Chicago's holiday season officially begins, for many families, when the four-story Grand Tree lights up inside the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. For the 2026–2027 season, that moment arrives Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the museum's Tree Lighting and Cultural Festival, the one-day kickoff to the season-long Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light exhibit, which stays open through Sunday, January 3, 2027. Both are included with general admission.
Chicago's Holiday Tradition: An Overview of MSI's 'Christmas Around the World'
The museum's holiday celebration has two distinct parts, and understanding the difference is the key to planning a good visit. The first is the exhibit itself: more than 50 twinkling holiday trees, each decorated to represent a different country, joined by displays honoring international seasonal celebrations of light such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Diwali. It fills the museum's halls for nearly two months.
The second is the opening-day festival, a day-long celebration on November 7 that adds performances, treats and the ceremonial first lighting of the Grand Tree. Visitors who come on any other day get the full exhibit; visitors who come on opening day get the exhibit plus the party.
A Legacy of Unity: The WWII Origins of the Exhibit
The tradition began in 1942, in the middle of World War II, with a single tree. According to Matt Porth, the museum's deputy director of guest engagement, that first tree was decorated to represent a different country each day for 12 days, symbolizing unity among allied nations during the war. What started as a wartime gesture of solidarity has, in the eight decades since, grown into what the museum describes as an engaging winter wonderland — a one-of-a-kind experience that brings a whole world of holiday joy under one roof.
From One Tree to Fifty: The Evolution of a Beloved Tradition
For many Chicagoans, the exhibit is less an attraction than a family ritual. Reporter Cindy Hernandez, covering this year's festival for the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ, profiled Bernadette McGonagle, who first brought her 4-year-old daughter to see the trees more than 40 years ago and has returned every year since. "I just always look forward to doing the things that we always do," McGonagle, 66, told the paper.
The tradition has already passed to a third generation. McGonagle's daughter, Jackie Lagonie, continued the annual visits with her own son, Jimmy, after he was born — a pattern the Sun-Times presented as emblematic of how the museum's opening day has become a multi-generational Chicago custom.
The 'Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light' Exhibit
Throughout its run, the exhibit invites visitors to stroll through an indoor forest of trees and light displays, take a family photo in front of the four-story Grand Tree, and enjoy specialty holiday treats at seasonal pop-ups. The trees each represent a different country, while surrounding displays broaden the celebration beyond Christmas to embrace holidays of light from around the world, including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Diwali.
The museum also schedules after-hours holiday programming during the season, including its signature 21-and-up Naughty or Nice evening event in December and an all-ages edition, though these are separate ticketed occasions rather than part of the daily exhibit.
The 'Tree Lighting and Cultural Festival': Kick-off to the Season
Opening day is its own experience. On November 7, 2026, the museum flips the switch on the Grand Tree for the first time, with a countdown and special holiday performances. The day-long festival also features live performances from local cultural organizations, seasonal samplings from Stan's Donuts, and unique gifts in the Holiday Shop. This year's ceremony, the Sun-Times reported, included faux snow falling as President and CEO Chevy Humphrey cheered the season's start. Festival admission is included with general admission that day.
MSI Holiday Celebration: Exhibit vs. Festival
Use this comparison to decide which experience fits your family. The core distinction is availability: the exhibit runs the full season, while the festival's special activities happen only on opening day.
| Component | Dates | What You Get | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light exhibit | Nov. 7, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 | 50+ trees representing different countries; displays for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali and other celebrations of light; indoor forest stroll; photos at the four-story Grand Tree; seasonal treat pop-ups | Included in general admission |
| Tree Lighting and Cultural Festival | Nov. 7, 2026 only | Everything above, plus the Grand Tree lighting countdown with holiday performances, live performances from local cultural organizations, Stan's Donuts seasonal samplings, and the Holiday Shop | Included in general admission |
The trade-off is crowds versus spectacle. Opening day delivers the countdown, the cultural performances and the first lighting of the season — but it draws families for whom the day is an annual ritual. A visit later in the season offers the same trees and displays at a steadier pace, with the Grand Tree already lit.
Plan Your Visit: Maximizing Your MSI Holiday Experience
Visitors should decide whether to attend the Tree Lighting and Cultural Festival on November 7, 2026, for its unique kick-off events and cultural performances, or visit the Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light exhibit on any other day through January 3, 2027, for a more focused exploration of global traditions. Either way, the exhibit is included with general admission, so the choice is about atmosphere, not price.
Before booking, check the museum's event calendar for the Tree Lighting and Cultural Festival listing on November 7, 2026, and the exhibit's run through January 3, 2027 — the calendar is the measurable indicator confirming both dates and any updates to festival activities for the season.
