Chicago in December

December is the one winter month when people come to Chicago on purpose. The Christmas market is up in Daley Plaza, the tree is lit in Millennium Park, the L runs a train covered in lights with Santa waving from a flatcar, and the month ends with fireworks on the river. It's cold, and it's busier and pricier than the rest of the winter. For a lot of visitors, that's a fair trade.

This page is for planning the trip. For the markets, shows and light displays, see things to do in Chicago in December.

December weather

The National Weather Service's official 1991-2020 normals, measured at O'Hare, give December an average high of 36.6°F and a low of 24.4°F, with 2.11 inches of precipitation and 7.6 inches of snow. Early December can still be damp and in the 40s. By Christmas, you're in real winter, and a white Christmas is possible but far from guaranteed. A cold snap below zero can arrive before the month is out, though January is the month that gets most of those.

It's also the darkest month. The sun sets around 4:20pm for most of December, so plan the outdoor sightseeing for the middle of the day and save the lights for after dark, when they look best anyway. Wind is the other thing to plan for. On Wacker Drive and the river bridges, gusts between the towers can make it feel 10 or 15 degrees colder than the forecast. Check the NWS Chicago forecast the week you travel, and see our Chicago weather page for the rest of the year.

Holiday crowds and hotel prices

December isn't off-season the way January is. Holiday shoppers fill State Street and the Magnificent Mile on weekends, Christkindlmarket is packed on Saturday afternoons, and downtown hotels know it. Weekdays in the first half of the month are the calmer, cheaper option. If you want the lights and the markets without the crush, come Sunday to Thursday and visit Christkindlmarket in the morning.

Two stretches need planning. Christmas week is quiet for business travel, but a lot of things close on Christmas Day, including the Field Museum, and the Daley Plaza Christkindlmarket closes after Christmas Eve (the Wrigleyville market at Gallagher Way stays open through New Year's Eve). ZooLights is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day too. Then comes New Year's Eve, when downtown hotels and restaurants charge a premium. Book early, and remember that CTA trains and buses have been free late on New Year's Eve every year since 2012, which makes staying a few L stops from the Loop a better idea than it sounds. Our New Year's in Chicago page has the details.

For neighborhoods and hotels, see where to stay in Chicago, hotels in the Loop and how to save money in Chicago.

What to pack

Pack a proper winter coat, one that covers your hips, plus a hat that covers your ears, gloves and a scarf. You'll spend more time standing outside in December than in January, between the market, the skating rinks and the fireworks, so bring warm socks and waterproof boots with some grip. Salted sidewalks turn into slush that soaks through sneakers in a block. Wear layers underneath, because the stores, museums and L cars are heated and crowded. Leave some room in the bag if you plan to shop, or to bring home a Christkindlmarket mug. Our what to wear in Chicago in winter page goes item by item.

What to do

The short version: the Christkindlmarket, ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo, free skating in Millennium Park, A Christmas Carol at the Goodman, The Nutcracker with the Joffrey, the Christmas Around the World trees at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, and a ride on the CTA Holiday Train. For all of it, with dates and tickets, see our December page and Christmas events in Chicago.

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