Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier
Navy Pier, Festival Hall, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Fully indoor and wide-ranging by age, though ride tickets and skating add-ons push the day's cost up.
How the Dad Score breaks down
Scored September 2026- Together time16/20
- Ferris wheel ride included in every ticket, and rides under 42" need parental help.
- Low faff17/20
- One site, advance online tickets, and unlimited in-and-out access for the day.
- Value15/20
- Tickets from $25 cover 30 days of access to over ten activities plus the wheel.
- Age span18/20
- Under-36-inch infants to 48-inch bumper car riders and Cliffhanger at 46 inches.
- Weatherproof20/20
- All 170,000 square feet of Festival Hall is indoors, wind chill included.
Editorial, never paid. How the Dad Score works
Navy Pier's Festival Hall turns into a 170,000 square foot indoor holiday fairground from 5 December to 4 January, with a 42-foot Holiday Tree, fairground rides, an ice rink, live music and 30+ dining options. Every ticket includes a ride on the Centennial Ferris Wheel, so you can look out over Lake Michigan together before heading back in for another lap of the rides.
Why it works for a dad and child
Rides sorted by height mean you can ride together on plenty of them, and the included Ferris wheel gives you a quiet shared moment above the noise of the fair.
When is Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier?
Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier runs 4 Dec to 10 Jan 2027 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Is Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier worth it with kids?
girl.dad gives Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier a Dad Score of 86/100. Fully indoor and wide-ranging by age, though ride tickets and skating add-ons push the day's cost up.
What should we plan for at Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier?
It is a holiday, indoor event at Navy Pier, Festival Hall in Chicago, Illinois. Best age on the listing is 2-12, and the price band is $$.
