The Barrington Hills Observer

By Luke Zurawski | Daily Herald

Friday, Dec. 26

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: 2:30 and 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, at the Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont. “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve.” $55. rosemont.com/allstate

Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Holiday Magic: 3-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, through Sunday, Jan. 4, at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. Lights festival featuring 3.5 million twinkling LED lights, a giant light-up maze, interactive light displays, a twinkling star walk-through experience, a Holiday Dolphin Show, Santa visits on select nights and a holiday market. $20.95-$34.95. brookfieldzoo.org/HolidayMagic.

Time Warp Express After Christmas Adventure: Time slots start at 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Dec. 26-28, at Volo Auto Museum, 27582 Volo Village Road, Volo. Board the Time Warp Express, a fully enclosed and decorated trolley, to save Santa. All paying customers get a free hot chocolate and cookie. $31.95; free for kids 4 and younger, who must ride on a guardian’s lap during the trolley ride; lap riders can purchase a hot chocolate and cookie for a $3.95. volofun.com/events.

Santa’s Village Magical Christmas Drive-Thru: 5-9 p.m. Friday through Tuesday, Dec. 26-30, at 601 Dundee Ave., East Dundee. See the light displays synchronized to holiday music from your car. Visit with Santa at the end. $29.99 per vehicle, $5 discount for season-pass holders. (847) 426-6751 or santasvillagedundee.com.

The Second City presents “Jack Frost Roasting on an Open Fire”: 7:30 p.m. Friday through Wednesday, Dec. 26-31, at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. A fast-paced, interactive comedy revue featuring seasonal songs, sketches and improv comedy. $40. metropolisarts.com

Saturday, Dec. 27

Elton Rohn: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Elton John tribute artist Ron Camilleri. For ages 12 and older. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $59. rauecenter.org

Sunday, Dec. 28

Scott Smith’s All Animal Expo: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Bimonthly show that hosts vendors from the Midwest. $3-$8. allanimalexpo.com.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, at the Chicago Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. The CSO celebrates the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss Jr. with a selection of overtures, arias and duets. $52.90. cso.org

Tuesday, Dec. 30

New Year’s Eve-Eve Family Celebration: 9-10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, at Station 34, 34 S. Main St., Mount Prospect. The Mount Prospect Downtown Merchants Association presents a kid-friendly family celebration to ring in the new year featuring entertainment, food, goody bags and a midday balloon drop. Tickets: $15 for 10 and older; $12 for kids 2-9; and free for kids 2 and younger. mpdowntown.com/new-years-eve-eve

Wednesday, Dec. 31

A balloon drop is part of the fun at the annual Noon Year’s Eve Party at the Salt Creek Sports Center in Palatine. This year’s event will be Wednesday, Dec. 31. | Daily Herald file photo, 2023

Noon Year’s Eve Party: 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Salt Creek Sports Center, 647 Consumers Ave., Palatine. Ring in the new year in your favorite pajamas. There will be bounce houses, dancing, photo ops, games and refreshments, followed by a countdown to noon and a balloon drop. $10-$15. saltcreekpd.com/special-events.

Happy Noon Year: 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Community Recreation Center, 100 Community Blvd., Wheeling. Games, music, balloon drop and a sparkling grape juice toast. Each participant receives a glow-stick necklace, a party hat and a noisemaker. $2. Registration required. wheelingparkdistrict.com

New Year’s Neon Bash: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Triphahn Center & Ice Arena, 1685 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates. Kids 4-10 can dance under black lights, play games and countdown to noon with pizza, music and neon fun. $18 for residents, $20 for nonresidents. Register at heparks.org with 245920-A.

Noon Year’s Eve: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at The Loft at Ethereal, 140 Cass St., Woodstock. Ring in the new year with a kid-friendly countdown to noon, complete with a sparkling juice toast and a balloon ball drop. Adults must attend with their child; everyone attending must register. $12-$18. woodstockrecreationdepartment.com

Hawthorn Noon Year Celebration: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Center Court at Hawthorn, 122 Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills. Families can count down to 2026 early with a family-friendly celebration featuring a live DJ, face painting, balloon twisting, refreshments and a festive balloon drop at noon. Free. visithawthorn.com.

