MSI Christmas Around the World returns Saturday, November 7, 2026, when the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry opens its 84th annual Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light. More than 50 trees, each decorated by community volunteers drawing on their family and cultural traditions, fill the museum through January 3, 2027.

Key Takeaways

• Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light opens November 7, 2026, and runs through January 3, 2027.
• Community volunteers decorate each of the more than 50 trees, with each tree representing a different country.
• Displays for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali and other celebrations of light are placed among the trees.
• The opening day Tree Lighting and Cultural Festival is included in general admission and features local cultural organizations.
• A new after-hours event, Naughty or Nice: Family Edition, runs Saturday, December 19, from 6 to 10 p.m.

Community Volunteers Decorate Every Tree in the Forest

The trees at Griffin MSI are not decorated by museum designers working from a catalog. Each one is decorated by community volunteers who bring their own family and cultural traditions to the display, drawing on their global heritage. Every tree represents a different country, so the exhibit becomes a gathering of holiday customs from around the world, shaped by the people who keep them alive in Chicago.

That volunteer model is what gives MSI Christmas Around the World its character. Chicago is a city built in large part by immigrant communities, and many families have carried ornament styles, symbols and seasonal customs across generations. The exhibit gives those traditions a shared public space each winter, inside a South Side museum that draws visitors from across the region.

Holidays of Light Brings Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Diwali Into the Exhibit

The exhibit is not limited to Christmas. Placed throughout the forest of trees are displays representing international seasonal celebrations of light, including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Diwali. Together, the trees and the Holidays of Light displays present the season as a set of traditions practiced by many communities, rather than a single holiday.

For families visiting with children, that range turns a walk through the exhibit into a conversation about how different cultures mark the darkest weeks of the year with light, food and gathering.

The Tree Lighting and Cultural Festival Opens the Season on November 7

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry kicks off the season with its Tree Lighting and Cultural Festival on Saturday, November 7. The day-long festival includes a countdown to the lighting of the museum’s four-story Grand Tree, with special holiday performances leading up to the switch.

Live performances from local cultural organizations run throughout the day, extending the exhibit’s community focus from the trees to the stage. Visitors can also try seasonal samplings from Stan’s Donuts and browse the Holiday Shop. The festival is included in general admission on November 7.

A Tradition That Began During World War II

MSI Christmas Around the World is one of Chicago’s long-running holiday traditions. The 2026 season is the 84th annual edition of an exhibit that began during World War II, when the museum displayed a single tree. Over the decades, that single tree grew into a forest representing countries and cultures from around the world.

The exhibit sits alongside other heritage-rooted holiday traditions in the city, including Christkindlmarket’s 30th season on Daley Plaza, which opens November 20. Together they show how customs brought to Chicago from abroad have become part of the city’s own holiday calendar.

Family Events and Member Days Run Through January 3

New for 2026, Naughty or Nice: Family Edition is an after-hours event on Saturday, December 19, from 6 to 10 p.m., with face painting, a meet-and-greet with Santa and activities for all ages. The museum’s annual Naughty or Nice: 21+ Adults Only event takes place Thursday, December 10, from 6 to 10 p.m.

Griffin MSI members have exclusive access to the exhibit on the morning of Saturday, November 14, and the evening of Wednesday, December 16, with Santa Claus, holiday treats and special activities. The exhibit closes Sunday, January 3, 2027.

Planning a Visit to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is at 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive in Hyde Park. Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light is included with general admission, and the museum recommends buying tickets in advance through griffinmsi.org. Griffin MSI is supported in part by the people of Chicago through the Chicago Park District.

 

FAQs

When Does Christmas Around the World Open at Griffin MSI in 2026?

Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light opens Saturday, November 7, 2026, with the Tree Lighting and Cultural Festival. It runs through Sunday, January 3, 2027.

Is Christmas Around the World Included With Museum Admission?

Yes. The exhibit and the November 7 Tree Lighting and Cultural Festival are included in general admission at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.

How Many Trees Are in Christmas Around the World?

The exhibit features more than 50 trees, each decorated to represent a different country, plus the museum’s four-story Grand Tree.

Who Decorates the Trees at MSI Christmas Around the World?

Community volunteers decorate the trees, sharing family and cultural traditions drawn from their global heritage.

What Is Holidays of Light?

Holidays of Light is the part of the exhibit that features international seasonal celebrations of light, including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Diwali, displayed among the trees.