Perry Farella - PrimeLending

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 plan a trip to Chicago, visiting The Art Institute of Chicago should be at the top of your to-do list. Established in 1879, it boasts an extensive collection of African sculptures, medieval and Renaissance armor, and an array of Aztec, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine artworks. The museum is home to some of the world's most famous and recognizable pieces of art, such as "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte," "American Gothic," Vincent van Gogh's "Self-Portrait," and original Monets. You will be captivated by these works of art's sheer beauty and grandeur. The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the world's oldest and largest art museums, founded in 1879. It is in the Art Institute of Chicago Building in Grant Park, Chicago. According to Wikipedia, the museum collects, preserves, and interprets works of art of the highest quality, representing the world's diverse artistic traditions for the inspiration and education of the public and by the profession's highest ethical standards and practices.