Family New Year’s Eve Party: 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Prairie Lakes Community Center, 515 E. Thacker St., Des Plaines. A celebration to welcome the new year. $10-$12; adult admission is free when accompanied by a child. dpparks.org.

American English will perform “The Beatles in Bloom: A Musical Journey Through the Seasons of Life” Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake. | Courtesy of Todd Heintz Photography

American English’s “The Beatles in Bloom”: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Set in four “seasons,” audiences take a journey through projected visuals, poetic narration, and era-inspired lighting and costuming. Audience sing-alongs include “Hey Jude” and “All You Need Is Love.” For 12 and older. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $59. rauecenter.org.

New Year’s Bash with Felix and Fingers: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. The Woodstock Opera House and Stage Left host a night of music and dancing featuring Felix and Fingers, the dueling pianos duo, starting at 9 p.m. All-night Karaoke in Stage Left. A champagne toast at midnight. $65-$105. woodstockoperahouse.com.

Classic rock tribute band ARRA will headline a New Year’s Eve party along with Thunderstruck at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. | Courtesy of ARRA

A Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Party with ARRA and Thunderstruck: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Classic rock tribute. $46.75-$98.75. arcadalive.com.

New Year On The Pier: NYE 2026 at Bar Sol: 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, to 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, at Bar Sol, 700 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. A multifloor event offering views of Navy Pier’s midnight fireworks show. Tickets start at $99. navypierevents.greencurtainevents.com

New Year’s Eve with Sixteen Candles: 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Joe’s Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. Music of the ’80s. $32.52. joesliverosemont.com

New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Navy Pier features a free, 10-minute fireworks show at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31. | Courtesy of Josh Ohms Photography, Navy Pier, 2021

New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Navy Pier: 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Watch 2026 arrive with a 10-minute show synchronized to music. Free. navypier.org

Thursday, Jan. 1

Cheers to New Year’s 5K Run/Walk: 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, at Church Street Brewing Company, 1480 Industrial Drive, Itasca. Run, walk and enjoy the craft beer of Church Street Brewing Company. Results will be posted at J3Timing.com. Registration starts at $40. indyrunners.org

Ongoing

Christmas Around the World & Holidays of Lights: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Jan. 5 at The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. The museum’s annual celebration features a four-story, floor-to-dome Grand Tree surrounded by a forest of more than 50 trees and displays decorated to represent the holiday traditions from cultures around the globe. Museum admission: adults $25.95; kids 3-11 $14.95; free for members. griffinmsi.org

Illumination: Tree Lights: Time slots between 4:30 and 8 p.m. through Jan. 3 at The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Displays of lights and music that highlight the beauty of trees in winter. Roast marshmallows for s’mores and enjoy a hot seasonal beverage from the concession tents along the trail. The exhibition is closed select Mondays and Tuesdays. Tickets start at $20. mortonarb.org.

Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience: Time slots start at 4:30 p.m. Fridays through Sundays through Jan. 4; plus Monday, Dec. 29, and Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Camp Duncan, 32405 N. U.S. Hwy. 12, Ingleside. Lights transform the landscape into a magical outdoor trail featuring creatures from the “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” films. A themed village at the end of the trail offers food and drink (Butterbeer) and a gift shop. Tickets start at $31 for kids 3-12 and $46 for adults. HPForbiddenForestExperience.com.

The annual Lightscape display at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe runs through Jan. 4. | Courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

Lightscape: 4:30-9:15 p.m. select dates through Jan. 4 at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Take a nighttime stroll through illuminated displays. Adults: $26 for members, $29 for nonmembers; kids 3-12: $14 members, $16 nonmembers; free for kids 2 and younger. chicagobotanic.org/lightscape.

ZooLights: Time slots start at 4:30 p.m. select dates through Jan. 4 at Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago. Features more than 3 million lights, including hundreds of luminous LED displays and festive experiences. $7-$12; free on select Mondays. lpzoo.org/event/zoolights

Chicago Wolves Ice Rink at Parkway Bank Park: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 5 (except for special holiday hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 1); plus 4-9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, Monday, Jan. 19, and Sunday, Jan. 25. Free. rosemont.com/thepark

“Million Dollar Quartet Christmas”: Various times most Wednesdays through Sundays and some Tuesdays through Jan. 4 at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Christmas musical in which Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley come together to celebrate the holidays at Sun Records studio. Tickets start at $70. marriotttheatre.com

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