• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Me
  • Shop
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Books
  • Fashion
  • Brews & Bites
  • Travel
    • International
    • USA
    • Chicago
  • Let’s chat
  • Holiday

Basically B

You are here: Home / Travel / BasicallyB’s Ultimate Holiday Bucket List

BasicallyB’s Ultimate Holiday Bucket List

12.01.22Chicago, Travel2

Hello December! We are in full blown Christmas mode over here and I wanted to put together the ultimate holiday bucket list. There are SO many fun things to check out this month, so I wanted to put then all together so you can plan your holiday’s accordingly and not miss anything!

However, some of these things require tickets so don’t wait till the last minute!

BasicallyB’s Ultimate Holiday Bucket List

Visit a Christmas Bar

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. Best way to do that is at a crazy decked out Christmas bar. I am talking some of the most insane Christmas decor you will ever see! Here are a list of crazy Christmas bars to check out this year!

Frosty’s Christmas Pop Up Bar – The OG Christmas pop up bar

Elf’d Up – Wrigleyville

Santa Baby at Deuce’s – Wrigleyville

Nutcracker Pop Up – Gold Coast

8 Crazy Nights at The Graystone Tavern – Chicago’s first Hanukkah-themed pop-up, Lakeview

Reindeer Room at Tack Room – Thalia Hall in Pilsen

Rudolph’s Holiday Rooftop – London House in the Loop

Tinseltown at Pink Squirrel – Logan Square

Winter Wonderland at JoJo’s Shake Bar – River North

Holly Jolly Pop Up – West Loop

Jingle All The Way– Cork Wine Bar, Joliet

One Of A Kind Holiday Show

Looking for something to do this weekend, head to the Merchandise Mart for the One Of A Kind Holiday Show. With 500 artists and artisans showcasing their seasonal handcrafted goods and gourmet food. Browse selections of fine art, ceramics, clothing, pet supplies, toys and tons of other wares, or check out live music and other activities throughout the weekend. Mom and I go every year, and sometimes buy more for ourselves than the people on our lists!

Christkindlmarket

Get in the Christmas spirit by stopping at one of the 3 locations of Christkindlmarket, Christkindlemarket has a fun theme of an old german outdoor market during the holidays. You’ll find festive holiday gifts to purchase, European holiday decorations, food, and drinks for the whole family. Don’t forget to get your yearly mug of mulled wine or hot chocolate!

There are three locations for this event Daley Plaza, Wrigleyville, and Aurora.

See a Christmas Show

Have a night out on the town enjoying the Chicago theaters. Here are a few shows to see:

Goodman Theatre is hosting A Christmas Carol in Chicago

Auditorium Theatre – is hosting Cirque Dreams: Holidaze in Chicago

Dury Lane Theatre is hosting Elf In Oakbrook Terrace IL

Marriott Theatre is hosts A Christmas Story in Lincolnshire IL

Rosemont Theatre is hosting Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet in Rosemont IL

Paramount Theatre is hosting I Saw Mommy Kissing the Second City in Aurora IL

Ice Skating

Lace up your skates and hit the ice!

Rosemont Parkway Bank Park – Free ice skating

McCormick Tribune Ice Rink – located in Millenium Park

Maggie Daley Skating Ribbon – in Maggie Daley park located just east of Millenium Park

Light Up the Lake – located on Navy Pier and is an indoor ice rink.

Winterland at Gallagher Park – This is located right next to Wrigley Field. You will also find the Wrigley Christkindlemarket here too. So you can do these two events together.

Jack Frost Winter Pop Up– located in Chicago

Holiday Lights

There are so many magical holiday light displays throughout the city of Chicago and its suburbs during this festive season. It’s on the top of our list of things to do at Christmas in Chicago because you’re sure to have a light show close to where you live. Here are a few of the big ones!

Amaze Light Festival is an immersive storybook event that makes you feel like you’re in another world. Newly relocated to Odyssey Fun World in Tinley Park. 

 Chicago Lincoln Park Zoo hosting its Zoolights event. The entire zoo is lit up with 2.5 million twinkling lights that you’ll see as you wander around the zoo.

Brookfield Zoo’s Holiday Magic event will be the 41st year and it boasts being Chicagoland’s largest and longest-running lights festival.

Chicago Botanical Garden’s Lightscape Event -The whole garden lights up with beautiful light displays. Visitors will walk through a 1.25-mile-long lighted path around the garden’s main island, through a lighted tunnel and unique lighted displays.

