The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival: From One Tree in 1949 to Mickey on Michigan Avenue
The 35th Magnificent Mile Lights Festival is Saturday, November 21, 2026. How a 1949 Christmas tree and some Saks Fifth Avenue lights turned into one of Chicago's biggest holiday nights.
The Saturday before Thanksgiving, Michigan Avenue goes dark, then lights up block by block as a parade heads south toward the river. This year's festival, the 35th, is Saturday, November 21, 2026.
How it started
The roots go back to 1949, when the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association put up a 50-foot Christmas tree near the Water Tower, strung with about 1,500 lights.
About ten years later, Saks Fifth Avenue wrapped the trees in front of its store in small white lights. Neighboring stores copied it, and the white-light trees became the look of the avenue at Christmas.
When it went big
In 1992, the Walt Disney Company signed on as a partner and put Mickey and Minnie Mouse at the front of the parade as grand marshals. That turned a local tree-lighting into a tourist draw, and the event has been counted from that year ever since. Mickey and Minnie are still at the front.
How the night works
- Daytime: street activities and family events along the avenue (in recent years called Lights Festival Lane) start in the late morning.
- Evening parade: floats, marching bands, giant balloons and characters head south on Michigan Avenue from Oak Street toward the river. As the parade passes, the lights on each block switch on.
- Fireworks: over the Chicago River to finish the night.
For 2026, organizers list Lights Festival Lane from 11 a.m., the parade at 5:30 p.m., and fireworks around 7:15 p.m. Check the official site the week of for any changes.
Tips
- Dress for it. It's late November on the lakefront. Hats and gloves.
- Get there early for a curb spot, especially near the river.
- Take the 'L' or a bus. Streets close and parking is expensive.
It's the unofficial start of the holiday season downtown. The next weekend, the State Street Thanksgiving parade and Christkindlmarket keep it going.
Photo: Olivia Holt. Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, Chicago (8206413519).jpg) by unknown, CC BY-SA 2.0.