
See fireworks on Saturday nights when Light Up The Lake returns to Chicago’s Navy Pier. (Courtesy of Navy Pier)
By Luke Zurawski | Daily Herald
Ongoing
Chicago Christkindlmarket: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through Dec. 24, at Daley Plaza. 50 W. Washington St., Chicago. German-style outdoor market featuring international and local vendors selling a variety of wares. Free. christkindlmarket.com/daleyplaza.
Lightscape: 4:30-9:15 p.m. select days through Jan. 7 at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Take an after-dark stroll through an array of illuminated displays from new installments to favorites like the Winter Cathedral. In advance: $30-$34 for adults, $17-$19 for kids 3-12; day of: $33-$37 for adults, $19-$21 for kids 3-12. chicagobotanic.org/lightscape.
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”: 1 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; and 1 and 5 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 30, at Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The inspiring true story of Carole King’s journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Ticket prices start at $55. marriotttheatre.com.
Big & Bright Trail of Lights Festival: 5-9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, through Dec. 31, at Sonny Acres Farm, 29W310 North Ave., West Chicago. Holiday lights show includes a Christmas Market, photo ops, fire pits, s’mores, hot chocolate, adult specialty drinks and more. $10-$15. sonnyacres.com.
Rosemont’s Chicago Wolves Ice Rink: Noon to 10 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 21. Free admission. Bring your own skates or rent skates on-site for $8. ParkwayBankPark.com.
ZooLights: 4:30-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4:30-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, through Jan. 7, at Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago. Lighted displays, photo ops and interactive programming. $10 Fridays and Saturdays, $7 most weekdays, free on Mondays. lpzoo.org/event/zoolights.
Long Grove Vintage Days: Through Dec. 23 in downtown Long Grove, 145 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. Carriage rides Fridays through Sundays; holiday caroling; merchant open houses and promotions; and Santa visits from noon to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Nov. 24-26. Free. longgrove.org/festival/holiday-season.
Friday, Nov. 24
Light Up The Lake: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, from Nov. 24 through Dec. 31 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Outdoor ice skating, ax throwing, outdoor firepits, light displays, live music, a holiday artisan market, fireworks on Saturdays and more. Free, fees for some activities. navypier.org.

Brookfield Zoo’s Holiday Magic kicks off Friday, Nov. 24, with over two million twinkling LED lights, live entertainment, roaming carolers, ice carving and more. – Courtesy of Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield Zoo’s Holiday Magic: 3-9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Nov. 24-26, and Thursday, Dec. 1, and other dates through Dec. 31 at Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. See more than two million twinkling LED lights. Entertainment from 5-8 p.m. at North Pole at The Pavilions featuring Those Funny Little People, Juggling Elves, pictures with Santa, roaming carolers and ice carving at the Nature Stage. Advance tickets are not required for North Gate entry, but are required for South Gate entry. $20.95-$29.95. czs.org/HolidayMagic.
Arlington Heights Tree Lighting: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at North School Park, 307 N. Evergreen Ave., and Harmony Park, 7 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. The countdown to the lighting of the tree and park will take place at 5 p.m. in North School Park. Hop a trolley and enjoy holiday fun at Harmony Park from 4:30-6:30 p.m., including an ice carver, a reindeer, a giant ornament of lights, photo stations and a free professional photo. Trolleys will be looping between Harmony Park and North School Park from 3:45-6:45 p.m. Free. vah.com/treelighting.
Schaumburg Tree Lighting Ceremony: 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Holiday caroling begins at 6 p.m. Santa will be escorted by the Schaumburg Fire Department and will arrive at 6:30 p.m. to light the tree at the Jack Siegel Memorial Plaza. Santa will meet with children in the Prairie Center’s Maggie Atcher Theatre, where parents/guardians are encouraged to bring their cameras for photos. Bring nonperishable food items for the Schaumburg Food Pantry. Free. prairiecenter.org.
Festival of Lights Parade: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at Williams and Brink streets, Crystal Lake. Santa Claus comes to town for the parade and stays for the lighting of the community Christmas tree in the Brink Street Market courtyard. The parade starts at West Woodstock and North Caroline streets and heads south to West Crystal Lake Avenue, east to Grant Street, northeast to East Woodstock Street, and southeast to North Williams Street. downtowncl.org.
