Dec5Sat
Brookfield Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting
Kris Kringle Market and trolley stops around Brookfield · Brookfield
- When
- Saturday, Dec 5
- Time
- 10am-6pm; tree lighting in the evening
- Price
- See event page
December 2026Chicago · The Windy City
December in Chicago with little kids.
23 things to do with kids up to age 6 in and around Chicago in December 2026, sorted by week. Each listing links to its own page and to the organizer’s page, and we add more as new dates are posted.
7 listings
Dec 1 to Dec 6
Dec5Sat
Crete Country Christmas Parade of Lights
Main St., northbound to First St. · Crete, about 35 miles south
- When
- Saturday, Dec 5
- Time
- 6pm
- Price
- Free
Dec5Sat
Donuts with Santa (Naperville Park District)
Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center · Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center, Naperville, IL
- When
- Saturday, Dec 5
- Time
- 10:45am
- Price
- Registration required for everyone; infants under 12 months free
Dec5Sat
Lights of Lisle Santa Parade
Downtown Lisle · Lisle, about 25 miles west
- When
- Saturday, Dec 5
- Time
- Festivities 2:30-6:30pm; parade 4:30pm, tree lighting after at Village Hall
- Price
- Free
Dec5to 6
Santa's Flight to Schaumburg
Schaumburg Regional Airport · 905 W. Irving Park Road, Schaumburg, IL
- When
- Dec 5 to Dec 6
- Time
- Dec 5: 1–3pm; Dec 6: 9–11am or 1–3pm
- Price
- $35 residents, $40 non-residents; 2 and under free
Dec5Sat
Westmont Frosty & Friends Parade
Cass Ave. from Naperville Rd. to W. Quincy St. · Westmont, about 20 miles west
- When
- Saturday, Dec 5
- Time
- Carol sing-along 4:45pm, parade 5pm, then the tree lighting and free photos with Santa at the train station
- Price
- Free
Dec6Sun
Tinley Park Parade of Lights
Oak Park Ave. from 177th St. to 172nd St. · Tinley Park, about 25 miles southwest
- When
- Sunday, Dec 6
- Time
- 5pm; Santa visits in the holiday tent afterward
- Price
- Free
2 listings
Dec 7 to Dec 13
Dec11Fri
Holiday Family Pajama Extravaganza with bilingual Santa
Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library · 3541 Park Ave., Brookfield, IL 60513
- When
- Friday, Dec 11
- Time
- 6-8pm
- Price
- See event page
Dec11Fri
Santa's Workshop
Schaumburg Community Recreation Center · 505 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg, IL
- When
- Friday, Dec 11
- Time
- 6–8pm
- Price
- $20 residents, $25 non-residents
1 listing
Dec 14 to Dec 20
Dec18Fri
Pizza & PJs with Santa
Schaumburg Community Recreation Center · 505 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg, IL
- When
- Friday, Dec 18
- Time
- 6–8pm
- Price
- $20 residents, $25 non-residents
5 listings
Dec 28 to Dec 31
Dec31Thu
Noon Year's Eve at North Riverside Village Commons
North Riverside Village Commons · 2401 S. Des Plaines Ave., North Riverside, IL 60546
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 10am–12:30pm
- Price
- $3 or $5 per guest; 2 and under free
Dec31Thu
Noon Year’s Eve at Sachs Recreation Center
Deerfield Park District – Sachs Recreation Center · 455 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, IL 60015
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 11am–noon
- Price
- Under 3 free; $15 per person day-of
Dec31Thu
Noon Year's Eve Party at Vodak-East Side Library
Chicago Public Library, Vodak-East Side Branch · 3710 E 106th St, Chicago, IL 60617
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 11 a.m.–noon
- Price
- Free
Dec31Thu
Noon Year's Eve Skate at the Skatium
Skokie Park District – Skatium Ice Arena · 9340 Weber Park Place, Skokie, IL 60077
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 10:45am–noon
- Price
- $7 admission, $4 skate rental; season passes don't apply
Dec31Thu
Noon Year’s Eve Storytime at Evanston Public Library
Evanston Public Library – Main Library · 1703 Orrington Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 11:30am–12:15pm
- Price
- Free
8 listings
Open for weeks at a time
Light displays, exhibits and other runs that last longer than a week. Check each page for the nights or days they’re closed.
