Festive Tales and Traditions: A Chicago Christmas Tour

(1 review)

Chicago, Illinois audio tour: Festive Tales and Traditions: A Chicago Christmas Tour

This is a 1.3mi walking tour

It takes an average of 45 mins to complete.

Chicago, Illinois

The United States

$7.99

Access all 21 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

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About the Tour

Chicago transforms into a winter wonderland during the holiday season. On this walking tour, you’ll discover why centuries of innovation and tradition made this city America’s unofficial Christmas capital. You’ll also find out how immigrant communities shaped the city’s holiday celebrations.

Starting beneath the historical Marshall Field and Company Building’s clock, you’ll walk through downtown Chicago’s most festive neighborhoods. During the holidays, you’ll pass Marshall Field’s richly decorated windows that have enchanted visitors for over 100 years. Continuing through the heart of the Chicago Loop, you’ll hear tragic Christmas stories and see Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, where the brownie was invented for the 1893 World’s Fair.

The tour ends in Maggie Daley Park where, in winter, you can watch skaters glide along scenic paths with views of the Chicago skyline. Along the way, you’ll understand how German immigrants brought Christmas markets to America and find out why Chicago claims to be the birthplace of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

On this 45-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to:

Learn about the tragic Iroquois Theatre fire of 1903 that changed theater safety codes nationwide
Hear about the festive atmosphere of Christkindlmarket Chicago, America’s largest Christmas market
See Marc Chagall’s ”Four Seasons” mosaic and find the winter scene among its colorful panels
Spot the Holiday ’L’ train decorated with twinkling lights as it passes overhead
Meet the Art Institute’s bronze lions, wearing their festive holiday neckties
Find out how this urban transportation hub shaped holiday traditions, from Christmas tree schooners to Route 66 adventures

By the end of this tour, you’ll have experienced Chicago’s holiday magic through several stories about the diverse communities that created one of America’s most beloved Christmas traditions.

This tour can be enjoyed year-round but is particularly special during the holiday season.

Tour Producer

Amy Bizzarri

5 tours

I’m Amy Bizzarri, a Chicago-based storyteller and educator. I'm also an armchair historian, PADI-certified scuba diver, yogini (and certified yoga instructor), mom, and mermaid (proud graduate of Weeki Wachee Mermaid School), not necessarily in that order.

My deep Chicago roots trace back to an extraordinary family legend: my great‑great‑grandparents met on the night of the Great Chicago Fire, when volunteer firefighter Walter Daker mistook young Catherine’s flowing ginger hair for flames and swept her up in his arms, literally and figuratively. I'm the author of a few Chicago history‑focused books, including Discovering Vintage Chicago, Chicago’s Iconic Dishes, Drinks, and Desserts, and 111 Places in Chicago That You Must Not Miss. I live in a century‑old home in the Logan Square neighborhood.

In my 20s, I lived in Italy, where my family has roots (Felina, RE). I'm an expert in all things Italy.
I speak fluent Italian and French; excellent Spanish and Portuguese.

My love for wine led me to pursue Wine and Spirt Education Trust (WSET) sommelier certification, levels 1-3.

I love a great road trip, too. So much so that my book The Best Hits on Route 66 earned the 2019 Silver Lowell Thomas Award for Best Travel Guide from the Society of American Travel Writers. I followed that bestselling guide with The Best Hits on the Blues Highway, which explores U.S. Route 61, the storied road that shaped American music. My latest book, Route 66 Recipes, celebrates the history behind the diners, dives, and restaurants along the Mother Road as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2026.

1,000s of children have passed through my classroom doors over the years. I'm a dedicated educator with over 20 years of experience, holding a Master of Arts in Education with a focus on bilingual education. I'm Reading Apprenticeship and International Baccalaureate-certified, endorsed in ESL, and I've been awarded several study grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023).

My storytelling has expanded beyond the page: I've hosted local and national television/radio segments, and I've produced interactive smart walking tours with VoiceMap and EAtlas.