Theatre 121’s “White Christmas”: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 25-26, at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 W. Van Buren St., Woodstock. Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.” $10-$26. woodstockoperahouse.com.
Saturday, Nov. 25
Run Fox Run 5K: 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Fox Run Golf Links, 333 Plum Grove Road, Elk Grove Village. $25. Register at elkgroveparks.org.
Holiday Pop-up Shop: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 25 and Dec. 9, at Arts in Bartlett, 215 S. Main St., Bartlett. Local artisans and crafters will be selling unique items. Free. artsinbartlett.org.
Handmade Holiday Craft Fair: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Elara Convention Center, Holiday Inn Crystal Lake, 800 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake. Handmade works by local artists, crafters, bakers and chefs. Free. artisan-markets.com.
Holiday Cheers Sips of the Season: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, in Elgin. Over 20 downtown businesses offer hot cocoa with festive toppings, warm apple cider, mint mocha, Ponche Navideño, warm tea and more. Order a commemorative Holiday Cheers insulated cup for $25 at downtownelgin.com/hollydays.
Holiday Craft Fair: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Village Barn, 2 Lagoon Drive, Hawthorn Woods. Vendors and businesses will be selling unique and handcrafted items. Free. vhw.org.
Holidays at The Haight: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at The Haight, 166 Symphony Way, Elgin. Sip and shop from a curated collection of over 40 local makers and their goods. It is also one of the 20 stops in downtown Elgin’s annual Sip & Stroll from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free entry. facebook.com/thehaight166.
Santa House Visits: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 3 p.m. Sundays, and 6-8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, from Nov. 25 through Dec. 23, at Williams and Brink streets, Crystal Lake. Bring your camera for a visit with Santa in his Santa House. Free. downtowncl.org.
Spring Valley Holiday Craft Fair: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 25-26, at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Handcrafted gift items including jewelry, home decorations and more. The Spring Valley Nature Club will be selling food and beverages. Free. parkfun.com.
Fox Lake Festival of Lights: 3-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Millennium Park, 23 Rollins Road, Fox Lake. Kriss Kringle Winter Market located at the Community Garden Green will be open from 3-6 p.m. The parade is at 5 p.m. at Grant Community High School, 285 E. Grand Ave., Fox Lake, followed by the tree lighting at Millennium Park and the opening of the Santa Cottage. foxlake.org.
For King + Country’s “A Drummer Boy Christmas — The 2023 Tour Experience”: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at NOW Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $29.99-$205. nowarena.com.
“A Christmas Carol”: Various times and dates from Saturday, Nov. 25, through Dec. 24 at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. For ages 5 and older. For tickets, see metropolisarts.com.
Sunday, Nov. 26
Cookies & Churros with Santa: 2:30-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, at Flores Banquets, 240 N. Throop St., Woodstock. After the annual Woodstock Christmas Parade, enjoy Cookies and Churros with Santa. Free. Sponsored by the City of Woodstock, Hispanic Connections, and the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry and other sponsors. woodstockilchamber.com.
Itasca Winter Wonderland: 4-5:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, at the Usher Park gazebo, 203 S. Walnut, Itasca. Santa, Mrs. Claus and their North Pole companions will join the holiday tree lighting by the village and park district. Music from the Holiday Dickens Carolers, a holiday performance from the Inner Prestige Dancers, and hot chocolate and cookies. Free. itasca.com.
An Evening with Chevy Chase and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $49.75-$89.75. chicagotheatre.com.
Wednesday, Nov. 29
Luminaria Walk: 4:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, through Saturday, Dec. 2, at Veteran Acres, 431 N. Walkup, Crystal Lake. Stroll under the stars along the lit trail through Veteran Acres. $1 per person or $5 per family donation appreciated. Donations go toward future Nature Center education programs. crystallakeparks.org/special-events.
Thursday, Nov. 30
Craft & Vendor Fair: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, at McHenry Senior Center, 3519 N. Richmond Road, McHenry. Annual craft and vendor fair. (815) 344-3555 or seniorservicesassoc.org.
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