There are tons of Chicago-area holiday happenings in the coming weeks. You certainly can't go to all of these events. So how do you choose? Which of these activities is right for the little elves in your lives? What about nap times? And potty breaks? Will it be okay if your kids forget to use their inside voices?
Here are my picks for the best holiday traditions in Chicago -- and the kid-friendly alternatives. I'm not saying that you shouldn't get family all dressed up and head out to see The Joffrey Ballet perform The Nutcracker -- but it's nice to have options.
Holiday Tunes
Go all out: The Do-It-Yourself Messiah. This Chicago tradition is celebrating its 34th year. This year's performances will take place at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park on Monday, December 21 and Tuesday, December 22 at 7:00 p.m. If you have a young music-lover at your house, this event just might be the highlight of the holiday season. Don't forget to bring along a copy of the score so you can participate. Visit the website to purchase tickets.
Take the kid route: Caroling at Cloud Gate in Millennium Park. Bundle up and bring the kiddos to Millennium Park on Friday evenings (thought December 18) for holiday caroling and complimentary hot chocolate. Each week features a different group of performers. Highlights includes the Chicago Children's Choir on December 4th and the Old Town School of Music on December 11th.
Holiday Sweets and Treats
Go all out: Holiday Tea at the Drake Hotel.
Get dressed up in your holiday finery and spend the afternoon sipping
tea (or hot chocolate) and munching cucumber (or pb & j)
sandwiches. Kids age 4-12 are $17. The Kid's Holiday Tea takes place
December 13th through December 17th from 11:00 am til 4:30pm (the regular
Holiday Tea is ongoing until Christmas).
Take the kid route: If you want to skip the pomp and circumstance and just get right to the goodies, sign up for a holiday cookie decorating class at Family Grounds Cafe. This Lakeview hot spot recently added a few classes to its already popular play space. Class options include cookie decorating, candy making and gingerbread houses.
Holiday Performances
Go all out: I have no doubt that The Joffrey Ballet is putting the final touches on another spectacular performance of The Nutcracker.
However, this show can be a bit much for a younger audience (my
five year-old daughter is still terrified of Drosselmier after seeing
The Nutcracker last year). If your kids are up to it, visit the website
to purchase your tickets (they even have an option that includes a family dinner on December 12th. The Nutcracker runs from December 11th through the 27th.
Take the kid route: On December 6th, petite ballerinas will be performing alongside prima ballerinas at The Dance-Along Nutcracker
at the Chicago Cultural Center. This event is a dream-come-true for
little dancers. Participants first take part in an informal rehearsal
to get familiar with the music from The Nutcracker and practice some
basic steps. Then everyone moves to the spectacular ballroom where a
live orchestra performs and real, live ballerinas perform some numbers.
The little ballerinas are invited on to the dance floor right alongside
the professionals. This event is magical and sweet and free.
Another great kid-friendly Nutcracker option is the Emerald City Theater Company's performance of A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas. The show was co-written by the popular children's musician Ralph Covert of Ralph's World. The show runs through January 2nd and children's tickets are only $12 (appropriate for kids age three and up).
Trees
Go
all out: You could always follow in the tradition of generations of Chicagoans before you and take the kids to Macy's on State Street (formerly Marshall Fields). This was the big holiday outing for my
family when I was growing up. We would get dressed up, check out the window displays, and wait in line for Santa while we
sweated in our wool dress coats. Then we would finish the excursion off with an ice cream
sundae in the Walnut Room under the Great Tree.
Take the kid route: If you want to skip the crowds and long
lines to see Santa, head over to The Christmas Around
the World exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. This exhibit features a spectacularly decorated Grand Tree plus 50 smaller trees decorated by Chicago's ethnic communities in the tradition of different global cultures. The Holiday Stage offers a dizzying array of performances throughout the holiday season. Visit the website for all of the details. The best part is that when your kids lose interest
in the holiday decor and performances (which will eventually happen), you can all move on to the model trains, farm exhibit and all of the other great stuff to see at the Museum.
Whew. That's a lot of stuff to do in just the next few weeks. Bring it on, December. Bring it on.
Filed under: Chicago Cultural Center, Christmas, Concerts, Cultural Experiences for the Kiddos, Fun for the Whole Family, holiday events, holiday information, hotels, Millennium Park, Museum of Science and Industry, Special events, tea parties, The Best Kind of Fun is Free, Winter
Tags: A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas, Caroling at Cloud Gate, Chicago Children's Choir, chicago holiday family attractions, Dance-Along Nutcracker, Do-it-Yourself Messiah, Family Grounds Cafe, gingerbread house class at Family Grounds Cafe, holiday cookie decorating class at Family Grounds Cafe, holiday events kids chicago, Holiday Tea at the Drake Hotel, Macy's on State Street, Millennium Park, Old Town School of Music, Ralph Covert, The Christmas Around the World Exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry, The Great Tree, The Joffrey Ballet's performance of The Nutcracker, where to see Santa in Chicago
Andy Frye
2 weeks, 2 days ago