It's a Chicago holiday time of year!

While many friends and family travel this month for the holidays away from the city, many Chicagoans play host to families or have their own celebrations. Chicago provides some of the best holiday attractions to give you and/or family the best seasonal fun available. Here are some of the most well-known and enjoyed holiday events of the season.

It wouldn’t be the festive time of year if there were not a plethora of holiday light displays that provide a warm cozy atmosphere against the cold of winter. Take the Botanical Gardens who is hosting the U.S. debut of “Lightscape.” Immerse yourself in an after-dark mile-long path of lights, sounds and imagination. Visitors can experience the magic of singing trees, a water-fall made of light, a garden of fire and a marshmallow roasting pit for those melt-in your mouth smores. But don’t stop there, just down the street stand more trees adorned with lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo Zoolights; the city’s most popular light display. Grab a hot chocolate and enjoy ice-sculptors, lighted tunnels and more than one million LEDs throughout the zoo.

To enjoy another Holiday tradition in the city, you may venture north or south for the spectacular Christkindlemarkets at Daley Plaza and Gallagher way near Wrigley field. Grab yourself a traditional Raclette sandwich and take in the sights of hand-made ornaments, wooden toys and beautiful winter clothing; but try not to let the sights take your breath away, the smell of roasting nuts mixed with cinnamon and spices will be permeating the air giving you a taste for the holiday. The market at Gallagher way may be a smaller version; however with the addition of their ice-skating rink; this is a little holiday village you do not want to miss during the season.

The holidays and Chicago go hand in hand; so it is no surprise that the CTA dawns their holiday apparel and sets their Holiday Fleet throughout the city. Featuring the Holiday Train, The Elves’ Workshop train and the Holiday bus; CTA riders will feel the warmth of garland, multi-color lights and of course, Santa Clause waving to all passengers from his sleigh.