Season
Admission
Hours
Address
Chicago, IL 60611
Checked Nov 8, 2026 source how we check
Free parade that switches on the lights on Michigan Avenue's trees, Sat, Nov 21, 2026. Family activities from 11 am; parade at 5:30 pm.
The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival is the day Chicago's holiday season officially starts on North Michigan Avenue. As the evening parade moves south from Oak Street, the lights on 200 trees along the avenue are switched on block by block, more than a million lights in all.
In 2026 the festival is on Saturday, November 21. From 11 am to 4 pm, Lights Festival Lane has live entertainment, music and free family activities, including free photos with Santa. The parade steps off at 5:30 pm from Oak Street and Michigan Avenue, with Mickey and Minnie Mouse as grand marshals. It's free to watch.
The sidewalks fill up early, so arrive well before 5:30 to get a view. If you'd rather watch from home, ABC7 streams the parade live and broadcasts it the next evening.
What you'll find
- Free admission
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