Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
✓ Verified 2025-2026
Where: North Michigan Avenue, from Randolph St. north, Chicago, Illinois
When: Nov. 22, 2025 (parade at 5:30 p.m.); window displays through the season
Hours: Parade begins 5:30 p.m.
Cost: free
parade with Mickey and Minnie Mouse1+ million lights along Michigan Avenuefireworks over the Chicago Riverfestive window displaysattraction
This free festival lights up North Michigan Avenue with over a million lights, kicked off by a parade led by Mickey and Minnie Mouse on November 22, 2025. The evening ends with fireworks over the Chicago River, and the avenue's decorated windows stay festive all season.
Best time to arrive. Sunset in Chicago is around 4:20 PM in mid-December, fully dark by about 4:52 PM. A typical December night here bottoms out near 20°F, so dress for standing around outside.
Other displays nearby
There are 9 other displays within 5 miles of this one, and 14 within 15 miles. Most people make a loop of it rather than driving out for a single house.
- Andersonville - North Wayne Avenue Lights
- Christkindlmarket Chicago
- Pilsen Neighborhood Holiday Displays
- Ravenswood Manor Holiday Lights
- Roscoe Village Holiday Lights
- Sauganash & Edgebrook Holiday Lights
- City of Chicago Christmas Tree at Millennium Park
- Navy Pier Winter WonderFest
Make a night of it. This is stop 4 on our 11-stop Chicago lights loop — about 9.5 miles and 67 minutes of driving in total.