Check Out Chicago’s Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier

There’s still time to take the family to the 170,000-square-foot Bank of America Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.; map it). 

This popular holiday event, which runs through January 3, includes more than 700,000 sparkling lights, 25,000 “bedazzling holiday ornaments,” and hundreds of decorated trees.

There are also several rides, games, music, and live entertainment, including an indoor sledding hill; a Chicago Blackhawks ice skating rink; and a 50-foot-high indoor Ferris wheel.

Family entertainment at the Winter Wonderfest includes “Variety Entertainment” with some of Chicago’s top variety performers such as jugglers, magicians, and comedians, as well as school group performances and multi-ethnic music and dancing from local communities.

On New Year’s Eve there will be fireworks at 8:15 p.m. and then again at midnight when you can ring in 2010 with a firework display over Chicago’s lakefront.

There will also be a family-friendly New Year’s Eve Bash from 6:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. with live music, hip hop dancers, and double-dutch jumpers. Performers will include: Footworkin’/hip-hop dance and breakdancing by The Chicago FootworKINGz featuring Madonna dancers King Charles and Prince Jron.

Hours for the Winter Wonderfest are:

Sunday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Admission is free, except for rides and attractions, which require a wristband for a fee:

Regular Wristband (does not include ice skating): $16
Premium Wristband (includes ice skating): $19.

For more information: call 312-595-PIER.

Photo credit: SXC