with Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago, Christkindlmarket has two other locations for the season: one in The Park at Wrigley in Chicago's Wrigleyville neighborhood and one in the western suburb of Naperville.

The Holiday Train

With their seasonal décor, festive lights, and costumed conductors, Chicago’s Polar Express™ Train, CTA Holiday Train, and Elves Workshop Train hold all the (jingle) bells and whistles of a unique holiday experience. But for tourists who are unfamiliar with big-city life (that’s us), even a simple train ride from one station to the next can be a special experience. We picked up hot cocoa for our ride and listened to a street performer's rendition of “Joy to the World” on the platform before boarding a train for our own wintery tour of the city. As the train emerged from the subway, we watched the skyline move out the windows, making the city feel alive in the distance. Later, my kids talked as much about that train ride as about the events that required more planning on my part. As any parent knows, you take what you can get.

Between each of these Chicago treasures are countless more holiday gems, from cozy taverns tucked into the city streets to the cheerful spirit of the people who come from far and wide to experience its dazzle. While we stood on the corner of State Street and Chestnut last year, fat snowflakes falling fast around us, my daughter whispered to me, “I feel like we’re in a Christmas movie, Mom.” I felt it, too.