Black Friday may mark the beginning of the Christmas season for most of America but here in Chicago the Christmas season will kick off this Saturday with the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. While there will be festivities all day at Pioneer Court, 401 N. Michigan Ave., next to the Tribune Tower, it is the Disney Parade and fireworks display that make this one of Chicago’s best, free, family event.
The parade kicks off at 5:30 on Michigan Ave at Oak Street. The parade heads north and ends at the river at 7:00. Being the Disney Parade means the main attraction of the parade will be all of our favorite Disney characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse. The parade will also feature local celebrities, floats and marching bands. Mickey will be the master of ceremonies as the more than one million lights that illuminate Michigan Ave. every winter will be lit for the first time of the season. There will also be a brief cameo by none other than Santa himself.
The other highlight of the festival is the fireworks. While it is an impressive but not 4th of July worthy amount of fireworks it is the setting that makes them so spectacular. Most fireworks shows are set in a field somewhere with little or no backdrop. That is far from the case with the fireworks at the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. The fireworks are shot off from the banks of the Chicago River just east of the Michigan Ave. Bridge. This backdrop is the many iconic Chicago skyscrapers that frame the Chicago River. The reflections of the fireworks in the glass windows and the echoes bouncing off the buildings make it a truly unique display.
The festival and all of its frivolity may be monetarily free but it does come at another cost, the enormous crowds and aggravation of just trying to get to the parade. Many people miss the parade every year because they are stuck in their cars and can not reach the parade route. The best choice is to take public transportation but if that does not work for you plan on coming early. Streets that cross Michigan Ave are generally all closed before 5:00 and are clogged with cars long before that. The best way to avoid the crowds after the fireworks are over is to either shop, the stores are staying open until 10:00 p.m., or to go out to eat while the crowd dissipates. Restaurants will be packed so reservations are essential. The Magnificent Mile is mostly known for high priced eateries but there are some family friendly options. Big Bowl, Heaven on Seven and Buca di Beppo are all family friendly and take walk-ins. Another option, Food Life, is basically the food court of the Water Tower Mall. It is run by Lettuce Entertain You which means it offers very good food, anything from Asian, to soups to BBQ to pizza. If you do not want to watch the parade but want to see the fireworks you can easily avoid the crowds and get a great view by heading to either the Wabash or Columbus Bridge to watch.
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