Wintrust Winter WonderFest Returns to Navy Pier for an Expanded Holiday Season

Wintrust Winter WonderFest Returns to Navy Pier for an Expanded Holiday Season

Chicago's favorite indoor winter celebration returns with new presenting sponsor Wintrust, opening Thanksgiving weekend for more festive family fun

CHICAGO (July 28, 2026) - Navy Pier announces the return of Wintrust Winter WonderFest, Chicago's favorite indoor holiday celebration, with Wintrust Financial Corporation serving as the event's new presenting sponsor. The expanded holiday tradition will welcome guests from Friday, November 27, 2026 through Sunday, January 3, 2027, offering more days for families and friends to celebrate the season together.

Wintrust Winter WonderFest will transform Navy Pier's Festival Hall into a 170,000-square-foot holiday destination filled with festive décor, immersive seasonal displays and family-friendly attractions. Guests can stroll through a sparkling forest filled with ornament-adorned trees, glide across the ice-skating rink, fly high on the Cliffhanger, ride the Arctic Express Train, and more.

"The holidays are a special time of the year at Navy Pier, when families and friends come together to celebrate, create traditions and make lasting memories," said Navy Pier President and CEO Marilynn Gardner. "We are thrilled to welcome guests back for an expanded Wintrust Winter WonderFest season and especially proud to embark on this partnership with Wintrust. Together, we're creating an experience that reflects our shared commitment to bringing people together through accessible, joyful experiences that celebrate the spirit of Chicago."

Wintrust Winter WonderFest reflects Wintrust's ongoing commitment to building strong, local relationships across Illinois and its growing Midwest footprint. As the official bank of Navy Pier, Wintrust continues to invest in partnerships and experiences that strengthen the communities it serves.

"As a community bank, we're proud to support experiences that contribute to Chicago's holiday festivities and create memorable experiences for visitors and residents alike," Tim Crane, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wintrust. "Everyone deserves the chance to experience the magic of the holidays, and we're proud to help make that possible through our presenting sponsorship of Wintrust Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier."

Tickets for Wintrust Winter WonderFest go on sale Tuesday, July 28. General admission tickets are $27 when purchased at least 24 hours in advance of a visit. Tickets purchased within 24 hours of attendance, or onsite at the door, are $32. As a special limited-time offer, guests who purchase tickets by August 15 can take advantage of early bird pricing, with tickets available for just $13.50.

Admission includes access to the event and more than 10 indoor attractions, with select rides subject to height requirements. Children age two years old and under are admitted free. Discounted group pricing is available for parties of 20 or more, interested guests can email [email protected] for more information. Guests can find daily operating hours, purchase advance tickets and learn more at navypier.org/winterwonderfest.

Hi-res photos from Navy Pier's Wintrust Winter WonderFest are available here.

About Wintrust

Wintrust is a financial holding company with approximately $71 billion in assets whose common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Guided by its "Different Approach, Better Results" philosophy, Wintrust offers the sophisticated resources of a large bank while providing a community banking experience to each customer. Wintrust operates more than 200 retail banking locations through 16 community bank subsidiaries in the greater Chicago, southern Wisconsin, west Michigan, northwest Indiana, and southwest Florida market areas. In addition, Wintrust operates various non-bank business units, providing residential mortgage origination, wealth management, commercial and life insurance premium financing, short-term accounts receivable financing/outsourced administrative services to the temporary staffing services industry, and qualified intermediary services for tax-deferred exchanges. For more information, please visit wintrust.com.