Dec1to 31
Illumination
The Morton Arboretum · Lisle, IL
- When
- Nov 14 to Jan 2
- Time
- Evening timed entry
- Price
- Dated tickets; price on the ticket page
Dec1to 23
Photos with Santa at ZooLights
Lincoln Park Zoo · 2400 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
- When
- Nov 20 to Dec 23
- Time
- During ZooLights, 4:30–9pm
- Price
- Needs a ZooLights ticket
Dec1to 31
ZooLights
Lincoln Park Zoo · 2400 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
- When
- Nov 20 to Jan 3
- Time
- 4:30–9pm (last entry 8pm)
- Price
- $7–$12 ahead for set dates, $20 day-of; free Mondays except Dec 21 and 28 with tickets released a week ahead; everyone needs a ticket
Dec1to 31
Holiday Magic
Brookfield Zoo Chicago · 31st St. and Golfview Ave., Brookfield, IL 60513
- When
- Nov 21 to Jan 3
- Time
- 3–9pm
- Price
- From $29.95; free for members
Dec1to 23
Santa at Holiday Magic
Brookfield Zoo Chicago · 31st St. and Golfview Ave., Brookfield, IL 60513
- When
- Nov 21 to Dec 23
- Time
- Times vary by night (for example 4–8:30pm Nov 21–22)
- Price
- Free with Holiday Magic admission
Dec1to 20
Kohlights
Kohl Children’s Museum · 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, IL 60026
- When
- Nov 27 to Dec 20
- Time
- Early entry 4:30–7pm; regular 5:30–7pm
- Price
- $20 early, $18 regular ($15 members)
Dec1to 20
Visits with Santa in Downtown Downers Grove
Downtown Downers Grove · Downtown Downers Grove, Downers Grove, IL
- When
- Nov 28 to Dec 20
- Time
- 1-4pm
- Price
- See event page
Dec4to 11
Merry Museum with Santa
DuPage Children’s Museum · 301 N. Washington St., Naperville, IL 60540
- When
- Dec 4 to Dec 11
- Time
- 5:30–8pm
- Price
- Price on the event page
Guides
More December guides for Chicago
Christmas lights in ChicagoKeep planning
More for little kids in Chicago
November: 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 in
Indoor 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
Christmas break in ChicagoWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1
This week in ChicagoDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
December in Chicago: the FAQ
23 dated listings so far, including Brookfield Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting (Dec 5), Crete Country Christmas Parade of Lights (Dec 5), Donuts with Santa (Naperville Park District) (Dec 5) and Lights of Lisle Santa Parade (Dec 5). The rest are below, by week. We add more as organizers post their dates.
Crete Country Christmas Parade of Lights (Dec 5), Lights of Lisle Santa Parade (Dec 5), Westmont Frosty & Friends Parade (Dec 5), Tinley Park Parade of Lights (Dec 6) and Noon Year's Eve Party at Vodak-East Side Library (Dec 31), plus 2 more marked Free below. For free days and places that never charge, see free things to do in Chicago.
13 start this December: Donuts with Santa (Naperville Park District) (Dec 5), Santa's Flight to Schaumburg (Dec 5 to Dec 6), Holiday Family Pajama Extravaganza with bilingual Santa (Dec 11), Santa's Workshop (Dec 11) and Pizza & PJs with Santa (Dec 18), plus 8 more below.
Yes, at the same address. After Dec 31, 2026 it switches to December 2027, starting with the events that come back every year.
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 30, 2026, and we recheck them every Monday and Thursday. How we choose and check.
The checked list, every Thursday.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Chicago that weekend.
