Chicago edition
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Family and Kids, Arts and Music
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr.Cook County
Griffin MSI opens its 84th Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light display on Nov. 7. More than 50 community-decorated trees and holiday-of-light displays fill the museum through Jan. 3.
Arts and Music, Family and Kids
Goodman Theatre, Albert Theatre, Chicago170 N. Dearborn St.Cook County
Goodman Theatre stages Tom Creamer's adaptation of A Christmas Carol, directed by Malkia Stampley, with Tim Hopper as Scrooge. Children under 5 are not admitted.
Food and Drink, Outdoors and Beaches
The Morton Arboretum, Lisle4100 Illinois Route 53DuPage County
IllumiBrew is an adults-only preview of the Illumination trail with local beer tastings. The arboretum schedules it for the evening before the public light-show opening.
Outdoors and Beaches, Arts and Music
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe1000 Lake Cook Rd.Cook County
Lightscape is a ticketed outdoor trail of light installations at the Chicago Botanic Garden on selected evenings from Nov. 13 through Jan. 3. The garden says the trail is about 1.3 miles.
Outdoors and Beaches, Family and Kids
Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon, Chicago337 E. Randolph St.Cook County
Maggie Daley Park opens its outdoor skating ribbon on Nov. 13 and lists March 7 as closing day. Every skater needs a reservation for a specific session.
Outdoors and Beaches, Family and Kids
The Morton Arboretum, Lisle4100 Illinois Route 53DuPage County
Illumination is a ticketed one-mile walking display of holiday lights at The Morton Arboretum. This season adds four large installations and a separate model-train ticket for the Pine Whistle Railroad.
Food and Drink, Local Makers and Markets
RiverEdge Park, Aurora360 N. BroadwayKane County
Christkindlmarket Aurora runs Thursdays through Sundays at RiverEdge Park from Nov. 20 through Dec. 24, plus a few extra weekdays. Admission is free.
Food and Drink, Local Makers and Markets
Daley Plaza, Chicago50 W. Washington St.Cook County
Christkindlmarket sets up a free outdoor German holiday market on Daley Plaza from Nov. 20 through Dec. 24. Vendors sell food, ornaments and handmade gifts.
Food and Drink, Local Makers and Markets
Gallagher Way, Chicago3635 N. Clark St.Cook County
The Wrigleyville Christkindlmarket occupies Gallagher Way from Nov. 20 through Dec. 31 as part of Winterland. The organizer lists the market as open daily, with holiday hour changes posted on its page.
Outdoors and Beaches, Family and Kids
Cantigny, Wheaton1S151 Winfield Rd.DuPage County
Cantigny opens a half-mile garden light show on Nov. 20 and lists Christmas at Cantigny dates through Jan. 3. The grounds are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, while New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are limited to ice skating and cocoa cabanas.
Family and Kids, Arts and Music
Millennium Park, Chicago201 E. Randolph St.Cook County
The 113th City of Chicago Christmas Tree stands in Millennium Park near Michigan Avenue and Washington Street. The city lights it at 6 p.m. on Nov. 20.
Outdoors and Beaches, Family and Kids
McCormick Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park, Chicago201 E. Randolph St.Cook County
The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park reopens for the winter on Nov. 20. The city lists the season through Jan. 31, weather permitting.
Local Makers and Markets, Food and Drink
Millennium Park, Chicago201 E. Randolph St.Cook County
The Millennium Park Holiday Market is a three-day shopping event with live entertainment and concessions. The city lists it for Nov. 20 through Nov. 22.
Family and Kids, Outdoors and Beaches
Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago2400 N. Cannon Dr.Cook County
Lincoln Park Zoo lights the grounds for ZooLights from Nov. 20 through Jan. 3. Tickets are required for every visitor, including infants, at advance prices of $7 to $12.
Family and Kids, Outdoors and Beaches
Brookfield Zoo Chicago31st St. and Golfview Ave.Cook County
Brookfield Zoo Chicago turns the grounds into a nighttime light display on selected dates from Nov. 21 through Jan. 3. Members enter free while general tickets start at $29.95.
