A warm, cozy mug of hot chocolate at Christkindl market in downtown Chicago

Happy Holidays from the Student Recruitment and Global Outreach (SRGO) team at Harris!

The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy will be closed December 24, 2025—January 2, 2026, and your Admissions team will have limited access to email during that time. Before we leave for winter break, we wanted to share with you some of our favorite ways to celebrate winter in Chicago.

Ranjan Daniels—We go to dinner at Francesca’s on Chestnut Christmas Eve to then go to church.

Jessica Gagle—Whenever we travel, my family gets an ornament for the tree from wherever we are. Decorating the tree with the kids, it’s fun to walk down the memory lane of where we’ve gone.

Devon Reber Drehmer—The Old Town School of Folk Music’s Songs of Good Cheer concert is such a fun, festive way to celebrate the season!

Blake Edwards—I've been riding in the Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade for the past 19 years: it's a great cause (donating toys for children) and the folks watching seem to have a blast as well!

Rebecca Hou—I love seeing all the lights in parks and zoos, especially Lightscape at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Gezelligheid concert with Andrew Bird - vibrant lights in a cathedral
The Gezelligheid concert with Andrew Bird at Fourth Presbyterian Church

Sam Johnson—The Griffin Museum of Science & Industry hosts a Christmas Around the World exhibit, with more than 50 trees decorated by the community, representing international seasons of light.

Jay Landau — I like to go see the Lincoln Park Zoo Lights and enjoy latkes with family and friends!

Karen McCleary —  Andrew Bird does this concert – “gezelligheid” which most closely translates to “coziness.” It’s a lovely Chicago tradition with folk music and beautiful lights in Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago. 

Hillary Werner — My cousins, aunts, and I make latkes for Hanukkah and just gab while we cook. It has become a sweet tradition.

Madison Zaccardelli — When family from Ohio comes to visit me, I like taking them to Christkindl market, which is an open-air market downtown with traditional German crafts and food.

Happy holidays from your Harris admissions team!

Members of SRGO visiting Christkindl
A few members of SRGO visiting the Christkindl market downtown.
Home