Millennium Park will be the epicenter of holiday cheer in Chicago, featuring your favorite seasonal traditions, Chicago’s official Christmas Tree, ice skating, music, exhibitions, a NEW art market and free family fun.

The 105th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Friday, November 16, at 6pm, featuring music, Santa Claus and program emcee Miguel Cervantes, who can now be seen as Alexander Hamilton in the Hamilton Chicago Company currently playing Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre, as well as fireworks after the lights go on at 6:30pm.

The program will feature music by actress, singer and songwriter Cozi Zuehlsdorff, cast members from Emerald City Theatre’s production of Ken Ludwig’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and performances by musicians from the Grant Park Music Festival, followed by a special appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The City of Chicago’s 105th Christmas Tree is a 60-foot Norway Spruce from Elmhurst, Illinois, donated by Deborah Orth and her family. The Tree, selected out of 79 tree nominations, will shine in Chicago’s iconic Millennium Park (Washington St. and Michigan Ave.) from November 16 through January 6, 2019. The lights adorning the Tree are being donated by IBEW Local 134 and the decor at its base is provided by the Millennium Park Foundation.

NEW this year, the Millennium Park Art Market, in partnership with School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago and After School Matters, will feature one-of-a-kind items, including jewelry, fashion, painting, sculpture, prints, and drawings on sale by more than 150 student artists. Part of the City of Chicago’s Year of Creative Youth, the Holiday Art Market is supported by the Millennium Park Foundation. The market has free admission and will run November 16-18, 11am-7pm in a heated tent on the Chase Promenade North.

The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park will also open earlier in the day on Friday, November 16, at noon, with skating continuing through Mid-March 2019.

For more information about holiday programming at Millennium Park, click here to read the full press release.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 11/9/18

To print a copy, click HERE.

Support the businesses that support our neighborhood!

We are thankful for the local sponsors that support our River North Community.  Please remember them on Small Business Saturday!

• My River North mobile app Sponsors
• All River North Sponsors

Download My River North Mobile app today! The app is FREE for all users and is compatible with virtually any mobile device. Using your mobile device, download the app from the App Store or Google Play.

Wild Mile Chicago will be a floating eco-park located on the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River, a man-made channel along the east side of Goose Island between Chicago Ave and North Ave. Wild Mile Chicago was first conceived as part of the North Branch Framework Plan.

The Wild Mile Kick-off Community Meeting will be held on November 26th at 6:00 pm  at:  Park Community Church, 1001 N. Crosby, Chicago, IL 60610.

Every year RNRA provides financial and promotional support to a number of local non-profits doing incredible work in our community.

Please remember them on Giving Tuesday, November 27.  Friends of the Parks, Friends of the Chicago River, Gilda’s Club Chicago, River North Clean Streets, The Anti-Cruelty Society, The Chicago Help Initiative.

 Join Vision Zero Chicago on November 19 at 11:30 a.m. in Federal Plaza (50 W Adams St) in commemoration of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR). The event will feature a display dedicated to the memories of the victims of traffic crashes over the past year in Chicago and a press event with agency officials and partners speaking to remember these individuals. RSVP here.

Family and Friends of Victims: In memory of the victims of traffic crashes in the City, Vision Zero Chicago will be commemorating  World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR) November 18-19 in Federal Plaza (50 W Adams St).  As part of this event, a memorial will be created in the outdoor area as a space for the families and friends of road traffic victims to gather and remember their loved ones. We welcome you to participate in this memorial:

●      November 18 from 12:30 – 2:30p: The memorial will be set up in Federal Plaza (50 W Adams St). Family and friends are welcome to gather in the space and offer flowers or other mementos to display.*

●      November 19 at 11:30a: A press event will be held in Federal Plaza in commemoration of World Day of Remembrance and in support of action to prevent traffic crashes. Please join us to add to the memorial at this time and attend the event.

With any questions about the event, please contact info@visionzerochicago.org

*Guidelines for Memorial Mementos – Permitted: Flowers, photos, battery powered candles. NOT Permitted: Items that must be returned, flames/candles, items larger than 2 square feet.

Thank you to all who came out this week to help us celebrate 21 years of being your neighborhood advocacy organization!  We are who we are – because of you!  And, we can’t wait to enjoy another great year together in the greatest neighborhood in Chicago.

We especially thank our friends at Tao Chicago for throwing such a fabulous event with delicious appetizers and remarkable staff and service!

A special thank you to 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly and 18th District Commander Daniel O’Shea for sharing their insight and for their ongoing support and friendship.

Want to get involvedi n RNRA?  For more information visit us online at RNRAChicago.org/volunteer.

To print a copy, click HERE.

Chicago is home to the nation’s largest evening holiday celebration – the BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. Held this Saturday, November 17, the event will jump start the holiday season with a full day of family friendly activities, live music concerts, and holiday shopping.

This beloved holiday tradition begins with a grand evening parade down Michigan Avenue led by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The lighting procession will step-off this year at 5:30pm from Oak and Michigan and proceeds south to Wacker Drive.

The procession concludes with a fireworks show over the Chicago River at Michigan Avenue at approximately 6:55pm. For public safety, spectators are not allowed to view fireworks on any of the Chicago bridges.

Street Closures:
The following MAIN STREET CLOSURES will take place as early as 4:00pm on Saturday, November 17 and will remain in place until 8pm or such time as the Chicago Police Department deems it safe to reopen the street:

The following ADDITIONAL STREET CLOSURES will take effect at different times on Saturday, November 17:
Closed 8am to 6pm:

Closed 5pm to 7:30pm:

The following Curb Lane Closures will take effect at different times on Saturday, November 17:

Closed 8am to 6pm:

Closed 4:30pm to 10pm

Given the large crowds expected for this year’s festival and the associated street closures, it is highly advised that residents exercise caution and expect traffic congestion should they decide to drive near the parade route.

Additionally, given the magnitude of the event, there may be significant traffic delays associated with the festival as well as intermittent “rolling” closures not listed in the Street Closure Notice-these are under the jurisdiction of the Chicago Police Department and will be enacted without the consent or notification of the Alderman’s Office.

The OEMC Operations Center will monitor this event accordingly. Residents and visitors are asked to be mindful of street closures and parking restrictions and to expect delays in the vicinity. Traffic Control Aides will also be on hand to assist with traffic flow.

New this year, CDOT expects to close the Dusable Bridge (Michigan Avenue Bridge) to pedestrian traffic for safety as early as 3:30PM. Pedestrian traffic should use Columbus, State or Wabash Bridges as alternative routes.

For CTA Reroute information please click here.

Schedule of Events:
All musical performances will take place on the BMO Harris Bank Stage, located at Pioneer Court, 401 N. Michigan Avenue.  For a schedule of events, please click here.

For more information about the 2018 Festival of Lights, including in-business events at Mag Mile stores restaurants and hotels, please click here to view the Holiday Activity Guide.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports  11/16/18