Christmas in Chicago is certainly something to be excited about! The city offers something for everyone looking to enjoy and spread the cheer. This happy holiday mood starts at Thanksgiving and lasts all through New Year’s Eve.

You will definitely find seasonal fun in the many magical traditions; from the displays, to the ceremonies, and the food (ah, yes, the food!). If you’re torn when it comes to deciding on things to do with your loved ones celebrating Christmas in Chicago this year, get inspired by these activities to provide a memorable holiday experience.

#1: Attend top Christmas shows and concerts

Is there a better way to spread the cheer than to sing along to Christmas carols, jingle bells, and Handel? While some of the most high-profile concerts of the season don’t happen until the last day on New Year’s Eve, there’s still plenty to see during the rest of the Christmas season.

One of the most interesting shows to attend is Joffrey Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”. Showing at the beautiful Auditorium Theater, from November 30 to December 29, The Nutcracker is an annual holiday ballet that pays homage to the city and its inhabitants. It has been showing since 1987!

Additionally, Mannheim Steamroller, the top-selling holiday act of all time, continues to spread the Yuletide cheer throughout the US and luckily, they will be performing in Chicago.

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In case you didn’t notice, we’re in the thick of wedding proposal season.

With so many holidays to celebrate, this is a very family-oriented time of the year. People tend to be more whimsical and happy and couples capitalize on the opportunity to add an extra fun edge to the holiday.

And what better way to amuse the family than with a marriage announcement? However, after you say yes, a lot of wheels will start turning. To keep your sanity, order is crucial.

Lock in the big details right away

So how soon after getting engaged should you start the initial planning steps?

It depends on when you want to get married. If you’re engaged in the Fall and want to plan for a May to October wedding, you’ll need to start moving fast.

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It’s never too late to host a great holiday party.

Whether it’s a holiday (we’re looking at you Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s!) or any other excuse you may have for getting your friends and family together, you can still have a great party even with a busy schedule.

As host, the greatest and most time-intensive task inevitably revolves around supplying the food. Whether you go for a full spread or settle on snacks and appetizers, having to plan a party during the holidays can seem like an impossible task for many.

Catering by Michaels can offer a convenient solution to this problem by preparing and delivering your holiday meals to any location within Chicago. All you have to do is tap a few buttons.

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Thanksgiving is all about quality time with family and friends, with delicious food to fuel the conversation of memories and current events! While some prefer to show off their skills in the kitchen, most of us feel stressed and anxious about our culinary contribution.

Everyone knows the common centerpiece of Thanksgiving is the turkey, so you gotta get it right.

This Thanksgiving, we’ve prepared a simple video and revamped our tips to make your turkey carving less stressful and more successful.

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There are a million ways to celebrate Father’s Day, but the best way is to simply spend time with the person you call “dad” or an important father figure in your life.

When it comes to finding the perfect gift, it’s nice to know that dads are easy to please. Give them a hug and a decent meal, and they’ll be happy. But take that a step further with a catered feast fit for a king to show him how much he means to you.

For a stress-free celebration this Father’s Day, let Catering by Michaels take over the planning, cooking and cleaning, so that you can focus on celebrating! To plan the perfect Father’s Day brunch, start with his favorites.

But if you’re stumped for ideas, we have a few suggestions:

Building A Father’s Day Menu From Catering by Michaels

For Father’s Day, we’re featuring a special sandwich menu for dad: a robust chipotle chicken sandwich. Featuring grilled chipotle chicken, sweet roasted poblano peppers, pepper jack cheese, romaine lettuce, and chipotle mayonnaise on a miniature salted ciabatta square, this is a favorite of dads in the Catering by Michaels kitchen and offices!

Dad and your guests will also love the classic fried chicken sandwich with honey mustard sauce, lettuce, jalapeño coleslaw, and homemade pickles on pretzel flatbread. Or, try the piri-piri turkey sandwich made with smoked turkey breast, piri-piri sauce, avocado, sunflower seed aillade, tomato, mixed greens, and garlic aioli on a freshly baked herbed ciabatta roll.

Your Father’s Day brunch menu may also benefit from a grilled asparagus sandwich as a solid vegetarian option. Aside from the grilled asparagus, there’s sun-dried tomato, goat cheese, and lettuce on a miniature salted ciabatta square.

While sandwiches are a great option for dad and guests, sometimes, there’s nothing better than a selection of meats to choose from.

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