Make Holiday Memories at an Inclusive Event Near You
Connect as a family and celebrate the season at inclusive and sensory-friendly events across Illinois and nearby communities!
The holiday season offers many opportunities to make special memories. But the large crowds, loud sounds and busy pace of traditional celebrations may not feel comfortable or accessible for children and loved ones with sensory sensitivities and disabilities.
We’ve gathered a list of inclusive and sensory-friendly holiday events to help your family enjoy the magic of the seasons in ways that works best for your family. Activities and events include:
- Sensory-friendly visits with Santa
- Inclusive holiday parties and celebrations
- Light displays
- Accessible theater performances
- Other welcoming activities for children and adults with special healthcare needs
Visit our Special Events page for the full roundup of activities. Just like Santa’s list, be sure to check it at least twice as we continue to add events!
Please note: The University of Illinois Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) does not organize or schedule these events. Please contact the event organizer with questions about a specific event.
Featured Events
- The Secret Sleigh Project coordinates volunteers nationwide to provide in-home Santa visits to children who are medically fragile. See our Secret Sleigh event listing for more details on how to request a visit.
- Autism Speaks and Cherry Hill Programs will offer sensory-friendly Santa experiences at multiple shopping centers in Illinois on Sunday, Dec. 6. You must sign up to attend. Photo packages will be available to buy.
- See our Santa Cares listing for more details. Be sure to select “Santa Cares”, “Caring Santa”, or “Sensitive Santa” when checking your location. Please check your mall location to confirm your date and time.
- Head to the North Pole on Sensory-Friendly Polar Express Train Rides at St. Louis Union Station. Sensory-friendly rides will be available on Nov. 23 and Dec. 1 on the Grand Rapids and Northern Lights cars at 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7:15 p.m.
Sensory-Friendly Movies
Enjoy a movie with the lights up, lower sound and the freedom to get up, dance, walk, shout or sing. Visit these websites to find a theater and screening near you:
- AMC and the Autism Society’s Sensory Friendly Films
- Reel Movies for Real Needs
- Studio Movie Grill’s Special Needs Screenings
Holiday Lights and More
Looking for holiday light displays to walk, wheel, or drive through? Maybe a parade, cookie walk or festival is more your style? Check out the websites and listings to help plan your holiday adventures. Please note that some of these events may not be sensory-friendly.
Chicago and Northern Illinois
Get into the holiday spirit with WTTW’s 2026 list of holiday light displays and experiences. You can also check out My Kidlist for seasonal guides, places to see Santa, sensory-friendly activities and more.
Sensory-friendly and inclusive activities in the Chicago area include:
- Sensory-Friendly ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
- Sensory-Friendly Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo
- Special Kids Day Visit With Santa in Elmhurst
- Sensory-Friendly Holiday Express at Blackberry Farm in Aurora
- Breakfast with Mr. and Mrs. Deaf Santa Claus in Chicago
- Sensory Santa Experience at Warrenville Park District
- Merry and Bright: A Family Holiday Celebration in St. Charles
- Magical Evening with Sensory Santa in Bourbonnais
- Sensory Santa Family Event in Channahon
- Sensory-Friendly Performance of “A Christmas Carol 2026” at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago
Central Illinois
Inclusive holiday events around central Illinois include:
- Cookies at the Clearinghouse/Evento Annual de Galletas en el Clearinghouse in Champaign
- Sensory-Sensitive Christmas in the Barn in Potomac
- Sensory Santa in Metamora
- Sensory-Friendly “Santa’s Secret Star” at Staerkel Planetarium in Champaign
- Sensory Hour Sweets With Santa in Monticello
- Sensory-Friendly Evening at the Zoo in Springfield
For more family-friendly ideas check out Visit Springfield , Chambanamoms.com’s list of holiday events and Discover Downstate Illinois’ events page.
Southern Illinois
Hometown holiday parades, concerts and festivals are happening throughout southern Illinois and in the St. Louis area. Check out Southern Illinois Families and Southernmost Illinois for ideas and lists of events.
Inclusive activities include:
- Breakfast with Signing Santa in St. Louis
- Carbondale Lights Fantastic Parade and Activities
- Sensory Santa at Santa’s House in Belleville
Share an Event
Know about an inclusive or sensory-friendly holiday event we should add? Please email us at dscc@uic.edu.
Take Care of Yourself This Holiday Season
The holidays can be joyful, but they can also be busy, stressful or difficult. Remember to take breaks and recharge when you need to.
You can’t properly care for someone else if you neglect your own health and well-being. Our Caregiver Mental Health Toolkit can be a helpful resource. It offers mental health apps, tips, tools, podcasts, videos, mindfulness coloring pages and more.
You can also search our website for support groups and helpful webinars.
The holidays can be especially difficult for families experiencing grief. On Nov. 17, the “Grief During the Holidays: Considerations for Youth and Caregivers” webinar will share strategies to support grieving children, teens and caregivers.
We add events and resources regularly, so be sure to check back often. We hope these opportunities help your family find a comfortable and meaningful way to celebrate the season together!