The Magnificent Mile Announces 2013 Annual Event Lineup

May 10, 2013

The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival™ presented by MasterCard®

Thursday, August 22, 2013 – Monday, September 2, 2013

This summer, The Magnificent Mile once again provides the ultimate reason to shop. The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival™ presented by MasterCard®, the much-anticipated annual shopping event along North Michigan Avenue, returns August 22 – September 2, 2013 for a first-class celebration. For 12 days, The Magnificent Mile district offers fashionable fetes for all including all new merchandise at the Avenue’s most coveted stores, celebrity appearances, fashion shows, fabulous hotel packages, culinary celebrations, live outdoor concerts, special perks for MasterCard cardholders and more.

Visitors are invited to indulge in the offerings of The Magnificent Mile in a truly unique way that only takes place once a year. For 12 days, the shopping mecca is alive with fashionable festivities ranging from outdoor fashions shows to VIP experiences.

The Shopping Festival is the perfect reason to book an end-of-summer getaway to The Magnificent Mile. For more information, visit themagnificentmile.com.

The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival® presented by BMO Harris Bank 
Saturday, November 23, 2013

The country’s largest evening holiday celebration, The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival® presented by BMO Harris Bank, returns to kick off the holiday season for Chicago and the nation on Saturday, November 23.

One million visitors from around the country will travel to the city to experience a weekend of nonstop holiday festivities that lead up to a magical evening procession featuring more than 40 magnificent floats, musical performances from top artists, helium-filled balloons, classic characters from Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida, lively marching bands and more. Grand marshals Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse of Walt Disney World® Resort will appear together on the lead parade vehicle for the fourth year in a row to illuminate one million lights on 200 trees along North Michigan Avenue.

The nationally-televised event is broadcast in more than 70 markets around the country throughout the holiday season. For more information, visit themagnificentmile.com.

About The Magnificent Mile®

The Magnificent Mile® is Chicago’s premier destination, offering more than 3.3 million square feet of retail space, 460 stores, 275 restaurants, 23,000 hotel rooms in 60 hotels, five unique museums and entertaining attractions to more than 20 million visitors each year. As One of the Great Avenues of the World, The Magnificent Mile district features extraordinary shopping, critically-acclaimed dining, world-class hotel accommodations, annual events and exceptional urban landscaping with more than 52 unique parkway gardens that reflect the changing seasons and complement the unique architectural beauty of Chicago. For more information, visit themagnificentmile.com or follow The Magnificent Mile on Facebook, Twitter and foursquare.

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MEDIA CONTACT: 
Katie Fanella, The Magnificent Mile
(312) 344-2317
kfanella@gnmaa.com

THE BMO HARRIS BANK MAGNIFICENT MILE LIGHTS FESTIVAL OFFERS A SHOW-STOPPING START TO THE 2012 HOLIDAY SEASON

October 24, 2012

Chicago’s Magnificent Mile kicks off the holidays for millions with musical performances from top artists, beloved characters from Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida, family-friendly activities and a weekend of special holiday offers

CHICAGO – More than one million people will travel to Chicago’s Magnificent Mile to begin their holidays during the 21st annual BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Lights Festival on Saturday, November 17, 2012. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida will lead a magical evening lighting parade down The Magnificent Mile, illuminating more than one million lights on 200 trees along North Michigan Avenue.

The beloved holiday tradition signals the beginning of the season for the nation with an action-packed weekend throughout The Magnificent Mile district. On November 17, North Michigan Avenue is the setting for a host of holiday fun. Starting at 11 am, families are invited to enjoy holiday-themed activities in Lights Festival Lane (Pioneer Court, 401 N. Michigan Avenue) featuring booths from Chicago’s finest including John Hancock Observatory, Garrett Popcorn Shops, The Eli’s Cheesecake Company, BMO Harris Bank and more. Radio Disney AM 1300 Chicago will be on-site hosting a family-friendly concert featuring Olivia Holt, star of Disney XD’s hit series “Kickin’ It” and the Disney Channel Original Movie “Girl Vs. Monster,” who will open for singer-songwriter Shane Harper, star of Disney Channel’s Emmy Award-nominated “Good Luck Charlie.” Other top musical performers scheduled to take the BMO Harris Bank Stage during the afternoon’s live concert line-up include Colton Dixon, American Idol Season 11 finalist; R5, the fastest-rising band on the pop-rock scene; and Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players, the Grammy-nominated family music group.

