Last updated October 2026
Thanksgiving in Chicago 2026 starts early: the 92nd Chicago Thanksgiving Parade steps off on State Street at 7:45 a.m. on Thursday, November 26, and the Turkey Trot sends runners through Lincoln Park at 9 a.m. By then the Christkindlmarket is already open, the Magnificent Mile has had its Lights Festival, and the city’s holiday season is in full swing. Here’s how to spend the long weekend, with the one big catch most guides miss: several favorites, including the Field Museum and ZooLights, are closed on Thanksgiving Day itself.
Thanksgiving Day is Thursday, November 26, 2026.
In a Nutshell
- Parade: Thursday, November 26, stepping off at 7:45 a.m. on State Street; free.
- Turkey Trot: 5K and 8K at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving morning from Diversey Harbor in Lincoln Park.
- Christkindlmarket: open from November 20 at Daley Plaza and Wrigleyville, its 30th season.
- Closed on Thanksgiving Day: the Field Museum and Lincoln Park Zoo’s ZooLights. Save them for Friday.
- Weekend before: the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival parade is Saturday, November 21.
Thanksgiving weekend is when Chicago flips from fall to the holidays, and I’m sharing some of my favorite things to do on Thanksgiving weekend to help you plan. Most visitors split it into three parts: the parade or a race on Thursday morning, a big dinner Thursday afternoon, and markets, lights, skating, and museums from Friday on. The Loop is the hub for the parade, the Christkindlmarket, and skating, so staying downtown makes the whole weekend walkable. Plan Thursday around what’s open, and book anything ticketed, especially dinner and ZooLights, well ahead.
Quick Picks by Interest
- Families with kids: the parade Thursday morning, then ZooLights on Friday night.
- Runners: the Turkey Trot in Lincoln Park, followed by its post-race tailgate.
- Skipping the cooking: a Thanksgiving dinner reservation in River North or the South Loop.
- Black Friday shoppers: the Magnificent Mile, then mulled wine at the Christkindlmarket.
Watch the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade
If you’re in Chicago on Thanksgiving morning, this is the event to plan around. The parade dates back to 1934, when it began as a Christmas parade organized to lift spirits during the Great Depression, and 2026 marks its 92nd year. Expect marching bands, performance groups, equestrian units, floats, and giant helium balloons, which organizers say are back this year.
When: Thursday, November 26, 2026; step-off at 7:45 a.m., running until about 10 a.m.
Where: north on State Street from Ida B. Wells Drive to Randolph Street, through the Loop
Cost: Free
State Street’s wide sidewalks mean you can find a decent spot without camping out, though the best curbside views go early. Reserved bleacher seating has been sold in past years for those who want a guaranteed seat. Streets around the route close for much of the morning, so skip the car: the Red Line runs directly under State Street, with stops at Harrison, Jackson, Monroe, and Lake. My guide to riding the CTA covers fares.
EXPERT TIP: You might even see some local celebrities taking part in the festivities: a few years ago, I was able to grab a picture with Chicago’s very own Bozo the Clown!
The route also passes Macy’s on State Street, home of the Walnut Room and its giant tree. My guide to the Walnut Room at Macy’s explains how to time a visit once the parade clears.
Run the Turkey Trot in Chicago
If your family’s tradition involves earning the pie, this is the race. The 48th annual Life Time Turkey Trot Chicago offers a 5K and an 8K, plus a kids’ race called the Plymouth Rock Ramble, and it benefits the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Costumes are part of the fun, and the post-race Turkey Day Tailgate brings food and music.
When: Thursday, November 26, 2026; 5K and 8K start at 9 a.m.
Where: Diversey Harbor in the north section of Lincoln Park
Cost: Registration was listed at $60 for the 5K, $65 for the 8K, and $25 for the kids’ race; fees typically rise closer to race day
Because the race starts at 9 a.m. in Lincoln Park and the parade starts at 7:45 a.m. downtown, you’ll realistically pick one or the other.
Visit Christkindlmarket, an Outdoor German-Style Christmas Market
Chicago’s German-style Christmas market celebrates its 30th season in 2026, and it opens the week before Thanksgiving, so it’s in full swing for the long weekend. Browse ornaments and gifts from wooden huts, eat bratwurst and fresh pretzels, sip hot spiced wine, and take home the collectible mug.
There are two city locations. The original market at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St. in the Loop, runs November 20 through December 24. The Wrigleyville market at Gallagher Way, 3635 N. Clark St., runs November 20 through December 31, and it’s open on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. My Christkindlmarket guide has hours and tips for both, and my Wrigleyville guide covers the neighborhood around Gallagher Way.
Shop the Magnificent Mile
Black Friday on Michigan Avenue is a Chicago tradition, with the street already dressed for the holidays. The lights go on the weekend before: the Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival is Saturday, November 21, 2026, with a daytime street festival, an evening parade with Santa, and fireworks over the Chicago River. If you’re arriving early for the holiday week, it’s worth planning around.
