Chicago’s Museum of Science Industry: Featuring Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light

Glittering trees, shimmering holiday windows, and heavenly choirs just scratch the surface of a Chicago holiday season. The city’s crisp weather, scenery and festivities will make you think you’ve walked onto a Christmas movie shoot. One shining star – and Chicago CityPass ticket – is the Museum of Science and Industry.

The splendid building dates to 1893, when the entire world beat a path to the Chicago’s World Fair. The Museum of Science & Industry is now this hemisphere’s largest science museum. Any day of the year, its exhibits across agriculture, environment, energy, technology, chemistry, space, biology and physics would leave you reeling with satisfaction. But, oh, do you get an extra eyeful in December!

The museum halls are decorated with festive abandon. Singers, dancers, and carolers take the Holiday Stage. A 45-foot centerpiece tree is encrusted with ornaments that represent the museum’s legendary collection, while underneath, penguins cavort at a faux North Pole. Throughout the museum are 50 other decorated trees, decorated to reflect holiday traditions around the world. This year, Bulgaria joins the multicultural show.

Please don’t miss the new Fast Forward exhibit. It’s a wow. With “immersive media” you’ll meet inventors who took an idea from what if? to here’s how! Highlights include high-rise urban farming, wearable computers that give a squeeze when a pal sends an IM hug, a Galaxy Dress that takes pictures and projects them on the gown’s super-full skirt made of LEDs. And there’s an inkjet printer that prints in edible ink on edible paper. The applications for any of these inventions could rock the future.

Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light will fill you with holiday joy from November 14, 2008 until January 4, 2009. The Museum of Science & Industry is located at 57th and Lakeshore Drive, and is closed only on Christmas Day.

Each month we spotlight a CityPass attraction. Click to read about previously featured attractions.