The day’s activities lead up to the much-anticipated lighting parade, the country’s largest evening holiday celebration, beginning at 5:30 pm. Grand marshals Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will appear together for the third year in a row on an awe-inspiring new float as they lead more than 40 magnificent floats, helium-filled balloons, classic characters from the Walt Disney World® Resort, lively marching bands from across the country and musical performances from top artists including Bella Thorne, star of Disney Channel’s “Shake It Up.”

Audiences can expect crowd favorites to return such as Santa Claus soaring above the crowds on the John Hancock Observatory float, the larger-than-life Hubert the Lion balloon from BMO Harris Bank, the world-famous scent of Garrett Popcorn Shop’s popcorn infused down the procession route from the shop’s float and popular Chicago sports stars aboard the Harry Caray’s Restaurant Group float. Exciting new additions include a float made entirely of candy from Candyality, Chicago’s sweetest destination, a Holiday Magic float from Brookfield Zoo and more. Radio Disney AM 1300 will also join in on the fun as Holt performs aboard the “Your Music, Your Way” float.

The BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Lights Festival draws to a grand conclusion with a spectacular fireworks display over the Chicago River created from more than 10,000 handmade fireworks shells from Lumina.

The nationally-televised event will be broadcast live on Saturday, November 17 from 6 pm – 7 pm CST in local markets on ABC7 Chicago and in more than 65 markets around the country throughout the holiday season. Broadcast times available in local listings.

Trailing along down Michigan Avenue throughout the day, big blue lion paw prints will once again lead the way for families to take part in “Hubert’s Adventure,” a scavenger hunt based off BMO Harris Bank’s “Helpful Steps for Parents” program — a 24/7, free online community that gives parents access to age-appropriate games, tools and blogs developed by leading family and financial experts to teach smart money skills. By visiting the three main interactive stops along The Magnificent Mile, kids will learn about Saving, Spending, and Sharing, and perhaps even meet Hubert the Lion himself. Kids can also test their knowledge at the life-size board game located at the Hancock building. Families are invited to visit Pioneer Court to see BMO Harris’ life-sized Lego Hubert, spin the “Wheel of Fun” to collect prizes, make holiday giving and wish lists and take photos with the bank’s beloved mascot.

Special holiday offers and events from area shops, restaurants, hotels and attractions continue throughout the holiday season. For a complete list of offers and activities, visit themagnificentmile.com or follow The Magnificent Mile on Facebook, Twitter and foursquare.

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About The Magnificent Mile®
The Magnificent Mile® is Chicago’s premier destination, offering more than 3.3 million square feet of retail space, 460 stores, 275 restaurants, 23,000 hotel rooms in 60 hotels, unique museums and entertaining attractions to more than 20 million visitors each year. The Magnificent Mile district features world-renowned shopping, dining and hotel accommodations, internationally-recognized events and exceptional urban landscaping with more than 52 unique parkway gardens that reflect the changing seasons and complement the unique architectural beauty of Chicago. For more information, visit themagnificentmile.com or follow The Magnificent Mile on Facebook, Twitter and foursquare.

About BMO Harris Bank
Based in Chicago, BMO Harris Bank N.A. provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through over 600 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. BMO Harris Bank’s commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S. Deposit and loan products and services provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris BankSM is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with 1,600 branches, and a retail deposit base of approximately $180 billion.

About Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort is a contiguous, nearly 40-square-mile, world-class entertainment and recreation center featuring four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom); two water adventure parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon); 35 resort hotels (25 owned and operated by Walt Disney World, includes seven Disney Vacation Club resort properties); 81 holes of golf on five courses; two full-service spas; Disney’s Wedding Pavilion; ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex; and Downtown Disney, an entertainment-shopping-dining complex. Walt Disney World Resort is also included in vacation packages of Disney Cruise Line. Located at LakeBuena Vista, Fla., 20 miles southwest of Orlando, Walt Disney World Resort opened Oct. 1, 1971. Open daily, year-round.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Katie Fanella, The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association
Office: (312) 344-2336
Cell: (773) 330-2776
kfanella@gnmaa.com

Kelly Wisecarver, Wisecarver PR
Office: (773) 338-2477
Cell: (773) 218-7285
kelly@wisecarverpr.com

CHICAGO’S MAGNIFICENT MILE ONCE AGAIN HOSTS THE NATION’S ONLY SHOPPING FESTIVAL

August 14, 2012

CHICAGO – The annual Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival™ presented by MasterCard®, the country’s only shopping festival of its kind, returns August 24 – September 6, 2012 for a can’t-miss celebration. For 14 days, The Magnificent Mile invites guests to enjoy a full calendar of festivities including celebrity appearances, fashion shows, fabulous hotel packages, culinary events, exclusive experiences and offers for MasterCard cardholders, music concerts, an extraordinary sweepstakes and more.

The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival celebrates the world-class Magnificent Mile shopping experience with VIP perks and a non-stop calendar of activities. The district’s 460 stores, 275 restaurants, 60 hotels and world-class attractions come together to entertain in a way that satisfies all desires.

Kick-Off Celebration:
Kelly Osbourne, E! correspondent and fashion expert, kicks off the celebration on Friday, August 24 as she brings her keen sense of style and love for shopping straight to The Magnificent Mile. Shoppers will have the chance to meet Kelly in-person during an exclusive meet-and-greet in the MasterCard Priceless Lounge. For more details, visit TheMagnificentMile.com.

Following the meet-and-greet, Kelly hosts an outdoor fashion show along North Michigan Avenue starting at 1 pm in Pioneer Court (401 N. Michigan Avenue). For the first time ever, The Magnificent Mile’s retail centers, 900 North Michigan Shops, The Shops at North Bridge and Water Tower Place join together to showcase the fall season’s hottest trends.

Labor Day Weekend:
The Magnificent Mile offers an unforgettable conclusion to summer with an array of foodie and family-friendly events over Labor Day Weekend. From September 1 – September 2, chefs from The Magnificent Mile’s top culinary hotspots, including The Signature Room at the 95th, ZED451, Markethouse and The Peninsula Chicago, offer culinary tips and tricks during a series of in-store cooking demos at Crate & Barrel, Bloomingdale’s Home Store and the MasterCard Priceless Lounge.

On Monday, September 3, Radio Disney presents R5 featuring Ross Lynch, the fastest-rising young band on the pop-rock scene, live in concert at 12 pm, the band’s first performance in Chicago. Tweens and teens are invited to an exclusive meet-and-greet following the concert at the MasterCard Priceless Lounge. For more details, visit TheMagnificentMile.com.

Fashion’s Night Out:
The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival closes with grand celebrations around The Magnificent Mile district during Fashion’s Night Out (FNO) on Thursday, September 6. Throughout the evening, Magnificent Mile stores transform into the city’s top soiree settings with a line-up of in-store activities. To help ladies prep for the evening’s festivities, ULTA Beauty cosmetics pros offer MasterCard cardholders a complimentary fall beauty preview with this season’s fall beauty trends throughout the afternoon. (ULTA’s Fall Beauty Preview: Pioneer Court – 401 N. Michigan Avenue, 3 pm – 6 pm; FNO: Stores throughout The Magnificent Mile district, 6 pm –
8 pm)

Additional Event Highlights:

• August 24 – August 26 and September 1 – September 3: The MasterCard Priceless Trolley transports shoppers down North Michigan Avenue in style. The complimentary trolley runs throughout the weekends of the Shopping Festival with three stops along The Magnificent Mile.

