# Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival > Event for families in the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin area (IL / IN). Times are Central Time. - When: Sat, Nov 21 · 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM - Where: North Michigan Avenue (Oak St to Wacker Dr), 401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 - Ages: All ages (free public street festival; arrive early to secure sidewalk curbside spots with young children) - Price: Completely free and open to the public; free sponsor activities and Santa photos in Lights Festival Lane. - Organizer: The Magnificent Mile Association - Official page: https://www.themagnificentmile.com/lights-festival/ - Last checked: Wed, Nov 4 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/wintrust-magnificent-mile-lights-festival--listing-e8e0d8b6f13d73d1c8ab314a ## About Marking the official grand opening of the holiday season in Chicago for 35 years, the Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival draws more than one million spectators to North Michigan Avenue on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The celebration begins at 11:00 AM with 'Lights Festival Lane' at Pioneer Court, featuring live musical performances, interactive family games, brand giveaways, and complimentary photos with Santa Claus. At 5:30 PM, the nation's largest nighttime parade steps off at Oak Street and Michigan Avenue. Led by Grand Marshals Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from Walt Disney World, more than 40 illuminated floats, giant helium character balloons, marching bands from across the country, and dancing performers travel south down the avenue. With a wave of Mickey's wand, more than 200 trees along the boulevard are sequentially illuminated with one million sparkling LED lights. The evening culminates at 7:15 PM with an extraordinary fireworks show detonated over the Chicago River at Michigan Avenue. ## Similar picks in Chicago - [Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival (Michigan Avenue)](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/wintrust-magnificent-mile-lights-festival-michigan-avenue--listing-6abaff34f64c1caac1804837) — Sat, Nov 21 · 11:00 AM – 7:30 PM · North Michigan Avenue (Magnificent Mile) · All ages · Free · checked Nov 4. 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