Chicago Lights Tallest Christmas Tree for Make-A-Wish

Chicago, IL, Oct. 01, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- This release is a media advisory: it exists to tell newsrooms where to be and when. The advisory states that 900 North Michigan Shops will host its annual tree lighting ceremony known as “Illuminate 900” on Thursday, November 19th, from 6PM-8PM. The evening showcases a full line-up of holiday performances, seasonal activations for the young and young-at-heart, and delectable bites paired with seasonal sips. The culmination of the storybook evening is when Santa and a Make-A-Wish child will flip the switch to light the majestic, 54-foot-tall Christmas tree, thus shining the first holiday lights on Michigan Avenue! Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish IL, helping to grant wishes to children facing challenging health circumstances. Illuminate 900 is Make-A-Wish’s top Chicago holiday fundraising event.

The event will take place at 900 North Michigan Shops, an architecturally stunning 465,000-square-foot, seven-level experiential retail destination in the heart of Chicago. The venue features more than 70 luxe retailers, including a two-level Gucci, Janet Mandell, MaxMara, Montblanc, Tesla, BONOBOS, and Aritzia. A 22,000-square-foot, chef-driven food hall, Aster Hall, offers guests a variety of dining options and handcrafted cocktails. And Topgolf Swing Suite offer guests simulated sports gaming experiences in an inviting lounge setting. 900 North Michigan Shops is owned by an affiliate of JMB Realty Corporation.

The event will take place on all six levels of 900 North Michigan Shops, the iconic anchor of Michigan Avenue. The evening will feature excerpts from the holiday ballet performance of “The Nutcracker,” photo opps with a real-life elf on the shelf, a professionally trained, opera-singing angel performing holiday classics, a contemporary dance company performing to the number one holiday dance tune, an urban drum corps marching throughout the venue, and a sugar cookie decorating station for kids. Costumed, holiday characters including Santa himself will also be present.

The event will be open to the public, with media registration and accreditation available upon request. Media registration and accreditation will be handled by 900 North Michigan Shops. Media will be provided with a broadcast and stream of the event, as well as the ability to interview Santa and the Make-A-Wish child. The event is expected to draw a large crowd, with ticket prices ranging from $5 to $35, with proceeds benefiting Make-A-Wish® Illinois.

The accreditation or media-registration instruction stays in the body. It is how a journalist acts on the advisory, not a contact block, and the rule above about dropping contact paragraphs does not apply to it. A named person's phone number and email address are still dropped. The advisory states that the actual flipping of the switch to light the tree is scheduled to take place at approximately 7:30PM. TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets available here at three different levels based on desired guest experience, with prices ranging from $5 to $35. Proceeds to benefit Make-A-Wish® Illinois.