Follow my adventures on Instagram at Instagram.com/amybizzarri to see where in the world I am today!

Preview Location

Location 1

Start - Marshall Field's Clock - 111 N State St

Welcome to the most wonderful time of the year in my sweet home Chicago. I'm Amy Bizzarri, the author behind Discovering Vintage Chicago, Chicago's Iconic Dishes, Desserts, and Drinks and more.

Our tour begins here, under the historic Marshall Field's Clock. This iconic t... Welcome to the most wonderful time of the year in my sweet home Chicago. I'm Amy Bizzarri, the author behind Discovering Vintage Chicago, Chicago's Iconic Dishes, Desserts, and Drinks and more.

Our tour begins here, under the historic Marshall Field's Clock. This iconic timepiece, perched here on the corner of State and Washington Streets, has been a cherished meeting spot for generations. The phrase "Meet me at the clock" evokes nostalgia and a sense of community, as friends and families gather beneath this timeless symbol to start their holiday adventures.

Let's get moving. I'll tell you more while you walk.

If you look at the clock, below it, on the building you'll see State Street on one side, and Washington street on the other. We're going to head along State Street, so with the building on your right, start walking up the right hand side of State.

Marshall Field's, founded by Marshall Field in 1852, was an upscale department store that became a beloved institution in Chicago. Known for its exceptional customer service and grand holiday window displays, Marshall Field's was a cornerstone of the city's retail landscape and was famous for its pioneering retail practices, including the introduction of the first bridal registry, in-store dining, and the concept of the "department store" itself. The store also became known for its customer-centric approach, famously stating, "Give the lady what she wants."

As you make your way to our next stop, down State Street, take a look at Marshall Field's holiday windows. They've been a beloved Chicago tradition for over 100 years! They began in 1897 as an elaborate toy display, and over time, the windows evolved into the enchanting, story-telling displays that you see today.

While you walk, let me briefly explain how VoiceMap works. It uses your location to play audio automatically at the right time and place. This means you can put your phone away now. Don't worry if I'm silent, when not giving directions or telling stories. There's a map on your screen if you feel lost, and if you do get way off track without noticing, VoiceMap will let you know. You can end the tour at any point, if you're going to be a while, and resume from the nearest location.

Continue walking down State Street, crossing the street ahead, Randolph Street, and I'll tell you more as you go.

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View locations and route

How VoiceMap Works

Focus on your surroundings, not the screen

The VoiceMap app uses GPS to play audio automatically, at the right time and place, so you can focus on your surroundings, not the screen.

Follow a route with turn-by-turn-directions

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a fixed starting point. That lets us give turn-by-turn directions and use context to tell a better story.

Resume playback to go at your own pace

If you'd like to stop for a drink or go into a museum, end your tour then use the Resume feature to pick up exactly where you left off.

Listen as many times as you like

You can listen to your tours as often as you like using both the VoiceMap app and website.

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Tours work offline, so you don't have to pay roaming fees. Just download them over WiFi before you get started.

Major Landmarks

The Art Institute of Chicago
Miller's Pub
Palmer House a Hilton Hotel
Maggie Daley Park
Macys Chicago
Millennium Park
Chagall's Four Seasons

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
111 N State St, Chicago, IL 60602, USA
Total distance

2km
Final location
337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601, USA
Distance back to start location

690.68m

Directions to Starting Point

Our tour begins 'under the clock' at Macy's (formerly Marshall Field's), on the northeast corner of State Street and Washington Street.

Show Directions

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

There are many opportunities to stop at different places along the route.

Best time of day

For the ultimate experience, we recommend taking the Christmas in Chicago Holiday Walking Tour between 10 AM and 7 PM. During these hours, you'll be able to fully enjoy all the sites, as they will all be open for operation.

Precautions

The area is safe but always be street smart and take care when crossing busy intersections.

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“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”

Google Play Store

Last Updated

26 Jul 2025

Questions and Reviews

5 / 5

1 Ratings

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