Nick's Pit Stop

Prepare to kick off America's holiday season in style at The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. This mile-long festival has attracted over a million visitors daily for more than 32 years now. The festival's nighttime parade on Michigan Avenue is the largest in the United States, featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse from The Walt Disney World Resort leading the way. The event boasts an impressive lineup of fantastic floats, giant helium balloons, marching bands, celebrities, musical performances, Santa Claus, fireworks, and more. The parade illuminates over a million lights on 200+ trees along The Avenue, creating a truly awe-inspiring sight.

If you want to experience Greek culture, Chicago's Greektown is a must-visit neighborhood. This vibrant district offers a variety of nightlife spots, restaurants, gift shops, and galleries that celebrate Greek heritage. It's the best place to sample Greek culture outside of Athens and has become the city's go-to destination for Greek food, nightlife, and rich cultural traditions. With many establishments dedicated to preserving old-world traditions, visitors can truly immerse themselves in Greek culture in this neighborhood. Apart from dining and nightlife, visitors can explore The National Hellenic Museum, ride the Greektown Trolley, witness the annual Greek Independence Day parade, and indulge in the Taste of Greece festival. These activities make Greektown the perfect destination for anyone interested in learning more about Greek heritage in Chicago.

If you plan a trip to Chicago, take advantage of the chance to visit the Chicago Cultural Center. This iconic landmark offers a wide range of daily shows, lectures, films, and art exhibits, all free of charge. While you are there, be sure to take some time to explore the unique features of the building, including guided tours that can teach you more about its history and architecture. With over 1,000 programs and exhibitions annually, the Chicago Cultural Center is a hub for performing, visual, and literary arts. If you are interested in learning more about the building's history and architecture, guided tours are available. During your visit, you can marvel at the world's largest Tiffany stained-glass dome, beautiful mosaics, intricate marble and molding work, and coffered ceilings - all of which have made this building a true Chicago landmark.