The luminous 20-foot-tall orb that is aglow with thousands of sparkling LED lights is a popular photo spot at Brookfield Zoo’s annual Holiday Magic lights display. The display runs select dates through Dec. 31. (CZS-Brookfield Zoo/HANDOUT)
Tis the season and nowhere is busier than the Chicago suburbs and Northwest Indiana.
Here is a list of holiday highlights sure to put a jingle in your step.
Advertisement
In one case, you can see Second City’s holiday revue What the Elf in three different locations. Improv comedians from Second City serve up a heaping helping of seasonal satire in this holiday-themed comedy revue.
On select dates Nov. 17-Dec. 23, it will be at the Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., in Aurora. Tickets are $42. 630-896-6666; paramountaurora.com.
Advertisement
Additionally, it will be performed various dates Dec. 18-31. Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St. Tickets: $35-$50. 847-577-2121; metropolisarts.com/event/what-the-elf.
Finally, it will be performed at 5 and 8 p.m. Dec. 9 at McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd. Tickets are $30-$48. 630-942-4000; atthemac.org.
Performers from Second City present the holiday-themed comedy show, “Second City: What the Elf,” select dates Nov. 17-Dec. 23 at the Copley Theatre in Aurora and Dec. 9 at the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. (Timothy M. Schmidt/HANDOUT)
And for you fans of Christmas classics “The Nutcracker” and “A Christmas Carol” we’ll have a special feature for those two beloved favorites in early December.
Antioch
Christmas Parade: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 24. Village of Antioch, 874 Main St. Tickets: free. 847-395-2160; facebook.com/EnjoyAntioch.
Welcome Santa Claus to town during the annual parade and stay for the village tree lighting ceremony.
Aurora
Festival of Lights: 5-9 p.m. Nov. 25-Dec. 25. Phillips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive. Tickets: free. 630-256-4636.
This is a mile-long, drive-through lights display. Displays include prancing reindeer, ice skating bears, wolves, the holiday golfer, Santa’s toy factory and fields of gigantic snowflakes.
Brookfield
Holiday Magic: 3-9 p.m. Nov. 24-26 and 30 and Dec. 1-3, 7-10, 14-17, 21-23 and 26-31. Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St. Tickets: $20.95-$29.95; parking $17-$20. 708-688-8400; CZS.org/HolidayMagic.
Advertisement
The 42nd annual holiday event featuring more than two million LED lights returns. In addition to the many lighted displays, there will be community-decorated trees and special events.
Elgin
Greater Elgin Sing-Along Messiah is Dec. 1 at Blizzard Theatre at Elgin Community College. Musicians and singers from several organizations will perform. (Stage Photographic/HANDOUT)
Sing-Along Messiah: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1. Blizzard Theatre at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive. Tickets: $7; kids 12 and under free. 847-622-0300. elginsing-alongmessiah.org.CZS.org/HolidayMagic.
The event features musicians from the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, four professional soloists, the Larkin High School concert choir, members the Elgin Master Chorale, choirs from Church of the Cross of Hoffman Estates and Second Baptist Church of Elgin and students from Judson University performing selections from Handel’s “Messiah.” Audience members can sing along, too.
Evanston
A Latin American Christmas: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 939 Hinman Ave. Tickets: $25; $10 students; free for under 16 with purchase of adult ticket. 312-285-0885; newberryconsort.org.
Concert by the Newberry Consort features holiday music from the 15th-18th centuries from Peru, Spain, Guatemala, and more.
Practical Theatre Company’s “Ho-Ho-Holiday Revue”: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays, 8 p.m. Saturdays,, and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28-Jan. 6. Studio5, 1938 Dempster St. Tickets: $30-$55. 847-328-6683; tickettailor.com/events/practicaltheatre.
Advertisement
Holiday variety show with music and vaudeville features Victoria Zielinski, Dana Olsen, and Paul Barrosse, with music by Steve Rashid and his Studio5 All-Stars.
Fair Oaks, Indiana
Forest of Lights: 5-9 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays Nov. 17-Dec. 14; 5-9 p.m. daily Dec. 15-31, weather permitting. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Fair Oaks Farms Adventure Center, 856 N. 600 East. Tickets: $8-$12. 219-394-2025; fofarms.com/forest-of-lights.
This event includes lighted holiday scenes, festive displays, photo opportunities, bonfires for making s’mores, warm drinks and an adult beverage station.
Forest Park
Make We Joy Now in This Fest: 4 p.m. Nov. 19. St. John Lutheran Church, 305 Circle Ave. Tickets: $18-$20; $10-$12 seniors and students. 708-848-2130; oakparkconcertchorale.org/concerts.
The Oak Park Concert Chorale presents unusual Christmas carols from as far back as Medieval England, Slovak carols, and rarely-performed numbers. The title selection, by Carl Schalk, is a cantata that narrates the story of Christmas.
