End the year strong by getting on top of your cold weather prep and joining the festive fun.
🚫 Winter Overnight Parking Ban Now in Effect
Whether snow is on the ground or not, Chicagoans can’t park their cars on 107 miles of city streets from 3–7 a.m. through April 1. And if you do? You could face a minimum $150 towing fee, a $60 ticket, and a $25-per-day storage fee.
❄️ Invest in Winter Gear
Has it been a minute since you upgraded your winter clothes? El Dorado, a thrift store in Logan Square and Little Village, has chic jackets, boots, and hats for sale. Join the Unique Store’s super savers club for deals on Mondays at the Bridgeport spot. While you’re buying new gear for yourself, consider donating to a coat drive.
✨ Celebrate the Solstice
The shortest day of the year is Dec. 21, when Chicago will have just a few hours of daylight. Luckily, there are celebrations around town to help you ignore or celebrate the darkness including sunrise concerts and a goth ball in Lakeview.
✅ Do Our Holiday Bucket List
How are you doing on our holiday bucket list? The CTA holiday train is officially running around town, ice skating rinks are open, and pop-up bars are in full swing.
New Year’s Eve celebrations downtown in 2017. (Bilgin S. Sasmaz / Anadolu Agency / Getty)
🎆 Lock Down Those New Year’s Eve Plans
Now is the time to book that lakefront cruise, make dinner reservations, and get your tickets for a party or concert for Dec. 31. Wherever you go, CTA and Metra usually offer free rides.
Tune into ABC7 if you’re celebrating from home: Terrell Brown and Cheryl Scott typically dance during the station’s broadcast, and the production value has gone way up! (See 2024 vs. 2019.)
