Greektown Chicago is illuminated with blue and white lights sparkling along Halsted Street this month as it kicks off the holiday season with Greek-themed festivities and events—including the 10th annual Greektown tree lighting event with Santa & friends, and a holiday karavákia display of 35 small artist-painted boats adorning businesses throughout the neighborhood.
The Greektown tree lighting ceremony will be held the weekend before Thanksgiving, on Sunday, November 23 at 5 p.m. at Elysian Field (southeast corner of Halsted & Van Buren Streets) and feature an appearance by Santa, complimentary treats and hot chocolate. As the tree is lit in bright white and blue—representing the colors of the Greek flag—young students from Chicagoland Greek schools will sing traditional Greek Christmas carols (kalanta) along with live Greek music. The tree is decorated with karavákia ornaments, small boats created by artist Panos Fiorentios.
Greektown Chicago 2024 tree lighting, photo credit Elios Photography. Greektown karavákia display at Spectrum Bar & Grill by artists Kiki Whitehead and Louis DeMarco, photo credit Heidi Zeiger Photography.
Free and open to the public, the Greektown tree lighting event is sponsored by Greektown SSA #16 with additional support from 34th Ward Alderman Bill Conway, the Greektown Chamber of Commerce, and the nonprofit Chicago Greektown Educational Foundation.
The festivities coincide with the opening of Greektown's Holiday Karavákia display that opens November 23, 2025 and runs through January 6, 2026. Inspired by an ages-old Christmas tradition from Greece of decorating karavákia (little boats) for the holidays, the Greektown Arts Committee engaged with 35+ local artists to have each paint a karaváki for public display at restaurants and other businesses across Greektown. And Greektown also showcases a larger karaváki, painted by distinguished artist James Mesple, near the monument at Elysian Field where Greektown’s holiday tree is located.
Visit greektownchicago.org for more information on holiday programming.
Karavákia artists include: Christina Angelos, Dino and Mark Crisanti, Jennifer Cronin, Alexandra Damato, Louis DeMarco, Marcelo Elli, Panos Fiorentios, Dustin Harris, Connie Hinkle, Ken Hirte, David Holt, Malika Jackson, Tyrue “Slang” Jones, Mariana Karampelas, Kathleen King, Bonnie Loboda, Chris Loutris, Victoria Martin, James Mesple, Katie Meuser, Eve Moran, Andy Morreale, Tracey Ostmann, Patricia Owsiany, Terry Poulos, Fernando Ramirez, Rachel Rosenfeld, Sheri Smith, Leo Talaganis, Vicky Tesmer, Diane Thodos, Michael Thompson, Vasiliki Valkanas, Chuck Walker, Alex White, Kiki Whitehead, Rebecca Zaragoza, and Holy Apostles Greek School students.
This vibrant Greektown art display celebrating the holiday season is sponsored by Greektown SSA #16.
About Greektown Chicago
Greektown is a dining, nightlife and cultural district located in Chicago’s vibrant West Loop area. A popular destination for tourists and residents alike, Greektown offers the best sampling of Greek heritage outside of Athens—from authentic restaurants, cafes and shops to the National Hellenic Museum and annual Taste of Greektown festival. Greektown Special Service Area #16 is the business improvement district for the neighborhood, administered by sole service provider the West Central Association and guided by a volunteer commission of local business owners, property owners and residents. For more information, visit GreektownChicago.org.