You're ready to string lights and turn on the glow around your South Side home, so it's time to sort through those boxes of strands in self storage. Your Chicago, IL neighbors are headed for the roof too. Everyone in Beverly brightens up at the thought of putting up lights for the holidays, so make these smart tips part of your decorating scheme this year.

Stay on the Safe Side

You turn your home into a wonderland of dazzling lights every holiday season. You also make sure to play it safe, so review your list of precautions, and then check it twice.

• Give the ladder a solid safety check before you head up to the roof.
• Inspect light strands, extension cords, and plugs for any signs of wear.
• Clear plenty of safe working space by moving outdoor furnishings to your storage unit.
• Take a look around for power lines that can pose a danger while you're on the ladder.

Streamline the Job

DIY efficiency is one of your hallmarks, and that talent extends to handling holiday lights. As you retrieve the old ones from self storage and add new sparkle to your collection, streamline the job by keeping everything in working order.

• Test each strand for dead bulbs with a light tester.
• Tape measure all the lengths you plan on spanning including window frames and porch rails.
• Replace retired strings and garlands with energy-efficient LED lights.
• When the strands come down, coil them in large plastic buckets, or around egg cartons for easy storage in your unit.

Create a Holiday Showcase

Traditional lighting around the eaves is just the beginning. Extend that brilliant illumination with outdoor light tricks that turn your Beverly homestead into a holiday showcase.

• Welcome guests to the house with pretty pathway lights.
• Make shrubs shimmer with sparkling net lights.
• Dress up the post mount lantern with strands of twinkling stars.
• Brighten up your front porch with big glass jars filled with colorful lights.

We Wish You the Best

Don't forget to turn off those beautiful holiday lights before you go to bed. We want you and your Beverly neighbors to stay safe and preserve energy efficiency, especially this time of year. When everything finally comes down, we're ready for you with 15 Safeguard Self Storage Chicagoland locations. Safeguard Self Storage wishes you the best during this special season, and all year long.

It's that time again when the annual Christkindlmarket comes to Chicago, IL. This winter event brings in more than 1 million people, including residents here in Uptown and West Rogers Park as well as visitors from across the country. This is the 21st year of this cherished tradition and features numerous vendors offering everything from toys to delicious German chocolates. Your local self storage experts at Safeguard Self Storage are here to show you what you’re missing.

Discover Christkindlmarket This Year in Chicago IL

This annual event began as an idea to promote trade between the USA and Germany and was first held at Pioneer Court in 1996. The event was moved to Daley Plaza a year later and has become an anticipated tradition in the area. Because it has become so popular, the Christkindlmarket committee has set up a second location in Naperville about an hour from the Lake View and Beverly areas of Chicago.

Although Christkindlmarket is known for its vendors, it's also the ideal place for teachers to take their students. German students can practice their skills at the market, which features many German-speaking vendors. The students can also take part in scavenger hunts and sing German holiday songs. Christkindlmarket really gives students a feeling for German traditions without having to leave the country. If you're a teacher from Lake View, West Rogers Park or anywhere in the Chicago area, consider a field trip to Christkindlmarket as a fun and educational gift to your students.

So Many Vendors, So Little Time

Christkindlmarket lasts from November 18 to December 24, so you have a little more than a month to visit the event. With so many vendors, it can seem overwhelming as you shuffle through the crowds and become entranced by the dazzling lights above the vendors' shops. You can purchase most anything from the vendors, like hand-blown and painted ornaments for your Christmas tree. Some German vendors sell nutcrackers and cuckoo clocks while others offer toys, jewelry and clothes.

You can buy German home decor and handmade crafts; you can even watch a wood carver make goods for sale on the spot. Try not to get hungry while you're making your way through the crowd as the tempting aromas from strudel, spiced wines and roasted nuts fill the air. You can stop at any time and quench your thirst with a German beer or fill your belly with sausage and potato pancakes.

If you're looking for unique gifts for the holidays, you can find them at Christkindlmarket. Whether it's toys for your children or beer steins for your friends, this annual event gives you a way to find something eclectic and original for those you love during the holidays. 