• August 24 – September 3: The MasterCard Priceless Lounge at The Shops at North Bridge provides MasterCard cardholders with exclusive offers and experiences, including access to celebrity meet-and-greets, special giveaways and more. Throughout the two weeks of the Shopping Festival, “Show Your Haul” in the MasterCard Priceless Lounge for a chance to win makeovers for three. (520 N. Michigan Avenue)

• August 24 –September 6: Water Tower Place (WTP) hosts daily special events in the retail center’s luxury lounge including Dress for Success® Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival Kick-Off Celebration with Special Appearance by The Working Wardrobe’s Kate Jacobsen; Stump the Stylist Fashion Challenge with Haute Closet’s April Francis; What’s Hot and What’s Not: Learn to Predict Trends, So You Can Shop Smarter – Not Harder with International Academy of Design & Technology’s Susan Wade; and more! (Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Avenue, Monday – Saturday, 11 am – 8 pm, Sundays and holidays, 12 pm – 5 pm)

• August 25: Candyality, Chicago’s sweetest destination, presents mischievous artist, Crummy Gummy, as he showcases his gummy bears as fashion imposters with a one-of-a-kind collection representing famous icons of the runway. (835 N. Michigan Avenue, 2 pm – 4 pm)

• August 25 – 26: Four-legged friends and their owners are invited to enjoy two days of canine-themed activities along The Magnificent Mile. Argent Restaurant and Raw Bar hosts a special pet brunch on the restaurant’s outdoor patio, Chicago Pet Video offers free portrait sessions for pets and their owners in the MasterCard Priceless Lounge and Mercury Skyline Cruiseline welcomes aboard pets for a special canine cruise. Make it a weekend getaway with your pooch with one of the many pet-friendly hotel packages available in the district. (For a schedule of events, visit TheMagnificentMile.com)

• August 28: Chicago’s top restaurants, including Tru, Tavernita, RPM Italian and Bar Toma, serve up delicious bites during “A Magnificent Taste,” the first-ever outdoor culinary event along North Michigan Avenue. Guests will also have the chance to meet and sample bites from Top Chef Season 9 winner Paul Qui. (Pioneer Court, 401 N. Michigan Avenue, 6:30 pm – 9 pm)

• August 29: Hotel Monaco Chicago celebrates its retail-related past as a well-known hat factory with a hat-tastic party featuring a Goorin Bros. hat trunk show, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres by South Water Kitchen, raffle prizes and more. (225 N. Wabash Avenue, 5 pm – 8 pm)

• September 1-2: Enjoy two days of cooking demonstrations and tastings with Chicago’s top chefs. Learn how to roll sushi, bake a masterpiece and other cooking secrets. Participants include Benny’s Chop House, MARKETHOUSE, The Signature Room at the 95th, ZED451, The Peninsula Chicago and Conrad Chicago. Chef demos take place in-store starting at 1pm each day. For a schedule and locations, click here.

• September 5: Bloomingdale’s and ShopParty Events present world-renowned astrologer Sylvia Friedman as she dresses shoppers from head to toe with styles that align with their Zodiac sign. (Bloomingdale’s, 900 N. Michigan Avenue, 6 pm – 8 pm)

In addition to the fashionable festivities, guests will enjoy special shopping-themed packages at hotels within the district, exclusive shopping perks at top retail shops and a chance to win one of three incredible prizes with “The Magnificent Sweepstakes.” Every $100 spent throughout the festival qualifies for one entry into the sweepstakes. Prizes include six personal chef in-home dinner parties, an out-of-town Chicago-themed foodie basket, a five-night stay in the Presidential Suite at the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park and more.

For more information and a full calendar of events, visit TheMagnificentMile.com or follow The Magnificent Mile on Facebook, Twitter and foursquare.

About MasterCard
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a global payments and technology company. It operates the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Cashless Conversations Blog and subscribe for the latest news.

About Priceless Chicago
MasterCard Priceless Chicago celebrates the best Chicago has to offer while bringing consumers closer to their passions – dining, sports, shopping, arts and entertainment, and travel – through exclusive experiences and privileged access throughout the Chicagoland area.

Chicagoans can stay in the loop on Priceless Chicago access and experiences, including how to book, reserve and purchase offers, by visiting http://www.priceless.com/chicago or http://www.facebook.com/MasterCard.

Launched in summer 2011 in New York, Priceless Cities has since been extended to Chicago, London, Toronto and Beijing, among other metropolitan areas, to give cardholders new ways to discover some of the world’s global destinations.

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MEDIA CONTACT: 
Katie Fanella, PR Associate
(312) 344-2336
kfanella@gnmaa.com