The chilly start to the weekend can’t keep crowds away from holiday festivals in the Chicago area

CHICAGO (CBS) – Friday’s cold weather didn’t stop large crowds from flocking to the Daley Plaza Christmas Market the day after Thanksgiving, and that was just one of the festivities that kicked off the holiday season in the Chicago area.

With Thanksgiving behind us, the holiday season is picking up steam — at least for 7-year-old Ashton Jones, who climbed to the top of Navy Pier’s new two-story ice slide, descending at a speed that seems as high as any other car ride .

“It’s fast. Very fast. I would say about 40 miles (an hour),” he said.

In Naperville, crowds braved the long distances and cold for the Christmas Parade of Lights

“I’m from Fort Wayne, Indiana, so I drove three and a half hours here just for this,” Courtney Groll said.

Valerie Kufer wrapped herself under a blanket to watch the parade with her husband John.

“He said, ‘This is going to be cold,’ so I thought, ‘Okay, I’ll grab whatever I can get,'” she said.

There was enough room for everyone to grab a front row seat – although the best seat in the house required some help as three-year-old Aria sat on Rob Grant’s shoulders waiting to see Santa.

“He will bring me many gifts,” she said.

The money raised through sponsorships and donations at the Parade of Lights goes directly back into the community and funds nonprofit organizations in the area.

Even when your Christmas wish list is finished, perhaps the greatest gift is spending time together.