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Celebrate the Magic of the Season

33rd Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival

Get ready for Chicago's most cherished holiday tradition! Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from The Walt Disney World® Resort are returning to light up The Magnificent Mile on Saturday, November 23rd! This dazzling, free celebration promises a day full of family fun, culminating in the nation’s largest evening holiday parade.

Evening Holiday Parade | 5:30 PM 
As dusk falls, the magic begins as we get ready to light the lights! Watch in wonder as a dazzling parade of floats, marching bands, and musical celebrity performers from the 70s, 80s and 90s make their way down North Michigan Avenue, bringing the spirit of the season to life.
Here’s a sneak peek of the star-studded holiday parade and some of our amazing community partners:

  • The Wintrust Express: Get ready for the magnificent Wintrust Express! This year, it’s packed with excitement, including Illinois’ very own Paris 2024 Olympians: track star and gold medalist Shemier Little and ice-skating champion Alexa Knerim. The legendary Quad City DJs will keep the party rolling with their hit C'mon Ride the Train! Woo woo!

  • The Wintrust Mascot Party: Parade favorite, the Wintrust Mascot Party, will also join the Wintrust Express. Buck, the host of this holiday celebration, is bringing holiday cheer to all with plenty of member events, activities, and treat dollars through Wintrust Junior Savers and Teen Banking Clubs!

  • Santa Kermit the Frog: Hi-ho! This super colossal helium balloon, Santa Kermit the Frog, is beloved by fans of all ages since 1955 and joining us to spread the holiday spirit on November 23rd along The Magnificent Mile.

  • Animal: The wild drummer from Dr. Teeth & the Electric Mayhem, Animal, is sure to rock the beat as he joins our musical guests to make this holiday parade an unforgettable experience!

  • This year's musical celebrity guests include the legendary former Ladies of Chic, singing Good Times and Le Freak; 80's soul- and funk-band Cameo singing Word Up and Candy and more!

Read on for more exciting parade details!

 
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Northwestern Medicine

Celebrating our healthcare heroes! Get ready to meet the incredible team riding the Northwestern Medicine "Better Together" float in The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival – the Northwestern Medicine Outpatient Infusion Center team at Palos Hospital! Every day, these compassionate caregivers provide vital treatments and support to patients with a wide range of digestive and respiratory health conditions. Nominated by their peers, this team is part of Northwestern Medicine’s nationally-ranked system, home to 11 hospitals, over 200 locations, and more than 33,000 employees across the Chicagoland area. See how Northwestern Medicine is helping to build stronger, healthier communities here:

https://www.nm.org/about-us/nm-community-impact

Special Olympics

Coming down Michigan Avenue, it’s everyone’s favorite reindeer—Rudolph! Special Olympics Illinois is thrilled to bring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to the Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival again this year. Just like Rudolph, who showed that being a little different makes all the difference, Special Olympics Illinois celebrates the unique abilities of everyone in its community.

The Special Olympics movement all started here in Illinois, back in 1968, with the first-ever Special Olympics games at Soldier Field. Since then, the Illinois program has grown to serve a vibrant community of more than 55,000 athletes, Unified partners, coaches, and volunteers across the state, with and without intellectual disabilities. With year-round training and competition in 18 sports, these athletes inspire us all, showing incredible courage, joy, and determination.

Just as Rudolph leads the way tonight, Special Olympics Illinois lights the path toward a more inclusive world, where people of all abilities shine.

NASCAR Chicago Street Race

Chicago: start your engines! NASCAR will return to Grant Park July 5-6 for the 2025 NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend. Named ‘Event of the Year’ by Sports Business Journal in 2024, the 2025 Chicago Street Race Weekend will be one of the most anticipated events on the NASCAR schedule, and one of the can’t miss sporting events of the year. The 12-turn, 2.2-mile course will once again take NASCAR past and through many of the city’s most renowned and highly recognizable landmarks. This is an entertainment-filled two-day racing and entertainment experience in downtown Chicago with something for everyone. Fans of all ages are welcome to enjoy a unique, family-friendly atmosphere that celebrates the sports, music, and culture of Chicago on a global scale. Visit NASCARChicago.com for more.

Lifeway

As the Lifeway float travels down Michigan Avenue, we are transported to a magical probiotic winter wonderland. Lifeway Kefir is spreading holiday cheer with its delicious flavors, while the Lifeway ProBugs are filled with joy and excitement during this holly jolly holiday season. Riding aboard the Lifeway float, we are looking forward to seeing Uniting Voices perform "Cool Yule!"

Amidst the challenges of rising food prices, Lifeway stands strong in its commitment to support local non-profits by providing Lifeway Kefir to those in need. Their mission is to help make the world a better place. Lifeway Foods believes that a kindhearted lifestyle takes gut.

CN Railway 

Transporting the holiday spirit and a message of rail safety to the streets, CN, which is North America’s Railroad, is proud to showcase Little Obie, a 6-foot-high, festive scale model of a CN locomotive and our ambassador for rail safety. On board, and walking proudly behind Little Obie tonight, are local CN railroaders and their families, spreading cheer and sharing CN’s commitment to rail safety with the Chicago community!

City Cruises Holiday Float

City Cruises Chicago proudly presents a stunning replica of the Odyssey Chicago River yacht for the holiday parade. Adorned with thousands of twinkling lights, snowflakes, and pine needle garlands, the float brings nautical charm to the festive season, complemented by a branded life ring.

Leading the float is one of City Cruises' esteemed captains, accompanied by family and friends.

General Manager Grace Fuller and members of the City Cruises crew are riding on the float or walking alongside, spreading holiday cheer as the celebrate the "Good Times" sung by the former Ladies of Chic! Freak out!

Kia

Here comes Santa, being escorted by a fun and unexpected sight….the all-new 2025 Kia Carnival HEV and K4 vehicles….. mixing the charm of the season with a bit of automotive flair. These Kia vehicles are joining the festive cheer by adding a contemporary touch while ensuring Santa arrives in style and comfort. The refreshed 2025 Carnival offers new optional first-ever turbo-hybrid powertrain providing 242 horsepower. And the 2025 K4… A new name for an all-new next-generation compact sedan with new standards for design, technology and roominess. Kia wishes you and your family a safe and joyous holiday season!