What to do with kids in Chicago over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by three museums, zoos and play places: three say they’re open on Christmas Day and three on New Year’s Day. Plus six dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
Nothing posted for Christmas Eve yet. Places post their plans in December, and we add them as they do.
Lincoln Park Zoo · 2400 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
Good to know: A sensory-friendly night is Nov 24.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago · 31st St. and Golfview Ave., Brookfield, IL 60513
The Morton Arboretum · Lisle, IL
Good to know: A one-mile paved trail that works for strollers. A sensory night is Nov 17.
Maggie Daley Park · Loop
Good to know: Bringing your own skates is free in some sessions and $5 otherwise.
Chicago Park District · 1130 Midway Plaisance North, Chicago, IL 60637
Good to know: Open-skate hours are posted closer to opening. Sled-assisted skating is free by reservation.
Chicago Park District · 6601 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60645
Good to know: Open-skate hours are posted closer to opening. Sled-assisted skating is free by reservation.
Chicago Public Library, Vodak-East Side Branch · 3710 E 106th St, Chicago, IL 60617
Good to know: A Southeast Side option with games and crafts for an hour, then a balloon drop right at noon. It's billed for kids and families, with preschoolers on the audience list, and no registration is mentioned.
Evanston Public Library – Main Library · 1703 Orrington Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
Good to know: A storytime countdown to noon for ages 2 and up.
Deerfield Park District – Sachs Recreation Center · 455 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, IL 60015
Good to know: A family morning of music and festive activities with a countdown to noon.
Skokie Park District – Skatium Ice Arena · 9340 Weber Park Place, Skokie, IL 60077
Good to know: A public skate that ends with a balloon drop at noon.
North Riverside Village Commons · 2401 S. Des Plaines Ave., North Riverside, IL 60546
Good to know: Crafts, early childhood open play, games and toys in the gym, then a confetti countdown at noon.
Lincoln Park Zoo · 2400 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
Good to know: A sensory-friendly night is Nov 24.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago · 31st St. and Golfview Ave., Brookfield, IL 60513
The Morton Arboretum · Lisle, IL
Good to know: A one-mile paved trail that works for strollers. A sensory night is Nov 17.
Open on New Year’s Day: Field Museum, Kohl Children’s Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo.
If it snows
Every hill here depends on snow, so check the park’s status page the morning you go. Tubing hills set height minimums, listed on each card.
Caldwell Woods (6350 W Devon Ave); Dan Ryan Woods (Western Ave & 87th St); Swallow Cliff Woods-North; Westchester Woods
Staffed and open Sun–Thu 10am–7:30pm, Fri–Sat 10am–8:30pm when there’s at least three inches of snow on frozen ground. Helmets recommended under 12.
Official page ↗Deer Grove, Pioneer Woods, Ted Lechowicz Woods and Schiller Woods-East
Open 10am to sunset when conditions allow. Call ahead for hill status.
Official page ↗
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in ChicagoEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in ChicagoEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in ChicagoFree days, free events and places that never charge
Free museum days in ChicagoFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets inIndoor play in ChicagoIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in ChicagoBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in ChicagoHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in ChicagoParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in ChicagoKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in ChicagoParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in ChicagoPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in ChicagoBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in ChicagoChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
This week in ChicagoDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Field Museum (Dec 25: closed), Kohl Children’s Museum (Dec 24–25: closed), Lincoln Park Zoo (Open, 8am–5pm) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.
Field Museum (Not listed), Kohl Children’s Museum (Not listed), Lincoln Park Zoo (Open, 8am–5pm).
On the calendar for Jan 1: ZooLights, Holiday Magic and Illumination. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
Lighted Forest Preserve sledding hills and Unlit Forest Preserve sledding hills. All of them need snow, so check the park’s status page first.
ZooLights, Holiday Magic, Illumination, Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon and Midway Plaisance Ice Rink. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 26, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Chicago, through the holidays.
