Every Year in Chicagoland
The CTA Holiday Train: what it is, and where to check this year's stops
The CTA Holiday Train's 2026 schedule isn't out yet. Here's where to check for it, how to track it once it runs, and how riding works.
All stories
Every Year in Chicagoland
Where to watch the Thanksgiving Day parade in Chicago if you can't get downtown
Watch the 2026 Chicago Thanksgiving Parade from home: live on CBS Chicago Channel 2 and free on Pluto TV, with timing and tips.
Every Year in Chicagoland
The Bears on Thanksgiving: a Detroit tradition, not a Soldier Field one
The Bears' Thanksgiving game is in Detroit, not Soldier Field. Here's how the Lions rivalry started and what to know for Nov. 26.
Every Year in Chicagoland
When do the Millennium Park ice rink and McCormick Tribune Rink open
No 2026–27 opening date yet for the Millennium Park rink. Last season it opened Nov. 21, and Maggie Daley's Skating Ribbon reservations open Nov. 2.
Every Year in Chicagoland
When does Ice Skating at Maggie Daley Park open for the season
The 2026-27 ribbon opens mid-November, with reservations releasing Nov. 2 at noon. See the schedule, session times, skate rental prices and rules.
Every Year in Chicagoland
Does the Lakefront Trail Close for Winter? No. Here's What Does Shut It Down
The Lakefront Trail has no winter closing date. Here's what shuts it down: heavy snow, ice and big waves, and where to check before you go.
Every Year in Chicagoland
Chicago's first snowfall: when it usually comes and the earliest on record
The first snow usually flies near Halloween, measurable snow comes around Nov. 18, and the earliest on record fell Oct. 12, 2006.
Every Year in Chicagoland
When does Daylight Saving Time end in Chicago and when does it get dark
Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Chicago. Here are sunset times through December and where the clock-change bill stands.
Every Year in Chicagoland
Lincoln Park ZooLights: dates, ticket prices, and the free Mondays
ZooLights runs Nov. 20 to Jan. 3 at Lincoln Park Zoo. Here are the dates, ticket prices, how the four free Mondays work, and parking tips.
Gone but Not Forgotten
The Grove at Bloomingdale: What's Going Up Where Stratford Square Stood
The Grove at Bloomingdale is replacing Stratford Square mall. See the lake, restaurants, sports center and apartments planned for the site.
Fox Valley
Elgin's new Pursuit of Happiness sculpture: where it is and who designed it
Where to find Elgin's new Pursuit of Happiness sculpture on the Fox River, and the 12-year-old who designed it for America's 250th anniversary.
Every Year in Chicagoland
Chicago's school board election: the money, and what November 3 decides
Who is funding Chicago's first fully elected school board race, how much super PACs have spent, and how and when to vote on Nov. 3.