Chicago, IL, Sept. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHAT:
The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival® is back to launch the holiday season the weekend before Thanksgiving, featuring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from Walt Disney World® Resort illuminating North Michigan Ave.
WHERE:
- Lights Festival Lane: Pioneer Court, 401 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago
- Parade: South on North Michigan Ave. from Oak St. to Wacker Dr.
- Fireworks Display: North Michigan Ave. and the Chicago River
WHEN:
- Saturday, November 22, 2025
- 11am–4pm CST: Lights Festival Lane
- 5:30pm–7:30pm CST: Parade and Wintrust Fireworks Spectacular
COST: FREE | All activities are free and open to the public
WEBSITE: TheMagnificentMile.com
CHICAGO, IL – Celebrating its 34th year, The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival® is a dazzling holiday tradition, transforming downtown Chicago into a festive wonderland. This mile-long, day-through-night extravaganza is one of the largest evening parades in the U.S., and the third-largest parade in the country. The event is headlined by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from Walt Disney World® Resort, leading a parade filled with spectacular floats, giant helium balloons, marching bands, celebrities, musical performances, Santa Claus and the breathtaking Wintrust Fireworks Spectacular. The festival features the illumination of one million lights on over 200 trees along North Michigan Avenue, marking the official start of the holiday season in Chicago, throughout Illinois and nationwide.
FESTIVAL DETAILS
The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival® has become a family tradition with visitors traveling to Chicago each year to mark the beginning of the holiday season. With the help of over 600 volunteers, The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival® encourages everyone to join in the spirit of the holiday season and enjoy a host of FREE, festive experiences along The Magnificent Mile®.
The festival begins at 11am at Lights Festival Lane (401 N. Michigan Ave.) on Saturday morning with free family-friendly activities, a festive thoroughfare of booths, and live music that continues throughout the day.
The nation’s largest evening holiday parade will step off at 5:30pm when Grand Marshals Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from Walt Disney World® Resort lead a parade of 40 glittering floats, giant helium balloons, exciting marching bands from Wisconsin, New York, Indiana, Alabama, Ohio and Michigan, musical celebrities, Santa Claus and more. The event concludes with The Wintrust Fireworks Spectacular at approximately 7:15pm, thrilling parade-goers lining Wacker Drive.
Don't forget to wear an outrageously awesome holiday sweater to this year’s event, as the goal is to break our existing record for the most holiday sweaters at a parade.
PARADE ROUTE
As many as one million parade-lovers and holiday revelers from throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest visit the North Michigan Avenue district annually to enjoy the parade and festival. The parade steps off from Oak Street on Michigan Avenue at 5:30 pm, traveling south to the Chicago River and then turning east on Wacker Drive, ending at Columbus Drive. Guests will line the east and west sides of North Michigan Avenue and the south side of Wacker Drive.
MAKE IT A WEEKEND
Extend the holiday magic by turning The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival® into a full weekend getaway. Explore exclusive hotel packages, indulge in delicious dining options, and enjoy unforgettable attractions. Special holiday offers, packages, and experiences are available by downloading The Magnificent Mile Holiday Guide from themagnificentmile.com.
WATCH FROM HOME
For those unable to attend in person, the parade will be broadcast locally on ABC7 Chicago and in markets nationwide from Nov. 23 to Dec. 31. Check local listings for details.
MEDIA + SOCIAL CHANNELS
Digital Toolkit (link)
Official Hashtag: #WintrustLightsFest | Facebook: The Magnificent Mile (Facebook.com/MagnificentMile)
X: @TheMagMile | Instagram: @TheMagMile | Website: TheMagnificentMile.com
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ABOUT THE MAGNIFICENT MILE ASSOCIATION
Organizer of The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival®, The Magnificent Mile Association is a private, non-profit membership organization with a mission of preserving, promoting, and enhancing one of Chicago’s most unique neighborhoods. The organization represents 700 members including retailers; hotels; restaurants; popular attractions; and commercial, institutional and residential properties. For more information, visit www.themagnificentmileassociation.com.
ABOUT WINTRUST
Wintrust is a financial holding company with $65.9 billion in assets whose common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Guided by its “Different Approach, Better Results®” philosophy, Wintrust offers the sophisticated resources of a large bank while providing a community banking experience to each customer. Wintrust operates more than 200 retail banking locations through 16 community bank subsidiaries in the greater Chicago, southern Wisconsin, west Michigan, northwest Indiana, and southwest Florida market areas. In addition, Wintrust operates various non-bank business units, providing residential mortgage origination, wealth management, commercial and life insurance premium financing, short-term accounts receivable financing/outsourced administrative services to the temporary staffing services industry, and qualified intermediary services for tax-deferred exchanges. For more information, please visit wintrust.com.
ABOUT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT
Walt Disney World Resort is a world-class entertainment and recreation destination featuring four of the most popular theme parks from around the globe, two thrilling water parks, nearly 29,000 hotel rooms, a sports complex, four golf courses and Disney Springs—a metropolis of shopping, dining and entertainment. Since 1971, Walt Disney World has focused on delivering legendary guest service and one-of-a-kind experiences that make it the largest and most visited theme park destination in the world where families create magical memories. Guests can learn more about planning their Walt Disney World vacation at DisneyWorld.com.
Attachments
- The Magnificent Mile District and The Wintrust Fireworks Spectacular - Photo credit Vito Palmisano
- Copy of Santa Wacker Close Up - Photo credit Vito Palmisano
Beth Heller | BH Consulting The Magnificent Mile Association 312.953.5879 beth@bethheller.com
