The Windy City is one of the most beautiful places during the winter. When the snow covers the city in a blanket of fresh white and glitters in the streetlights as it falls, it’s a picture-perfect scene. Our team at Allied Plumbing & Heating Supply Co has found the five best ways to spend the day in Chicago, Illinois, during the winter. So bundle up in your cozy winter gear, grab a friend, and head out to explore the city as a newbie, traveler, or even a local.

Go Ice Skating at Millennium Park Ice Rink

Winter Activities in Chicago, IL

Grab your friends and ice skates and go ice skating at the Millennium Park Ice Rink. Admission is free, but the park requires you to reserve tickets online due to the location’s popularity, and you’ll have to pay for skate rentals if you don’t have your own. You can also reserve times for lessons to learn how to ice skate. This is a magnificent environment to spend the day ice skating in because you’re under the skyline and sparkling lights at night.

Take a break from skating and warm up with hot beverages and tasty snacks at Momentum Coffee in Millennium Park.

Skating season: Open daily from Nov. 18, 2022, to March 5, 2023.

Location: 11 Michigan Ave., Chicago.

Grab a Bite To Eat at Lincoln Station

Grab some dinner at a local hangout spot, Lincoln Station, which is down the street from DePaul University. The restaurant has a great selection of beers and wines with a substantial food menu. During the winter, you’re sure to have a view of the Chicago Bears playing if you visit the bar and grill on game day. Attached to the restaurant is a popular music venue, Lincoln Hall. So, if you’re lucky enough to be there before a show that’s not sold out, you can purchase tickets and catch a live performance.

Here are some things you can order from Lincoln Station:

  • Philly cheese steak.
  • Veggie burger.
  • Pulled pork.
  • Grilled cheese sandwich.
  • Buffalo fries.
  • Sweet southern spud.

Hours: Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Location: 2432 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago.

See a Ballet Performance at the Joffrey Ballet

While you’re in the Windy City for the winter, buy tickets for a breathtaking ballet performance at the Joffrey Ballet. In December, there are several performances of the classic Christmas story, The Nutcracker. You can expect the show to last about two hours, with music from Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreography from Christopher Wheeldon. The last performances for this show are on Tuesday, Dec. 27, but there are plenty of other shows you can see during winter.

Other shows you can see in the upcoming year are:

  • Anna Karenina from Feb. 15 through Feb. 26, 2023.
  • Winning Works 2023 from March 16 through March 19, 2023.
  • The Little Mermaid from April 19 through April 30, 2023.

Box office hours: Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: 10 E. Randolph St., Chicago.

Check Out the German Christmas Market in Wrigleyville

The Wrigleyville version of the traditional Christkindlmarket remains open until Dec. 31 so you can still visit this authentic holiday market after Christmas. At the market, you can experience several family-friendly and intercultural activities and events. Near the market is the Gallagher Way Winterland, which features more holiday decorations, photo opportunities, ice rinks, and holiday movies. So, when you visit the Wrigleyville German Christmas market, you get double the festive activities. The other locations are in downtown Chicago and Aurora, Illinois.

At the market, you can expect about 40 different vendors, such as:

  • Chicatolia.
  • Prince of Pierogi Restaurant.
  • Nuts To Go.
  • Bethlehem Nativity Products.
  • The Himalayan Craft.
  • Mushyface Natural Pet Treats.
  • Santa Claus Work Shop Fine Art Personalized Ornaments.

The market aims to combine Europe and German traditions with Chicago charms. This market tradition gets inspiration from the 16th-century Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, which was one of the first outdoor markets of holiday interest. People know and love the market for its high-quality products, crafts, food, and contagious festive cheer.

Hours vary by days and holidays:

  • Monday through Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m.
  • Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m to 10 p.m.
  • Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Special Hours for Dec. 26 through 29 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: Gallagher Way, 3635 N. Clark St., Chicago.

Visit the South Side Community Arts Center

There are numerous museums in the Windy City, but while you’re there, visit the South Side Community Arts Center. This center is a historic landmark that opened in 1940 with the help of the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project in Illinois. The center is a community celebrating, preserving, promoting, and progressing Black artists and their art. It supports both established and emerging artists.

At the center, admire the art by walking the facility independently or by joining a guided tour. The South Side Community Arts Center also offers art and education programs and talks to engage the community and get them inspired about the arts and to connect with community members. The current exhibit, 9 Artists/ 9 Months/ 9 Perspectives, runs until Dec. 17.

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. and closed Sunday through Monday.

Location: 3831 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago.

So, there you have it. Our team’s five best ways to spend the day in Chicago. What do you think of our list? Are we missing a can’t-miss place? Contact us to tell us about it. Here at Allied Plumbing & Heating Supply Co, we value our customers and care about what you have to say.

If you’re seeking plumbing and heating assistance, call us at 773-777-2670. We’re happy to help answer your questions, provide recommendations, and share other helpful resources to assist you in completing your project.

Photo Credit: Image by Rezal Scharfe is licensed with Unsplash License