Holiday decorations at O’Hare International Airport
Credit: Patrick L. Pyszka, City of Chicago

‘Tis the season to be jolly!

An annual tradition that starts in October and is completed just in time for Thanksgiving, O’Hare and Midway will, in 2024, once again be transformed into magical winter wonderlands.

Festive decorations will make bold, unique statements inside the airports, and everywhere you turn, photo opportunities will abound. Holiday entertainment, merry carolers and children’s activities will also add fun and spirit to the season, creating a memorable experience for everyone stepping through the airport doors.

Arriving passengers will be greeted with a beautiful exterior lighting display that sparkles like stars against the night sky. Outdoor entrances will get illuminated as well, with exterior ornament spheres, bows and garlands offering travelers a welcoming sight.

At O’Hare, vertical curtains with colorful holiday embellishments will grace the windows that can be seen from the curbside. The airport will be adorned with nine-foot-tall trees uniquely decorated by airport partners and local community organizations, with each tree presenting stories of Chicago’s proud history of cultural diversity. Passengers using the Airport Transit System through Terminals 1 and 3 will be able to check out evergreen trees decorated with red poinsettias and ribbons.

Many holiday trees that have graced O’Hare in years past have included ornaments meticulously hand-crafted with loving care. One of the more famous ones was a traditional Polish Christmas tree from the Copernicus Center, which was trimmed with over 200 handmade ornaments, some of which took two hours each to build. Another was a tree designed by the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago, which featured lanterns depicting unique facets of the Korean community, along with greetings of warm wishes and heartfelt hopes for the new year. Additionally, the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture previously contributed a tree that showcased 150 handmade straw ornaments.

Midway will also be decked out in an array of trimmings including wreaths and garlands with fairy lights. Midway’s holiday decor brightens spirits with sizable ornaments hung amid high ceilings with glowing snowflakes. At the entrance, a huge tree is colorfully lit for guests arriving by car.