My West Coast family will be meeting our East Coast family in Chicago in November. We would like to plan the trip to be able to see the holiday decorations and lights in Chicago. When do the decorations typically go up - before or after Thanksgiving? We are planning to visit around November 13th, but can change our plans if that is too early to take part in the festivities.

Decorations go up before Thanksgiving and might be up already (just kidding but it does seem to always be early).

The wreathing of the Art Institute Lions is done the day after Thanksgiving tho.

It's a magical place at Christmas.

The "official" festival of lights starts the weekend before Thanksgiving.

http://www.themagnificentmile.com/Ev...tsFestival.cfm

It does seem like the store are putting up decorations earlier and earlier though. I was at Costco on Tuesday and they already had wrapping paper and other Christmas supplies out on display. And here I thought it was still summer!

The festival of lights is worth seeing, including the Disney parade on the Sat. before Thanksgiving BUT it is very crowded so if you don't like crowds, skip it.

I think you might also be a little early for the Marshall Field's windows which is around mid month, for the Museum of Science and Industry's Christmas tree display or for the Christkindl market held in Daley Plaza which usually starts after Thanksgiving

Usually sometime around the holidays. Usually before, if I recall.