Navy Pier Winter WonderFest (WinterFest) is the place you don’t want to miss in Chicago. It’s great to spend quality time with your family and try delicious food, experience live music, and visit some of the most thrilling rides in Chicagoland. Winter WonderFest is an unparalleled event that hosts amazing attractions and festivities.
The Winter WonderFest event in Chicago has become a staple of the holiday season in this amazing city. The fest draws hundreds of people from all over the United States – and the rest of the world – to take part in winter wonder festivities that are unlike any other on the planet.
Navy Pier holiday events take place yearly. This festival has received over 180 million guests since its reopening in 1995. Typically, WinterFest (Navy Pier) is open for five consecutive weeks – from early December to January.
A fun event for the entire family, loaded with outdoor and indoor entertainment, food, and live music, this festival is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit.
While the famous Chicago attraction is closed pending 2021 due to COVID, it’s still a grand site to behold and make plans to visit on an upcoming Christmas season!
Attractions to Visit at Winter WonderFest
Hosted at Navy Pier in Chicago, The Winter WonderFest event is home to more than 170,000 ft.² of attractions, activities, and excitements for those native to Chicago as well as visitors to this great city from across the globe.
You are free to enjoy dozens of Navy Pier Christmas events and attractions during your stay at WinterFest! But it’s not just about rides! Enjoy shopping, cultural attractions, and daily fireworks show. Don’t forget to try the tasty cuisine and warm yourself with hot chocolate while taking in the scene.
Your kids definitely won’t get bored during their stay Winter Wonderland Navy Pier. Let them enjoy such attractions as Cliff Hanger, Polar Ice Peaks Climbing Walls, Kringle Carousel, WonderWhirl tilt-a-whirl, and many other wonderful rides. Are your kids into snow tubing? They will love Navy Pier’s Wintertube – an inflatable snow-tubing hill.
But what if you are just passing through Chicago? Even if you are short on time, you still can have a great time at this event. Some of the most popular attractions you shouldn’t miss are:
- Chicago Blackhawks Ice Skating Rink. Are you into ice-skiing? Good news! With an Activity Ticket, you can do as many pirouettes on ice as your heart desires. Just make sure to leave personal items in the locker.
- Arctic Express Train Ride. Getting tired of walking through all 170,000 feet of Winter WonderFest? Hop on and enjoy the view from this trackless train that runs a 300-foot loop around the holiday village. As a bonus, you’ll get a souvenir photo of your boarding the train.
- Polar Extreme Course. Let your kids try climbing the cliff hanger with various obstacles obstructing their way.
- Candy Cane Lighthouse. This attraction is not for the faint-hearted! Let your kids test their courage as Candy Cane takes them up into the air and back to the ground at high speed!
- Hot Cocoa Cup. Who would’ve thought that riding on the oversized cup can be this entertaining? Make sure not to take your actual cocoa cup with you.
- Navy Pier Winter Wonder Market. Let your belly feel the Christmas spirit! Visit WinterFest Wonder Market for food specials and delicious drinks. Moreover, you can buy gifts, Chicago-centric souvenirs, and even meet Santa Claus!
Tips for Your Visit at Navy Pier Winter Wonderfest
Want to make the most out of your visit to the WinterFest? Here are a few tips:
- Arrive early to avoid massive crowds (Winter WonderLand opens at 10 am)
- If you are under 18 – take your parent or legal guardian with you
- Get Winter WonderFest tickets in advance on the website to avoid lines
- Learn about convenient transportation and parking options
Addition Details About Winter WonderFest
There’s plenty of room to go by at NavyPier. Most of the rides are located near the Light Tower and in Pier Park. You’ll find plenty of restaurants and cafes near the Docks.
As for the Winter WonderFest hours of work, the place is open from 10 am to 8 pm from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays, the festival closes its doors at 10 pm. However, there are dates when Winter WonderFest works till midnight and days off.
You can learn more about Winter Wonderfest’s prices and working hours on the official website.
How to Get to Winter WonderFest?
Winter WonderFest is the best place to visit during the Chicago winter holiday season! Chicago Motor Coach provides reasonably priced transfer and bus rental services to help you! Leave it to us to get you to the fest and don’t bother about transportation or free parking space!