Planning an Event in Chicago in December: What to Watch For

December is the busiest month of the winter for Chicago venues and rentals. Company parties, family gatherings, Hanukkah, Christmas, Las Posadas, Kwanzaa and New Year's Eve all land in a few weeks. Here is what to watch for in December 2027.

The December 2027 calendar: dates that change your plans

Before you pick a date, check it against this list. Holidays decide who can come, and big city events decide how easy it is to get guests, vendors and delivery trucks to your venue.

December weather: what to watch out for

December is winter. NWS normals for O'Hare give December an average high of 36.6°F and a low of 24.4°F, with snow likely during the month. Sunset is around 4:20 pm, the earliest of the year.

What to plan for:

• Snow and deliveries. Book early load-in windows, confirm who clears and salts the path, and keep a backup window.
• Coats. Every guest arrives in a heavy coat. Racks and hangers for everyone, plus a mat at the door. See coat racks for winter events.
• Darkness by 4:30 pm. Even a lunch party ends after dark. Plan warm lighting.
• Parking and travel. Holiday shopping traffic downtown is heavy on weekends. Read guest parking and transit plans for Chicago.

Venue demand and booking lead times in December

December Saturdays are the first dates to go. Company party planners book venues months ahead, often by late summer or early fall, and rentals for the first three weekends of December follow. Our winter holiday party season booking guide has the timing in detail.

If you are flexible, Thursdays and Sundays are easier, as is the first week of January for a "new year" party. Rental companies often pause deliveries around Christmas and New Year's Day, so confirm your delivery and pickup dates when you book.

Rentals that matter most in December

These are the categories that do the most work for a December event in Chicagoland. Each link opens the live catalog with current prices.

• Linens: velvet, sequin and deep jewel tones for holiday tables.
• Lighting: warm uplighting for 4 pm sunsets.
• Lounge: lounge seating for cocktail-style company parties.
• Decor: coat racks, backdrops and holiday decor.
• Glassware: champagne flutes for New Year's Eve.

You can add any of these to a plan in our event planner and instant quote, which totals the list for your guest count and shows the price before anyone calls you.

A December planning checklist

Where December events happen around Chicago

The calendar plays out differently by neighborhood and suburb. Our area guides cover parking, delivery access and local venues for the Loop, the Gold Coast, Oak Brook and Schaumburg. For event-specific planning, see holiday parties; company parties; year-end galas. For month-specific chair picks, read Chicago event chairs in December.

Related guides for this month: the month before: November, the month after: January, and the full month-by-month Chicago event calendar.

Plan your December event with us

Tell us your date, your venue and your guest count. We will flag anything on the December calendar that could affect your event, then build the full rental list: chairs, tables, linens, tents, heat or cooling and lighting. Start your plan and instant quote, or book a free 15-minute planning call.