The holidays are upon us and winter break is quickly approaching. The last day of the first semester is on Friday, December 20th, and BBCHS students will return to school on Monday, January 6th. Here are some fun things to do around town and in Chicago during break to celebrate the holidays!

The Christkindlmarket is a Christmas Festival held in Chicago. Admission is free, and you can go to listen to music, see live performances, and explore a variety of vendors selling ornaments, German-style food, hot chocolate, and more. The festival will run from November 15th to December 24th. If outside festivities sound a little too cold for you, you can head over to Navy Pier to enjoy the Winter Wonderfest. Inside, there are plenty of attractions, including rides, slides, indoor ice skating, and holiday decor that is sure to get you into the holiday spirit! The Winter Wonderfest will be open from December 5th to January 12th, and tickets for entry are available to buy online.

Ice skating is another fun thing to do with friends over break! You can enjoy views of Chicago’s city skyline while ice skating at the ribbon in Maggie Daley Park or McCormick Tribune Plaza near the Bean. You can also ice skate in town at Kankakee Ice Valley. Another exciting way to celebrate the holidays is to see Christmas lights! There are lots to see around town, and Van Til Chiropractic has a light show that you can check out. In Chicago, there are also plenty of lights displays to see. ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo and Brookfield Zoo, The Chicago Christmas Tree in Millenium Park, and The Art on the Mart Lights Display are all popular options.

Be sure to spend some time in the company of friends and family this holiday season, no matter how you choose to spend your time!