Magnificent Mile Lights Festival 2021

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival

Shining bright for 30 magnificent years, The BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Lights Festival® returns to downtown Chicago this month to kick off the holiday season the weekend before Thanksgiving. Chicagoans will come together safely again, after the 2020 live event hiatus, to celebrate the largest nighttime parade in the Nation.

The action-packed weekend will begin with a preview night on Friday, November 19 at 4:00 p.m. featuring a ceremonial tree-lighting in The Wrigley Building Centennial Plaza in honor of the building’s 100 years.

On Saturday, November 20, the event-filled day begins at 11:00 a.m. starting in Lights Festival Lane (401 North Michigan Avenue) with a festive thoroughfare of booths and family activities, including photos with Santa Claus, until 4:00 p.m. Free, family fun culminates in the grand tree-lighting parade down North Michigan Avenue on Saturday, November 20 starting at 5:30 p.m. with Grand Marshals Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida. The parade features more than 60 minutes of fabulous floats, giant helium balloons, exciting marching bands, celebrities, musical performances, Santa Claus, and more, all helping to illuminate more than 1 million lights along The Magnificent Mile. The event draws to a grand conclusion with spectacular fireworks over the Chicago River at the DuSable Bridge at 7:00 p.m.

Schedule of Events

Friday

PREVIEW NIGHT: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19 AT 4:00 P.M.
The Wrigley Building Centennial Plaza (410 N. Michigan Avenue)
The action-packed weekend will begin with a preview night featuring a ceremonial tree-lighting at The Wrigley Building Centennial Plaza in honor of the building’s 100 years with a live performance by Grammy-nominated singer, actress, and Broadway star Deborah Cox and the Chicago Carolers.

Saturday

LIGHTS FESTIVAL LANE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20 FROM 11:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Pioneer Court (401 N. Michigan Avenue)
A festive thoroughfare of booths and free family activities, including photos with Santa Claus! Read more about Lights Festival Lane featured activities on pg.11 of this guide.

PARADE ROUTE CLOSURES BEGIN AS EARLY AS 3:30 P.M.
3:30 P.M.: DuSable Bridge (formerly Michigan Avenue Bridge) closes to pedestrian traffic.
4:00 P.M.: North Michigan Avenue closes to vehicular traffic between Oak Street and Wacker Drive.

GRAND TREE-LIGHTING PARADE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20 FROM 5:30 P.M. – 6:55 P.M.
Michigan Avenue from Oak Street south to Wacker Drive Free, family fun culminates in the grand tree-lighting parade down North Michigan Avenue on with Grand Marshals Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida. The parade features fabulous floats, giant helium balloons, exciting marching bands, celebrities, musical performances, Santa Claus, and more, all helping to illuminate more than one million lights along The Magnificent Mile. The event draws to a grand conclusion with spectacular fireworks over the Chicago River at the DuSable Bridge at 6:55 p.m.

WATCH AT HOME AND RELIVE THE MAGIC!
If you cannot catch the parade live, or would like to relive the magic, ABC broadcasts the event throughout the holiday season across early 100% of the county! Relive the magic locally on ABC 7 Chicago at 6:00 p.m. CT on Sunday, November 21, 6:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, December 11, and 8:00 a.m. CT on Christmas Day. Visit TheMagnificetMile.com for a list of broadcast markets, and check your local listings.

For more information visit: Mag Mile Lights Festival Guide or https://www.themagnificentmile.com/lights-festival/

TC

Chicago born and raised. Always looking for new places.

TC has 335 posts and counting. See all posts by TC

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