Keep Your Gifts Secret With Self Storage 

Don't let your trip to Christkindlmarket get ruined because your family and friends discover their presents early. Whether you're from Uptown or Beverly, Safeguard Self Storage has convenient storage units available close to home. We have affordable monthly plans, so you can invest in a short-term self storage solution for keeping your presents hidden from prying eyes. With temperature-controlled storage units and around-the-clock security, your gifts will remain a secret until you're ready to hand them out on Christmas Day.

Santa Claus stores his Christmas gifts with Safeguard Self Storage, shouldn’t you?

Chicago, IL is known for many things, like pizza, the Bears and the Cubs. Those who love horse racing also know Chicago for its legendary tracks and rich racing history. Since the 1830s, Chicagoans have sat in the stands and watched some of the best thoroughbred racing of all time. The Breeders' Cup is held on November 4 and 5 this year in California, but people everywhere from Uptown and Beverly to Lake View and West Rogers Park will drag their good luck charms out of their Safeguard self storage units before watching and placing bets on the race.

A Brief History of Horse Racing in Chicago, IL

In the early 1830s, horse racing came to the Chicago metropolitan area. One hundred years later, the city had six racing tracks, more than any other city in the country. Legendary tracks such as Brighton Park and Dexter Park opened in the 1860s, paving the way for the illustrious Washington Park in 1883; it hosted many racing events until it closed in 1977.

Today, horse racing is still alive and well in Chicago. In fact, the Hawthorne Race Course opened in 1891 and still operates every spring and fall. Arlington Park, which opened in 1927, has hosted, and continues to host numerous races, including the Breeders' Cup in 2002. Racing fans from the Chicago suburbs, such as Lake View and Beverly, piled into Arlington Park to watch this prestigious event.

2016 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park

The Breeders' Cup may not be in Chicago this year, but it doesn't mean that you can't still enjoy the fun from your couch in Uptown or West Rogers Park. Sports bars across the area will televise the event, or you can tune in to NBC and watch at home. You can also log on to the Breeders' Cup website and place bets without leaving your house.

Safeguard Self Storage Welcomes Horse Racing Fans

When you're in town for the races, store your items at a nearby Safeguard Self Storage facility. We have short-term storage units available to house your belongings while you're at the track. We also provide long-term storage units for those who fall in love with the area and want to make the Windy City their home.

Zombies, ghouls and ghosts – oh my! It's Halloween once again in Chicago, IL. It's a time for vampires to prey on greedy trick-or-treaters and witches to cross the moonlit skies from West Rogers Park to Beverly. For those who thirst for excitement and fun, Safeguard Self Storage has some spooky suggestions of festivities happening in Chicago and the surrounding areas leading up to All Hallows' Eve. 

5 Can’t-Miss Events in Chicago This Halloween

Halloween Festival in the Chicago Botanic Garden

Don't miss the Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns starting on October 20. This festival takes place at the Chicago Botanic Garden and features everything from 1,000 hand-carved pumpkins to food and drinks. It ends on October 23, so put on your best costume and come join the fun.

Downtown Halloween Festival & Parade

The Halloween Gathering Festival & Parade takes place on October 22 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. You can watch live performances, take part in family-friendly crafts and view an amazing parade to close the event.

Halloween Flea Market

Put on your favorite costume, and head out to the Wheaton Haunted Halloween Flea Market on October 22. This event starts at 3 p.m. and lasts until midnight, giving you plenty of time to watch live performances or to take a hayride with your family. You can also play games and get autographs from various celebrities.

Boo! at the Zoo

Treat your kids to an early Halloween party at the Brookfield Zoo on October 22-23 or 29-30. The festivities, which include zoo chats, costume parades, haunted hayrides and more, start at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. This spooky event welcomes kids and adults of all ages.

Halloween Costume Party in Schiller Park

Be one of over 400 people to attend the annual Halloween Costume Party at the Galaxy Banquets across from O'Hare on October 28. If you're over 21, you're invited to attend the party and meet, mingle and dance with everyone in attendance. This entertaining party starts at 8 p.m. and lasts until 2 a.m. and features everything from food and drinks to music and contests.

Store Your Halloween Decorations with Safeguard

Once Halloween has come and gone, don't cram your costumes, decorations and supplies in the closet. Make more room in your home while keeping your belongings safe in a Safeguard storage facility. Whether you're in Uptown or in Lake View, we have self storage available to keep your supplies protected and as good as new