Winter fun, people! Light Up the Lake at Navy Pier

Light up your holidays at Navy Pier

Navy Pier is a huge tourist magnet for our great city. And in case you didn’t know, if you’re invited to an event at the far, far end of the Pier, or you want to stop for some food or beverages there (Middle Eastern, yogurt/icees, Chinese, etc.), you don’t have to walk all the way there and back. It’s a LONG walk.

Instead, direct your taxi/car share all the way to the farthest end  – 600 E. Grand. Then, when you’re ready, call your return taxi or Uber to pick you up there.  But this winter, there’ll be lots of interesting activities you can play along the way. Try this: Ride to the far end and walk back to see everything there is to see and do.

Navy Pier just announced plans for “Light Up the Lake 2024,” the most thrill- and chill-packed edition of its popular, Pier-wide holiday celebration yet. Kicking off on Friday, November 29, and running through January 5, this year’s Light Up the Lake festivities will include an eclectic array of immersive seasonal experiences, accented by award-winning fireworks, first-of-their-kind holiday drone shows, and millions of dazzling lights.  
Light Up the Lake 2024 Highlights:
  • Winter Wonderland Lights: Navy Pier will again transform the lakefront into a magical winter wonderland with outdoor light displays visible from DuSable Lakeshore Drive. Free-of-charge.
  • Holiday Fireworks and Drone Shows: Marvel at the wintertime spectacle of the fireworks voted “best in the country” by readers of USA Today, 9 p.m., every Saturday. Enjoy two first-of-their-kind holiday drone shows – Friday, Dec. 6, and Friday, Dec. 13, at 9 p.m. Free-of-charge.
  • Two-story Ice Slide: New for 2024, four lanes of super-fast, slippery action! Challenge your friends and family to the ride of the season. Open daily, Noon to 8 p.m. Ticketed attraction.
  • Wave Swinger: Not for the faint of heart, Navy Pier’s high-flying Wave Swinger ride will take its first wintertime soars during Light Up the Lake 2024. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Ticketed attraction.
  • Centennial Wheel: Take in the best, 360-degree views of the Chicago skyline and a wintery Lake Michigan from the climate-controlled comfort of Navy Pier’s iconic Centennial Ferris Wheel. Open daily. Ticketed attraction.
  • Axe Throwing: Back by popular demand! Bundle up, bring your friends, and experience the thrill of outdoor axe throwing against the backdrop of Lake Michigan. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, Noon to 8 p.m. Ticketed attraction.
  • Roaring Bonfires at the Navy Pier Beer Garden: Toast to the holidays with family and friends against the glow of a raging bonfire while enjoying breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Saturdays, Noon to 4 p.m. Free-of-charge, with food and beverage available for purchase.
  • Visits with Santa: Santa will greet children in Navy Pier’s Family Pavilion during most Pier operating hours, November 29 through December 24. Free-of-charge. Professional photo packages available for purchase.
  • Holiday Artisan Markets: Discover and shop for one-of-a-kind gifts and décor while supporting local artisans. Saturdays and Sundays, Noon to 6 p.m. Free-of-charge.
  • Hands-on Craft Workshops: Immerse yourself in the spirit of the season with a series of holiday-themed workshops hosted by guest artists. Sundays, Noon to 4 p.m. Free-of-charge.

Go ahead, set a date for a visit. It’s fun playing tourist-for-a-day in our very cool city.