Greektown Chicago is illuminated with blue and white lights along Halsted Street this November as it kicks off the holiday season with Greek-themed festivities and events—including its annual Greektown tree lighting event with Santa, Shopper’s Reward Program, and traditional Greek holiday karavákia display of small illuminated boats in businesses throughout the neighborhood.
The Greektown Shopper’s Reward Program offers a $50 rebate for visitors who shop and dine in the neighborhood from November 1 through December 31, 2024. Shoppers can receive a $50 Visa gift card after mailing in original receipts from at least three different eligible Greektown businesses, with a grand total of $250 or more. A list of participating Greektown businesses and additional details on the rebate are available at greektownchicago.org.
The annual Greektown tree lighting ceremony will be the weekend before Thanksgiving, on Sunday, November 24 from 5-6 p.m. at Elysian Field (southeast corner of Halsted & Van Buren Streets) including an appearance from Santa, complimentary treats and hot chocolate. As the tree is illuminated in white and blue representing the colors of the Greek flag, students from Chicagoland Greek schools will sing traditional Greek Christmas carols (kalanta) along with live music. The tree is also decorated with 100 handmade karavákia ornaments, small boats created by artist Panos Fiorentios. 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, the Chicago Greektown Educational Foundation and the National Hellenic Museum.
In addition to the festive blue and white lights lining Halsted Street in Greektown, the traditional Greek holiday karavákia display of vibrant, illuminated boats will decorate local businesses from November 24, 2024, through January 6, 2025. In Greece, there is an old Christmas tradition of decorating karavákia (little boats) with paint, lights and other materials. The Greektown Arts Committee brings this unique tradition to life in Chicago by inviting 35+ local artists to decorate boat models and providing them to Greektown businesses to publicly display throughout the holiday season. 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.
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, 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.