iGriffin Museum of Science and IndustryHyde Park / Jackson Park
Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light
The museum's long-running winter display: more than 50 trees decorated by Chicago community volunteers, plus Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Diwali traditions under the rotunda.
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Preview: written before the show opened
In 1942 the museum put up a single tree and redecorated it every day for 12 days, each time for one of the countries fighting alongside America in World War II. This is the 84th edition, and the one tree is now a forest of more than 50.
Community volunteers decorate each tree with their own family and cultural traditions. Between the trees stand displays for other winter festivals of light, among them Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Diwali. You walk through the trees to the Grand Tree, four storeys tall, which Santa lights at 11am on opening day. In the North Court beside it, simulated snow falls every 30 minutes, which is more than the #6 bus can promise.
It's included in General Admission, with no separate ticket. The museum's two holiday evenings are ticketed apart: Naughty or Nice for ages 21 and up on 10 December, and an all-ages edition on 19 December, both 6 to 10pm.
Editor's pick
The museum's long-running winter display: more than 50 trees decorated by Chicago community volunteers, with Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Diwali traditions under the rotunda. Considerably warmer than the walk along the lake to get there.
Look for
The Grand Tree
A four-storey tree that Santa lights on opening day, and the spot the museum picks for a family photo.
The North Court snowfall
Every 30 minutes, simulated snow falls among the Christmas trees near the Grand Tree.
The volunteers' trees
More than 50 trees, each decorated by community volunteers with the traditions of their own family and heritage.
The festivals of light
Set among the trees, displays mark Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali and other winter celebrations of light.
Good for
- Out-Of-Town Guests
- Rainy Days
- Small Kids
With kids
The all-ages Naughty or Nice evening on 19 December (6 to 10pm) has face painting and photos with the Grinch; tickets are $35 for adults, $28 for ages 2 to 12 and free under 2.
Also at Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
On now nearby
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Image credits
7
- Christmas Around the World and Holidays of LightCourtesy of Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
- teamLab: Everything Exists in Infinite Continuity© teamLab, courtesy Smart Museum of Art
- Nina Chanel Abney: Between UsPhoto Claire Dorn, courtesy Smart Museum of Art
- How Do We Heal?Courtesy Smart Museum of Art
- Griffin Museum of Science and Industryzooey / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
- Smart Museum of ArtMichael Barera, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Renaissance SocietyWarren LeMay, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0