Arts and Music
The Art Institute of Chicago111 S. Michigan Ave.Cook County
The Art Institute returns its 18th-century Neapolitan creche to Gallery 203 for the holidays. More than 200 painted terracotta figures depict the Nativity and street life in Naples.
Arts and Music, Family and Kids
Magnificent Mile, ChicagoN. Michigan Ave. from Oak St. to Wacker Dr.Cook County
The 35th Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival is a free parade down North Michigan Avenue on Nov. 21. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are the grand marshals before fireworks at the end of the route.
Family and Kids, Arts and Music
State Street, ChicagoState St. from Ida B. Wells Dr. to Randolph St.Cook County
The City of Chicago lists a Thanksgiving morning parade on State Street. The posted start time is 8 a.m.
Family and Kids
Festival Hall, Navy Pier, Chicago600 E. Grand Ave.Cook County
Navy Pier turns Festival Hall into Wintrust Winter WonderFest from Nov. 27 through Jan. 3. Admission includes ice skating, with online tickets at $27 when bought at least 24 hours ahead.
Family and Kids
Paddleboat Quarry Rentals Building, Naperville441 Aurora Ave.DuPage County
The Naperville Park District hosts reserved family visits with Santa at the Paddleboat Quarry Rentals Building from Nov. 30 through Dec. 22. Walk-ups are not accepted and the resident fee is $12 per family.
Local Makers and Markets, Arts and Music
The Mart, Chicago222 Merchandise Mart PlazaCook County
The One of a Kind Holiday Show returns to the seventh floor of The Mart from Dec. 3 through Dec. 6. Admission is $15 for all four days with free entry for children under 12.
Arts and Music, Local Makers and Markets
DowntownGeneva, IL 60134Kane County
Geneva lights the Great Tree on the Kane County Courthouse lawn during the Christmas Walk. The city calendar also lists Santa, carolers, a live nativity and downtown shopping.
Home and Garden
Five homes in Geneva8 S. Third St.Kane County
The Geneva Chamber of Commerce offers a self-guided tour of five locally decorated homes. The chamber lists its office at 8 South Third Street as the contact, with any remaining day-of tickets sold at Little Red Barn Door.
Arts and Music
Millennium Park, Chicago201 E. Randolph St.Cook County
The city invites visitors to three Friday evening holiday sing-alongs in December. Each gathering is listed at 6 p.m.
Arts and Music, Family and Kids
Lyric Opera House, Chicago20 N. Wacker Dr.Cook County
The Joffrey Ballet performs Christopher Wheeldon's Nutcracker at the Lyric Opera House from Dec. 4 through Dec. 27. The production is set at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and runs about two hours.
Family and Kids
Western Avenue, Chicago8300 S. Western Ave.Cook County
The City of Chicago lists the Chicagoland Toys for Tots Parade for the morning of Dec. 6. The route starts at 8300 South Western Avenue.
Food and Drink, Arts and Music
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr.Cook County
Griffin MSI holds an after-hours holiday party for guests 21 and older on Dec. 10. The program includes seasonal drinks, trivia, crafts and time in the Christmas Around the World galleries.
Arts and Music
Symphony Center, Chicago220 S. Michigan Ave.Cook County
Masaaki Suzuki conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Handel's Messiah. Soloists are Sherezade Panthaki, Hugh Cutting, Andrew Haji and Paul Max Tipton.
Arts and Music, Family and Kids
Symphony Center, Chicago220 S. Michigan Ave.Cook County
Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and conductor Thomas Wilkins present Merry, Merry Chicago! with vocalist Mandy Gonzalez. The CSO season calendar lists seven performances from Dec. 18 through Dec. 23.
Local Makers and Markets
Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago1200 W. 35th St.Cook County
Renegade Craft holds its winter fair at Bridgeport Art Center from Dec. 18 through Dec. 20. Shoppers can come Friday evening or over the weekend, with a suggested $5 entry paid on site.
