Chicago edition

Outdoors and Beaches

Races, beach days and outdoor plans.

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Food and Drink, Outdoors and Beaches

IllumiBrew at The Morton Arboretum

Friday, Nov. 13, 2026

IllumiBrew is Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. for guests 21 and older.

The Morton Arboretum, Lisle4100 Illinois Route 53DuPage County

IllumiBrew is an adults-only preview of the Illumination trail with local beer tastings. The arboretum schedules it for the evening before the public light-show opening.

Organizer page, The Morton Arboretum

Outdoors and Beaches, Arts and Music

Lightscape at the Chicago Botanic Garden

Nov. 13, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027

Most evenings run 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. with last entry at 8:45 p.m. while selected evenings close at 9:30 p.m. with last entry at 7:45 p.m.

Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe1000 Lake Cook Rd.Cook County

Lightscape is a ticketed outdoor trail of light installations at the Chicago Botanic Garden on selected evenings from Nov. 13 through Jan. 3. The garden says the trail is about 1.3 miles.

Organizer page, Chicago Botanic Garden

Outdoors and Beaches, Family and Kids

Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon

Nov. 13, 2026, to March 7, 2027

Weekday sessions start at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. while weekend sessions also include 8 a.m., with each session lasting two hours.

Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon, Chicago337 E. Randolph St.Cook County

Maggie Daley Park opens its outdoor skating ribbon on Nov. 13 and lists March 7 as closing day. Every skater needs a reservation for a specific session.

Organizer page, Maggie Daley Park

Outdoors and Beaches, Family and Kids

Illumination at The Morton Arboretum

Nov. 14, 2026, to Jan. 2, 2027

The walking trail opens at 4:30 p.m. each evening from Nov. 14, 2026, through Jan. 2, 2027.

The Morton Arboretum, Lisle4100 Illinois Route 53DuPage County

Illumination is a ticketed one-mile walking display of holiday lights at The Morton Arboretum. This season adds four large installations and a separate model-train ticket for the Pine Whistle Railroad.

Organizer page, The Morton Arboretum

Outdoors and Beaches, Family and Kids

Christmas at Cantigny

Nov. 20 to 22, Nov. 25, Nov. 27 to 29, Dec. 2 to 6, Dec. 9 to 13, Dec. 16 to 23 and Dec. 26, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027

The opening light show on Nov. 20 runs from 4:30 to 9 p.m. while later dates follow the posted calendar.

Cantigny, Wheaton1S151 Winfield Rd.DuPage County

Cantigny opens a half-mile garden light show on Nov. 20 and lists Christmas at Cantigny dates through Jan. 3. The grounds are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, while New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are limited to ice skating and cocoa cabanas.

Organizer page, Cantigny

Outdoors and Beaches, Family and Kids

McCormick Tribune Ice Rink

Nov. 20, 2026, to Jan. 31, 2027

Ice skating returns on Friday, Nov. 20, 2026, and continues through Jan. 31, 2027, weather permitting.

McCormick Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park, Chicago201 E. Randolph St.Cook County

The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park reopens for the winter on Nov. 20. The city lists the season through Jan. 31, weather permitting.

Organizer page, City of Chicago

Family and Kids, Outdoors and Beaches

ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo

Nov. 20 to 25, Nov. 27 to 30, Dec. 2 to 7, Dec. 9 to 14, Dec. 16 to 23 and Dec. 26, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027

Public hours are 4:30 to 9 p.m. with last entry at 8 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Dec. 1, Dec. 8, Dec. 15, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago2400 N. Cannon Dr.Cook County

Lincoln Park Zoo lights the grounds for ZooLights from Nov. 20 through Jan. 3. Tickets are required for every visitor, including infants, at advance prices of $7 to $12.

Organizer page, Lincoln Park Zoo

Family and Kids, Outdoors and Beaches

Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo Chicago

Nov. 21 to 25, Nov. 27 to 29, Dec. 3 to 6, Dec. 10 to 13, Dec. 17 to 23 and Dec. 26, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027

Holiday Magic runs from 3 to 9 p.m. on the listed dates with tickets starting at $29.95.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago31st St. and Golfview Ave.Cook County

Brookfield Zoo Chicago turns the grounds into a nighttime light display on selected dates from Nov. 21 through Jan. 3. Members enter free while general tickets start at $29.95.

Organizer page, Brookfield Zoo Chicago