Things to Do in Chicago for Thanksgiving 2026

Thanksgiving in Chicago falls on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, and the city is already dressed for the holidays by then. The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade fills State Street on Thanksgiving morning, Christkindlmarket and the city’s Christmas tree arrive the Friday before, and Navy Pier’s Winter WonderFest opens the day after. Several of the city’s biggest museums close on Thanksgiving Day, but Skydeck is open every day of the year. With Holidays @ Skydeck, The Ledge, the Chicago Museum, and dining at Willis Tower all under one roof, it’s an easy anchor for your plans. Here are the best things to do in Chicago for Thanksgiving week, from the parade through the long weekend.

Thanksgiving Week in Chicago at a Glance

Chicago’s holiday season kicks off the weekend before Thanksgiving and builds all week. Here’s what’s happening, day by day.

What to Do in Chicago on Thanksgiving Day

Start with the parade in the morning, then build the rest of the day around what’s actually open. On Thanksgiving Day, Skydeck is open, Christkindlmarket runs shortened hours, and several of Chicago’s largest museums are closed.

Start With the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade

The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade marches north on State Street from Ida B. Wells Drive to Randolph Street on Thanksgiving morning. It’s free to watch, and 2026 marks its 92nd year. For viewing spots, transit tips, and what to expect, see our Chicago Thanksgiving Parade guide.

Run a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Morning

Prefer to start the day on the move? The Life Time Turkey Trot Chicago, now in its 48th year, is scheduled for Thanksgiving morning in Lincoln Park, with 5K and 8K courses plus a kids’ run. Proceeds benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The race schedule can change, so check the race site before you register.

Head to Skydeck After the Parade

Skydeck sits a short walk west of the parade route, which makes it a natural next stop once the last balloon passes. Warm up inside Willis Tower, walk through the holiday-decorated Chicago Museum, then ride up 103 floors to see the city from America’s highest observation deck. While several of the city’s major museums close for the holiday, Skydeck stays open, so it fits easily between the parade and dinner. Streets near the parade route close that morning, so reserve parking ahead if you’re driving.

What’s Open in Chicago on Thanksgiving?

Skydeck is open on Thanksgiving Day, and so is Christkindlmarket, with shortened holiday hours. Several of Chicago’s best-known museums close for the day, so plan those visits for Wednesday or later in the weekend, and confirm holiday hours with each venue. Our guide to Chicago museums can help you choose.

Holidays @ Skydeck: Celebrate the Season 103 Floors Up

Holidays @ Skydeck runs Nov. 13, 2026, through Jan. 4, 2027, so it’s in full swing for Thanksgiving week. Skydeck’s lower-level Chicago Museum and observation deck are transformed with thousands of twinkling lights, merry holiday décor, and festive photo ops.

During the season, you’ll find:

• Holiday photo ops with Santa and themed backdrops, plus informal “Selfies with Santa”
• Seasonal live performances that bring extra holiday spirit to your visit
• Festive décor throughout the Skydeck experience, from the museum to the 103rd floor

For families gathering for the holiday, it’s a rare plan that works for every generation at once: kids get Santa and the lights, and everyone gets the view.

Make Skydeck and Willis Tower Part of Your Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving week visit to Willis Tower can fill an afternoon or a whole evening. Between Skydeck, celebration packages, and dining at Catalog, you can plan the day around one iconic Chicago address.

The Ledge, the Views, and the Chicago Museum

Every Skydeck ticket includes three experiences. Step out onto The Ledge, glass balconies that extend 4.3 feet from the 103rd floor, 1,353 feet above the street. Take in views that stretch up to four states and 50 miles on a clear day. And explore the interactive Chicago Museum, decked out for the holidays this season. Learn more about the 3-in-1 Skydeck experience.

Late-November sunsets come early, so an afternoon visit lets you watch the skyline shift from daylight to city lights.

Celebrate With a Skydeck Upgrade

If your group is in town to celebrate, Skydeck offers a few ways to make the visit feel like an occasion:

• Pie in the Sky: A three-course Giordano’s Chicago-style pizza dinner on the 99th or 103rd floor, offered on select Thursday through Sunday evenings with a maximum of seven tables per night
• The Ultimate Sunset Experience: Reserved west-facing seating on the 99th floor, champagne or sparkling cider, dessert, and expedited access to The Ledge
• Golden Hour Drink Package with Kindling: Sunset views and priority Ledge access, followed by an espresso martini at Kindling

Reservations are required for Pie in the Sky, and availability can vary around the holiday, so book or call ahead.

Where to Eat at Willis Tower

Catalog at Willis Tower puts a range of dining options steps from Skydeck, including Tortazo by Rick Bayless and Kindling by Jonathon Sawyer. It’s an easy place to grab lunch before your visit or a drink after. Holiday hours can vary by restaurant, so check before you go, especially on Thanksgiving Day. If you’re planning a full Thanksgiving dinner out, many downtown restaurants take reservations for the holiday and fill up early, so book ahead.