Grayslake
Santa’s Rock ‘N’ Lights: 5-10 p.m. daily Nov. 17-Dec. 31. Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road. Tickets: $29.99-$36.99 per car; $7 extra per person if more than six people. Pop-up village tickets: $15.99; children ages 2 and under free. 224-757-5425; santasrocknlights.com.
Advertisement
This mile-plus-long drive-through holiday light display is synced to holiday music.
Hammond, Indiana
A Christmas Story Comes Home: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily Nov. 11-Dec. 30. Indiana Welcome Center, 7770 Corrine Drive. Tickets: free. 219-989-7770; southshorecva.com/achristmasstory.
The annual event celebrates the movie “A Christmas Story” and its roots in northwest Indiana. Guests can gaze at the six animated displays of scenes depicted in the movie. Visits with Santa, a gift shop, a Mommy’s Little Piggy mashed potato eating contest and more are part of the celebration.
Highland Park
The Festival of Lights Hanukkah celebration: 2-4 p.m. Dec. 2. Port Clinton Square, 600 Central Ave. downtownhp.com.
Enjoy klezmer music, sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), a visit from Hanukkah Harriet and kids’ crafts to celebrate Hanukkah.
Highwood
Elf Invasion Pub Crawl: 2 p.m.-bar closes Dec. 2. 28 Mile Vodka and Distillery, 454 Sheridan Road. Tickets: $20. Celebratehighwood.org/elf-invasion-pub-crawl.
Advertisement
The fifth annual crawl includes stops at Teddy O’Brian’s, Broken Tee Brewing Company, Toadstool Pub and the Wooden Nickel. Participants are encouraged to register with their friends for one of five departing times. The registration fee gets you a troupe necklace and five raffle tickets.
Joliet
Merry Little Soiree featuring Nova Soul Quartet: 6:15 p.m. Dec. 11-13 at Rialto Square Theatre. Enter at 15 E. Van Buren St., Joliet. $65. 815-726-6600. rialtosquare.com.
Celebrate the season with a local favorite. The event starts with a cocktail hour and feature a charcuterie board and wine from Bishop Hill Winery as Nova Soul Quartet performs.
“Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Goose”: 7 p.m. Dec. 15-16 and 2 p.m. Dec. 17. Bicentennial Park, 201 W. Jefferson St. Tickets: $18-$20. 815-342-0247; thejolietdramaguild.com.
In this family-friendly holiday mystery, Sherlock Holmes is hired to discover the identity of a man who lost his hat and goose in a late-night scuffle. Holmes and Watson pursue the thief all over the streets of wintry London.
LaPorte, Indiana
Christkindlmarket: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 22, 24 and 25. LaPorte County Fairgrounds, 2581 West IN-2. Tickets: free. 219-362-3312; laportechristkindlmarkt.com.
Advertisement
This German-inspired market will wrap around an artificial skating rink. Guests will find fresh Christmas trees for sale as well as crafts and food and drink. There will be live entertainment all three days.
Lisle
The Morton Arboretum in Lisle lights up with its annual Illumination: Tree Lights event. (Morton Arboretum/HANDOUT)
Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum: 4:30 p.m.; last ticket entry at 8 p.m. Nov. 18-Jan. 6, 2024, at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. Tickets: $15.50-$60. 630-725-2066; mortonarb.org.
Explore the Arboretum when its 50 acres are lit up with the colors, lights and sounds of the holidays. Electric Illumination, the late-night dance party for adults 18 and older, is Dec. 8, 15, 22 and 29 for $39.
The Barrington High School Madrigal Singers welcome visitors to Vintage Holidays in Historic Downtown Long Grove, Nov. 17-Dec. 23. (Downtown Long Grove/HANDOUT)
Long Grove
Vintage Holidays: various hours Nov. 17-Dec. 23. 145 Old McHenry Road. Tickets: free admission. 847-634-0888; longgrove.org/festival/holiday-season.
Celebration presented by the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association includes a bridge lighting ceremony, horse-drawn carriage rides, roaming holiday carolers, visits by Santa, and holiday walks.
Lowell, Indiana
Christmas Tyme Lights: 5-9 p.m. Nov. 24-26 and Dec. 1-3, 8-10, 15-23 and 26-30 (no live character meet and greets after Christmas). Harvest Tyme Family Farm, 17904 Grant St. Tickets: $6.95. 219-440-2386; harvesttymefun.com/christmas-tyme-lights.
Advertisement
The farm changed things up this year and is offering a half-mile walking path filled with twinkling lights and holiday displays. Concessions available.
Naperville
Holiday Parade of Lights: 7 p.m. Nov. 24. Jackson and Webster streets in downtown Naperville. napervillerotaryparade.org.
Bundle up and enjoy an evening of festivities and brightly lit floats. Santa and Mrs. Claus make their official entrance to Naperville for the holiday season.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party: 8 p.m. Dec. 16. Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave. Tickets: $45-$55. 630-637-7469; northcentralcollege.edu/show.
The rock and swing band puts their spin on holiday classics like “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “Heat Miser,” “Run, Run Rudolph,” “Merry Christmas Baby” and “Blue Christmas.”
