Holiday, Indoor

Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier

Name: Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier
Start: 2026-12-04
End: 2027-01-10
Location: Navy Pier, Festival Hall

Navy Pier, Festival Hall, Chicago, Illinois, USA

By Gautam Khorana·Reviewed 12 September 2026

86Dad Score

4 Dec to 10 Jan 2027Annual, every December to January — dates above are the established window until the organiser confirms

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

Best age2-12

Price$$

CityChicago, Illinois

TypeHoliday, Indoor

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 $$.

Visit the official site

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