Visiting Skydeck With Family or a Group

Visiting with a big group this Thanksgiving? Skydeck’s group visit options make it easier to plan for everyone. Skydeck is also certified sensory inclusive by KultureCity. To add more to the day, the Skydeck and Color Factory bundle pairs your visit with Color Factory’s interactive art exhibits, just steps away inside Willis Tower.

Get your Skydeck tickets and make Willis Tower part of your Thanksgiving week.

Things to Do in Chicago on Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving weekend, Friday through Sunday, Nov. 27 to 29, brings the biggest Chicago Thanksgiving events of the season: Wintrust Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier, Christkindlmarket, the Millennium Park Christmas tree, and ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo.

Wintrust Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier

Navy Pier’s indoor holiday celebration opens the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 27, and runs through Jan. 3, 2027. Festival Hall becomes a holiday destination with an ice-skating rink, the Cliffhanger, the Arctic Express Train, and a sparkling forest of ornament-covered trees. Get details and tickets from Navy Pier.

Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza and Wrigleyville

Chicago’s German-style holiday market celebrates its 30th season in 2026. The Daley Plaza market in the Loop runs Nov. 20 through Dec. 24, and the Wrigleyville market at Gallagher Way runs through Dec. 31. Daley Plaza is a short walk from Willis Tower, so pair holiday shopping with Holidays @ Skydeck for a full downtown afternoon. Check hours at Christkindlmarket.

Millennium Park Christmas Tree and Ice Skating

The city’s official Christmas tree is lit Friday, Nov. 20, near Michigan Avenue and Washington Street, so it’s glowing all Thanksgiving week. Millennium Park’s ice rink and the Skating Ribbon in neighboring Maggie Daley Park have typically opened by Thanksgiving week, but 2026 dates haven’t been announced yet. Check dates and reservation requirements before you go. After time outdoors, Skydeck is a warm way to see the same skyline from 103 floors up.

ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo

ZooLights fills Lincoln Park Zoo with holiday lights on evenings throughout the season. It has closed on Thanksgiving Day in past years, so plan it for Friday or the weekend and check the zoo’s calendar for dates and tickets.

Plan Your Thanksgiving Week Visit to Skydeck

Skydeck is open every day of Thanksgiving week, including the holiday itself. Stop by after the parade, between weekend events, or in the evening to see the city glowing for the holidays. With The Ledge and the Chicago Museum included with admission and Holidays @ Skydeck in full swing, it’s an easy plan for every generation at the table. Book ahead so your visit fits around the rest of your week.

Thanksgiving in Chicago FAQs

When is Thanksgiving 2026?

Thanksgiving 2026 is Thursday, Nov. 26. In the United States, Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday in November.

Is Skydeck open on Thanksgiving?

Yes. Skydeck is open 365 days a year, including Thanksgiving Day. Holidays @ Skydeck runs through Jan. 4, 2027, so holiday lights, décor, and photo ops are part of a Thanksgiving visit.

What’s open in Chicago on Thanksgiving Day?

Skydeck is open on Thanksgiving Day, and Christkindlmarket is open with shortened holiday hours. The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, and Art Institute of Chicago are closed. Confirm hours with each venue before you go.

What is Holidays @ Skydeck?

Holidays @ Skydeck is Skydeck’s seasonal celebration, running Nov. 13, 2026, through Jan. 4, 2027. The Chicago Museum and observation deck are decorated with thousands of lights and holiday décor, with Santa photo ops and seasonal live performances.

What’s included with a Skydeck ticket?

A Skydeck ticket includes three experiences: The Ledge, the views from the 103rd floor of Willis Tower, and the interactive Chicago Museum. During the holiday season, the museum and observation deck are also decorated for Holidays @ Skydeck.

Where can you eat near Skydeck?

Catalog at Willis Tower offers dining options steps from Skydeck, including Tortazo by Rick Bayless and Kindling by Jonathon Sawyer. Holiday hours vary by restaurant. For a sit-down dinner above the city, Pie in the Sky serves Giordano’s pizza on the 99th or 103rd floor by reservation.

Is Christkindlmarket open on Thanksgiving?

Yes, with shortened holiday hours. The Daley Plaza market runs Nov. 20 through Dec. 24, 2026, and the Wrigleyville market runs through Dec. 31.

What is there to do in Chicago Thanksgiving weekend?

Wintrust Winter WonderFest opens at Navy Pier on Friday, Nov. 27. Christkindlmarket, the Millennium Park Christmas tree, ZooLights, and Holidays @ Skydeck are all running that weekend too.

When is the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade?

The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade takes place Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, along State Street from Ida B. Wells Drive to Randolph Street. See our Chicago Thanksgiving Parade guide for viewing tips and details.