For a base that puts you steps from the shopping, see my picks for hotels on the Magnificent Mile.
Visit Chicago’s Museums on Friday
Museums are a Friday-and-weekend plan. The Field Museum, for one, is closed on Thanksgiving Day, so check hours before you go anywhere on Thursday. From Friday on, these are worth the trip, and the three Museum Campus spots sit side by side on the lakefront south of Grant Park.
The Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave. One of the oldest and largest art museums in the country, with works by Monet, Seurat, Picasso, and Warhol. My Art Institute guide covers what to see, and my list of restaurants near the Art Institute handles lunch.
The Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. One of the largest natural history museums in the world, and home to SUE the T. rex. It’s open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thanksgiving and Christmas. One of Chicago’s top attractions, a visit to the Field Museum is one of my favorite ways to spend a day in Chicago.
Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. America’s first planetarium, with skyline views from its lakefront perch.
Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. Beluga whales, sharks, sea otters, and more, right next door to the Field. For more options, see my guide to the best Chicago museums.
Dine at a Restaurant Offering Thanksgiving Dinner
Yes, plenty of Chicago restaurants are open on Thanksgiving Day. All four of these served Thanksgiving menus in 2025, and restaurants usually post their 2026 menus in early November, so reserve as soon as booking opens. Here are some of my favorite restaurants to eat Thanksgiving dinner in Chicago:
- Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, 60 E. Grand Ave. (River North): a traditional turkey plate with sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, butternut squash with toasted marshmallow, and pumpkin chiffon pie, served alongside the regular menu for anyone who’d rather have stone crab.
- RPM Italian, 52 W. Illinois St. (River North): a three-course Thanksgiving menu with an Italian twist.
- The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, 1401 S. Michigan Ave. (South Loop): a three-course menu with roasted turkey, garlic whipped potatoes, and bourbon pecan pie, served inside a restored 1905 firehouse.
- Shaw’s Crab House, 21 E. Hubbard St. (River North): à la carte Thanksgiving specials like herb-roasted turkey breast and sweet potatoes with marshmallow, plus the seafood it’s known for.
Go Ice Skating in Downtown Chicago
Looking for a great way to burn off some of those Turkey Day calories? Chicago’s two big downtown rinks usually open in mid-November, so they’re running by Thanksgiving weekend. Reservations are strongly recommended on holiday weekends. Here are four of my favorite outdoor ice skating rinks in Chicago:
- Maggie Daley Park Skating Ribbon, 337 E. Randolph St.: a quarter-mile ribbon of ice that winds through the park, with the skyline all around.
- McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, 201 E. Randolph St.: the classic rink in Millennium Park, steps from the Bean. Skating has been free in past seasons, with a fee for rentals.
- The Sky Rink at The Peninsula Chicago, 108 E. Superior St.: the city’s hotel rooftop rink above Michigan Avenue; check with the hotel for this season’s access.
- Winterland at Gallagher Way, 3635 N. Clark St.: the outdoor winter setup outside Wrigley Field that hosts the Wrigleyville Christkindlmarket.
See ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
ZooLights is the best family night of the long weekend, with more than 3 million lights, a light tunnel, a Ferris wheel with skyline views, s’mores, and photos with Santa. Just note that ZooLights is closed on Thanksgiving Day, so plan it for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
When: November 20, 2026, through January 3, 2027, 4:30 to 9 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving Day)
Where: Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park
Cost: $7 to $12 per person in advance, $20 same-day; free on select Mondays, including November 23 and 30, with tickets released a week ahead
Pro tip: Everyone needs a ticket, including babies, and the zoo says more tickets won’t be released later. Book your Thanksgiving-weekend night now; a $20 Flexible Admission ticket lets you pick any regular night if your plans might shift.
Ticket sales support animal care at a zoo that’s free to visit year-round. For daytime ideas nearby, see my guide to things to do with kids in Lincoln Park, or tickets and details on the ZooLights page.
Plan Your Thanksgiving Weekend
Here’s how I’d lay it out. Thursday morning, pick the parade or the Turkey Trot, then have an early-afternoon Thanksgiving dinner reservation; if you’re still restless, the Wrigleyville Christkindlmarket is open until 4 p.m. Friday, do a museum by day and ZooLights at night. Saturday, shop the Mag Mile, skate at Maggie Daley Park, and end with mulled wine at Daley Plaza.
Staying downtown keeps almost all of this walkable; my guide to downtown Chicago hotels can help you choose. And if you’re staying past the holiday, the Chicago Christmas tree in Millennium Park and the rest of the season are just getting started.
The Chicago Weekly
Holiday dates in Chicago shift every year, and the best Thanksgiving reservations go fast. I send one email a week with what’s happening in the city and what to book before it’s gone. Come along.
Thanksgiving weekend is when Chicago is at its most festive and its most walkable, with State Street, Daley Plaza, and the Mag Mile all within a few blocks. Pick your Thursday, book your dinner and ZooLights now, and when the long weekend’s over, my guide to the best things to do in Chicago in winter picks up where this leaves off.