1. Wish the animals a Merry Christmas at Lincoln Park Zoo or Brookfield Zoo. 

Neither zoo has their holiday lights displays open, but families can visit the Lincoln Park Zoo or Brookfield Zoo during their regular 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours.

2. See the city light up from above at Willis Tower's SkyDeck.

Step out on the clear glass ledge to see the lights of the city from the 103rd floor. Reservations are required, and the SkyDeck is open from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Christmas Day, giving viewer plenty of time to take in the scene after dark.

 
Head to Goose Island for ice skating and other things to do on Christmas Day. Photo courtesy of Jack Frost Winter Pop-Up

3.  Walk through a pop-up pine tree forest on Goose Island.

You may no longer need a Christmas tree, but you can visit Jack Frost Winter Pop-Up for ice skating, holiday lights and music, axe-throwing, and bumper cars.

4. Or visit some permanent foliage at the Morton Arboretum or Chicago Botanic Gardens. 

Each garden's light show is closed on Christmas, but visitors can hike through the winter landscapes to see if anything is in bloom. The Morton Arboretum's Human + Nature exhibit, featuring five enormous tree-themed sculptures throughout the park, continues through spring 2023.

5. Warm up with some tropical plants at Garfield Park Conservatory or Wilder Park Conservatory.

Both greenhouses have spectacular flower shows going on to celebrate the holidays, and offer some of the least expensive indoor activity options on Christmas.

 
Ice skating is always a festive thing to do on Christmas Day. Photo courtesy of the Skating Ribbon at Maggie Daley Park, Facebook

6. Celebrate the first days of winter with ice skating at one of Chicago's favorite outdoor rinks.

Millennium Park's McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, Maggie Daley Park's Skating Ribbon, and Rosemont's Parkway Bank Park rink are all open for business. Reservations are required.

7. Dine out at one of our favorite kid-friendly restaurants open on Christmas Day.

From fancy (like the Peninsula) to low-key (like Paisan's Pizzeria), we have plenty of options for keeping your kitchen clean, even if there's still wrapping paper littering the living room.

8. Walk or drive through one of the Chicago area's many dazzling light shows.

Displays at Lilacia Park in Lombard, Phillips Park in Aurora, Willow Hill in Northbrook, Central Park in Oak Brook, Adams Park in Wheaton, and in Downtown Naperville are all open on December 25 for families who want to brighten up Christmas night.

 
 All your favorite holiday movies are playing on Christmas Day. Photo courtesy of Sterling Bay

9. See a holiday favorite movie at Chi-Town Drive-in.

The venue is showing Elf and Home Alone on Christmas day. Plus, you can skip making dinner and order tacos to your car.

 
See local art on Christmas Day. Photo courtesy of artonthemart.com

10. Get artsy at the Merchandise Mart.

The nightly Art on the Mart show is on this holiday, featuring a show on Chicago Design Through the Decades and images and music from The Nutcracker.