Morton Arboretum’s Illumination Tree Lights – guests will enjoy exploring over 50 acres of twinkling colored lights, a one-mile paved walking path, plus six new holiday displays added onto the usual holiday favorites.

Holiday Movie Trivia

Test your holiday movie trivia at one of these local trivia events. Grab your friends for a fun night of beer and trivia!

  • Thurs Dec 1 7pm – Saddle Up at Q, Aurora
  • Tues Dec 6 7:30pm – Mickey Finn’s Brewery, Libertyville
  • Sun Dec 11 3pm- Noon Whistle, Lombard
  • Tues Dec 13 7pm – Red Barn Restaurant and Brewery, Mount Prospect
  • Thurs Dec 15 7pm – Riverlands Brewing Company, St Charles
  • Thurs Dec 15 7:30pm – Elmhurst Brewing Company, Elmhurst
  • Mon Dec 19 7pm – Fat Pour Tapworks, Chicago
  • Tues Dec 20 7pm – Pollyanna, St Charles
  • Tues Dec 20 7pm – Global Brew Tap House, Schamburg
  • Tues Dec 20 7pm – North Ave Pub, West Chicago
  • Tues Dec 20 7:30pm – Beer Shop, Oak Park
  • Wed Dec 21 7pm – Pollyanna Lemont

Jack Frost Winter Pop Up

Located in Chicago you’ll find this cool Christmas event pop-up that all ages will enjoy. Head over there to find the perfect Christmas tree and stay for the activities. 

Enjoy Ice Skating, carnival games, ice bumper cars, Axe throwing, tons of fun holiday photo-op backgrounds, cocktails, and craft beer. Plus it’s all under 10,000 twinkling lights.

Immersive Nutcracker A Winter Miracle

This cool immersive experience at the Lighthouse Artspace in Chicago is a really unique holiday event. 

Previously this was done with a Van Gogh exhibit and the creators will now be hosting a Nutckcracker event. Your family will be surrounded by the sights and sounds of your favorite songs from the Nutcracker Ballet.

What are you adding to your holiday bucket list this season!?

2

Related

Previous Post: « Gift Guide: Amazon Finds 2022
Next Post: 14 Holiday Books To Read This December »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hi There!

Twenty-something never met a biscuit or draft beer I didn’t like, never buy anything for full price, pink obsessed blonde. With the goofiness and fun parts of life being the heart of Basically B, my primary focus is to share positive imagery and messaging that uplifts, brings joy, and ultimately inspires to be bold, fearless and fun in your life everyday. I hope you can find something that inspires you here or that, at the very least, leaves you with a smile.

 

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

subscribe

@basicallyb__

basicallyb__

 992    6271


  • 27 countries and counting! ✈️ My goal is to hit 30 countries by the time I’m 30! 3 more years and 3 more countries to go. Just booked my next adventure to…. Ecuador and the Galapagos island!
  • Happy girl summer ✨
  • Sevilla travel guide is on BasicallyB.com Spoiler alert: this was my favorite city that we visited!
  • Quick stop on the bourbon trail
  • Kicking the weekend off at my favorite @wyckwoodhouse for my August picks ✨ Remember BRITT15 gets you 15% off in store and online! Head to my stories to check out all of my picks this month!
  • Madrid travel guide is up on BasicallyB (link in bio) Here are 10 must do’s: 1. Churros y chocolaté at @chocosangines 2. Eat your heart out in tapas - try EVERYTHING! 3. Visit the Palacio de Cristal 4. Take the Tapas, Taverns & History tour with @devour_tours 5. Wander Mercado San Miguel and try a bunch of Spanish dishes. 6. Take a stroll through El Retiro Parque 7. Do as the Spaniards do and check out the nightlife - warning they stay out until the sun comes up! 8. Try gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp) at La Casa Del Abuelo
  • Summer nights If you are looking for a great date night or girls night for dinner look no further than @crafturban in Geneva. I had their summertime risotto with asparagus and shrimp and it paired lovely with their Pinot Grigio! Check out their happy hour from 4-6pm too!
  • When someone says they don’t like rosé Who loves free wine!? ‍♀️ #macyswineshop #partner Macy’s delivers wine straight to your door, and right now you can get a FREE 3-bottle box of wine when you pay $14.95 for shipping. NO strings attached and NO subscriptions. Head to the link in my bio to get yours! Inspo from my girl @amanda_navaa
Copyright © 2025 ⸱ Basically B ⸱ Design by Love Riot ♡