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The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival 2023

Live Stream, Parade, Fireworks, Events, Start Time

Chicago lights

Chicago has been hosting the iconic Magnificent Mile Lights Festival for several decades now, with the first recognised event taking place in 1949 and it has only grown in scale and scope in the years since.

Taking place the week before Thanksgiving, the MMLF is focussed on the main event of the tree lighting parade, with 200 trees being lit up with over a million lights along the length of Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile that gives the event its title)
 
The parade that accompanies the lighting ceremony features a number of floats featuring festive favourites alongside popular Disney characters. This year's Grand Marshalls are Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from Walt Disney World Florida.

There are also live musical performance by top name stars with the culmination of a day of partying being a spectacular fireworks display.

Date

The tree lighting ceremony will take place on 4pm on Friday 17th November at the Wrigley Building. 

The festivities for the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival follows on Saturday 18th November starting at 11am on Lights Festival Lane (401 N. Michigan Avenue) with lots of amazing activities to take part in like photos with Santa and pop up musical and special performances.

Then of course you have The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade, with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse leading the way along with Goofy, Pluto, Chip, Dale and Encanco's Mirabel. Musical performances will also include the epic Sister Sledge, The Sugarhill Gang, The Funky Bunch, Colin Stough and Katie Kadan. The parade steps off at 5.30pm.

Event Schedule

The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights festival features a series of events throughout the day that adds up to a full length party with something for everyone. The main events are usually:

11:00am - 4pm Lights Festival Lane (Family friendly activities and entertainment)

Live musical performances at Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue

5.30pm - 7pm: The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade

For many the main event, the parade, travels down Michigan Avenue from Oak St to Wacker Drive

7pm The Wintrust Fireworks Spectacular

The festivities are brought to close with a spectacular fireworks display over the Chicago River.

Full schedule and more details can be found here: The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival

Live Streaming

The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival tree lighting parade is broadcast nationally from November 19, airing multiple times throughout the season by local TV station ABC7, which is available as an online stream:
 
ABC7 live stream
 
It is also shown on TV channels across the US and Canada, with some carrying the event live and others showing highlights at a later date.
 
Another viewing option is to check out some of the local webcams, with the city of Chicago having several in key locations around the area and on North Michigan Avenue in particular:
 
Chicago webcams

Hotels and Accommodation

There is an enormous range of accommodation available in Chicago, although with this being the weekend before Thanksgiving the city will already be starting to fill up, especially with the visitors coming to the MMLF, so we recommend you make your reservation as far in advance as is practical.

You can check availability and make reservations for local hotels here.

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