LaSalle Bank Winter WonderFestDates: Dec. 8 – Jan. 7 Times: Sunday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.Web site: http://www.winterwonderfest.com/index.htmlFor the sixth year, Navy Pier will be magically transformed into a winter wonderland. The pier will be decorated in the holiday spirit featuring hundreds of decorated trees and thousands of twinkling lights. Attractions will include an indoor ice-skating rink, Ferris wheel, train ride, carousel, ropes course and cookie-decorating cottage.
Mayor Daley’s 6th Annual Holiday Sports FestivalDates: Dec. 28-30Times: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Web site: http://egov.cityofchicago.org/McCormick Place North will be the host to this free festival sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of Special Events. There will be interactive zones including diverse sports such as golf, football, bowling, martial arts, boxing, fishing ponds, skateboarding/blading area, and cheerleading clinics. In addition, there will be tournaments that can be registered for on the city’s Web site, as well as fitness classes and demonstrations.
ZooLightsDates: Nov. 24 – Dec. 10 (Friday through Sunday nights) and Dec. 15 – Jan. 1 (open every night except Dec. 24 and 25)Time: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.Web site: http://www.lpzoo.org/events/zoolights06.htmlA free event at the Lincoln Park Zoo featuring more than one million lights, live ice carving and a water laser show. There will be family events and crafts. ZooLights will also feature an endangered species carousel, holiday express train rides, and an African safari. “It’s a fun thing to do,” said Bridget O’Shea, public relations coordinator at the Lincoln Park Zoo. “(ZooLights is) free, good for the family, and good for all ages. Most exhibits will be open and guests can view animals. It’s an all-inclusive (event).”
Millennium Park Ice Skating Dates: Nov. 15 – March 16Time: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.Web site: http://www.millenniumpark.org/parkevents/family.aspxThe McCormick Tribune Ice Rink opened in December 2001 and is now in its sixth season. The rink draws more than 100,000 skaters annually. Use of the rink is free and skate rentals are $7.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks 2006Date: Dec. 31Time: 11:40 p.m.Web site: http://egov.cityofchicago.org/Both Navy Pier and the Mayor’s Office (at Buckingham Fountain) hold fireworks shows for New Year’s Eve. The two shows occur simultaneously and to the same music though the pyrotechnics are different. Though the display helps begin the countdown, choreographed fireworks with music do not begin until midnight.