New Buffalo, Michigan
Holiday Dreams, A Spectacular Holiday Cirque: 8 p.m. Dec. 16 and 6 p.m. Dec. 17 Eastern time. Four Winds Casino, 11111 Wilson Road. Tickets: $22-$45. 866-494-6371; fourwindscasino.com.
Advertisement
This family-friendly holiday production incorporates cirque performers, sideshow acts, comedy and technology for a one-of-a-kind experience.
New Lenox
Christmas in the Commons: 4-8 p.m. weekends Dec. 2-17 and Dec. 23. Village Commons, 101 Veterans Parkway. Tickets: free. 815-462-6400; newlenox.net and search special events.
The 50-foot-tall lighted Santa Claus is the star of the annual light display. The event includes visits from Santa, horse-drawn wagon rides, synthetic skating rinks, visits from live reindeer and a marketplace.
Members of the Pro Musica Youth Chorus, under Bill Chin’s direction, rehearse for the 18th edition of Sing We Joyous, which will be performed on Dec. 9 and 10 at the first United Church of Oak Park. (Beth Albrecht/HANDOUT)
Oak Park
Sing We Joyous: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and 4 p.m. Dec. 10. First United Church of Oak Park, 848 Lake St. Tickets: $30; free for ages 18 and under. 773-336-2446; oriana.org/sing-we-joyous.
Bill Chin directs the Oriana Singers, City Voices, Pro Musica Youth Chorus, and Sing We Joyous Orchestra, in the 18th celebration of music of the season and family-friendly hijinks. They will once again present a new version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
River Forest
Hanukkah a cappella: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7. West Suburban Temple Har Zion, 1040 N. Harlem Ave. Tickets: $38-$50; $10 for latkes and a light meal before concert. 708-366-9000; chicagoacappella.org/concert-event/hanukkah-a-cappella.
Advertisement
Chicago a cappella will perform traditional and contemporary songs of the festival plus the ever popular “Funky Dreidel.” The concert celebrates the release of the group’s latest recording, “Miracle of Miracles: Music for Hanukkah.”
Rosemont
The Sparkle Light Festival at Impact Field in Rosemont runs Nov. 17 to Dec. 31 and includes five illuminated villages plus tubing and ice skating. (Sparkle Light Festival/HANDOUT)
Sparkle Lights Festival: various dates and times Nov. 17-Dec. 31. Impact Field, 9850 Balmoral Ave. Tickets: $18-$24; parking $5. Tubing rides $22. 847-636-5450; sparklerosemont.com.
Stroll through five illuminated villages, meet Santa, ice skate, go tubing down the Alpine Slide and hop aboard the Holly Trolly.
Johnny Mathis Christmas Concert: 8 p.m. Dec. 9. Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road. Tickets: $39-$75. 847-671-5100; rosemont.com/theatre/event/johnny-mathis-christmas-concert.
The legendary singer celebrates his 67th year as a performer with a concert of seasonal favorites.
Skokie
Preservation Hall Jazz Band Creole Christmas: 8 p.m. Dec. 8. North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd. Tickets: $48-$68. 847-673-6300; northshorecenter.org/event/preservation-hall-jazz-band.
Advertisement
The jazz band from the historic New Orleans’ music venue is on a nationwide tour to celebrate its 60th anniversary. They will share seasonal music “Big Easy” style.
University Park
Livewire Theater presents “A Very Electric Christmas”: 1 and 4 p.m. Dec. 9. Governors State University Center for Performing Arts, 1 University Parkway. Tickets: $20-$44. 708-235-2222; govst.edu/VeryElectricXmas2023.
Lightwire Theater, semifinalists on “America’s Got Talent,” tell stories in complete darkness through choreography and electroluminescent wire illuminating their performers. In this show, a young bird named Max trying fly south for the winter gets blown off course and ends up at the North Pole.
Waukegan
“A Charlie Brown Christmas”: 4 p.m. Nov. 19. Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St. Tickets: $15-$25. 847-263-6300; geneseetheatre.com.
The stage adaptation of the holiday classic features Vince Guaraldi’s jazzy score, as well as a post-show singalong concert with beloved holiday songs and Christmas carols performed by the talented cast.
Wheaton
Christmas at Cantigny: 4-10 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays Dec. 1-23; closed Dec. 13. Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road. Tickets: $5-$15; parking $10. 630-668-5161; Cantigny.org.
Advertisement
This inaugural event features the newly renovated McCormick House open to the public for the first time since 2020, an ice-skating rink, light displays, pop-up events, visits with Santa and more.
Valparaiso, Indiana
“White Christmas”: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays Nov. 30-Dec. 17. Memorial Opera House, 104 Indiana Ave. Tickets: $23-$50. 219-548-9137; memorialoperahouse.com.
Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II when they follow a pair of sisters to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil’s former Army commander.
Freelance reporter Myrna Petlicki contributed to the story. Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.