Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival

The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival lines Michigan Avenue with a parade that starts at Oak Street and a fireworks show over the DuSable Bridge, formerly the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Booths fill Lights Festival Lane at 401 N. Michigan Avenue before the parade, and the association invites people out in an outrageously awesome holiday sweater. The east side of Michigan Avenue, especially the north end of the route, tends to be the less crowded side for watching, and Wacker Drive is a prime spot for the fireworks. Public restrooms sit at Lights Festival Lane, Pioneer Court, 900 North Michigan Shops, Water Tower Place, and The Shops at North Bridge.

Our take: Cross the DuSable Bridge before it closes to pedestrians, and stand along Wacker Drive if the fireworks are the part you came for.