Antioch
Parade and ceremony: The old-fashioned Holiday Parade will be at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 27 on Main Street between Park Avenue and Depot Street traveling north. Santa joins the community and participates in the parade as the last float leads everyone to the community Christmas tree. Following the parade, will be the tree lighting ceremony in front of Village Hall., 874 Main St. The Antioch Community High School Chorus will provide some old-fashioned caroling and there will be a visit from Santa himself. The Antioch Fire Department will hand out free cookies and hot chocolate. Homemade and store bought ornaments for the community Christmas tree which should be turned into Village Hall the Monday prior to the lighting ceremony, Nov. 23. Details, 847-395-2160 or at [email protected].
Santa’s Village: Santa will be joined by some of his Frozen Friends this Holiday Season at Santa’s Frozen Village on Main Street in downtown. It opens for the season after the Christmas Parade Nov. 27 and will be open through Dec. 23. Santa offers you a choice of what type of visit you would enjoy this year. On Monday through Friday nights, Santa will be at his Frozen Village for free visits. Santa’s hours at 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from noon to 4 p.m. weekends. On weekends, children will meet some of Santa’s Frozen Friends and enjoy the newly designed Frozen Landscape, while they receive Frozen goodies. Families may bring their own cameras for photos or for a nominal charge have a photo taken by Santa’s Helpers. Details, 847-395-2233.
Deerfield
Ceremony: Tree lighting ceremony will be at 4 p.m. Nov. 25 at Deerfield Village Center, Deerfield and Waukegan roads. There will be hot chocolate, treats, holiday music, and Mayor Rosenthal will light the downtown holiday lights at 5 p.m. Details, 847-945-4660.
Fox Lake
Parade and ceremony: Village of Fox Lake and Korpan’s Landing Holiday Illuminated parade and tree lighting ceremony will be Nov. 28. The parade line up will begin 5 p.m. at Grant Community High School, 285 E. Grand Ave. The ceremony will follow the parade at 6:30 p.m. at Millennium Park, Grand Avenue and Rollins Road. There will be caroling and hot chocolate, with the official tree lighting at 7 p.m. This year’s theme is “A Magical Christmas.” Also, Santa will be greeting children at the Santa House in Millennium Park until 7:30 p.m. Children of all ages are invited to greet Santa and get a surprise. While guests wait to visit Santa, they can visit with his furry Reindeer friends who will be in Millennium Park from 6 to 8 p.m. Details, 847-587-3944.
Grayslake
Exhibits: The exhibit titled “Food, Family and Tradition: Dining in Grayslake,” a celebration of past and present local restaurants and the people who operated them, will be on display Nov. 27 through May 31 at the Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum, 164 Hawley St. There will be a reception from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be free samples of food made from Grayslake recipes. Also “Grayslake Giving Trees” will be unveiled. Local non-profit and community organizations have been invited to share their message by decorating a tree at the museum. The public is encouraged to vote for their favorites with their dollars through the end of December. Details, 847-223-7663.
Festival and market: The tree lighting festival will be at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 27 at Center Street and Seymour Avenue. There will be sleigh rides and Santa at the Oasis, 151 Hawley St. Also, there will be a holiday market at the Museum. Details, 847-223-6888.
Show: Step by Step Holiday arts and craft show will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 28 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 29 at Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road. There will be over 300 booths to choose from offering handmade arts and crafts
Highland Park
Fundraiser: Max’s Restaurant & Deli, 191 Skokie Valley Road will hold its annual Cheesy Noodles Mac N’ Cheese Contest from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23, benefiting Stand Up for Kids Chicago, a non-profit organization dedicated to end youth homelessness through national and local outreach. Esteemed chefs come together from all over Chicagoland to showcase their very own specialty macaroni and cheese dishes, which will be tasted and judged by “the People” and a panel of local celebrity guest judges. Winners of the People’s Choice and Judges Choice awards will be announced at 6:45 p.m. There will also be a raffle. Tickets are $100 per family that includes food, drinks, dessert and entertainment. Attendees are also encouraged to bring new or gently used winter coats, boots and other warm weather gear for a collection for Chicago homeless teens. There will also be a raffle. Details, 773-817-1684 or visit www.StandUpforKidsChicago.org.
Lake Forest
Ceremony: Annual tree lighting ceremony will be held Nov. 27 at Market Square, 1 Market Square. It will include live ice sculpting by Art Below Zero at 3 p.m., meet and greet with Santa Claus at 4 p.m., caroling by Lake Forest High School Choristers at 4:30 p.m., tree lighting at 5:15 p.m. and more. There will also be a Passport of Retailers activity from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Visit all participating local businesses and get your passport stamped to be entered in a drawing to win a free family VIP pass to the annual Fourth of July festival valued at $350. Details, 847-234-2600.
Lake Villa
Parade and ceremony: Annual lighted Christmas Parade begins at 5 p.m. Nov. 28 at Palombi School, 133 McKinley Ave. to Burnett to Sherwood to Cedar Avenue though downtown and ending at the train station with the tree lighting following at Lehmann Park. See antique cars, floats, bands and much more in the parade. Santa will be on hand at the Train station. Details, 847-356-7433.
Libertyville
Concerts: Jackyl at 8 p.m. Nov. 25 at Austin’s Fuel Room, 481 Peterson Road. Tickets are $20-80. Hairbanger’s Ball at 10 p.m. Nov. 27 and Too White Crew at 10 p.m. Nov. 28. Tickets are $8 for each. Details, 847-549-1973.
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Concerts: Black Wednesday Nov. 25, the Personnel Nov. 27, and Modern Day Romeos Nov. 28 at Mickey Finn’s 345 N. Milwaukee Ave. All begin at 10 p.m. and are free. Details, 847-362-6688.
Ceremony: Holiday on the Square will include holiday singing, tree lighting, pictures with Santa and more at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 27 at Cook Park, Milwaukee Avenue in downtown. Details, 847-918-7275.
Open house and fundraiser: Continuing a 40-year tradition, the Libertyville-Mundelein Historical Society welcomes visitors to experience a Victorian Christmas with tours of the Ansel B. Cook Victorian Museum this holiday season. It will be open after the tree lighting on Nov. 27, from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 and 12 and from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 6 and 13. The Cook House, an 1878 home listed on the National Register of Historic Places, opened in 1975 as a Victorian museum, representing the years the Cook family was in residence. During the holiday season, it will be decked out in Christmas finery adding to the beautiful furnishings and artifacts on display. Highlights of the tour will include a fully decorated Christmas tree, seven Italian marble fireplaces, and the carved oak staircase festooned with greenery. Also, during the anniversary season, the historical society kicks off the “Save Mr. Cook from the Sun” fundraising campaign for installation of ultraviolet (UV) blocking film on the Cook House windows. Just as UV light is harmful to skin, it is also damages other materials, especially textiles, art and wood. Suggested donations for the tour are $2, and $1 for seniors and students. All donations received during the holiday season will be earmarked for the “Save Mr. Cook from the Sun” project targeted to begin in spring 2016. Donations will also be accepted by mail directed to Libertyville-Mundelein Historical Society, 413 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, IL 60048 or online at www.lmhistory.org.
North Chicago
Ceremony: Tree lighting ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 30 at City Hall, 1850 Lewis Ave. Festivities include holiday musical selections from the North Chicago Community High School Choir and the Markham Family Choir. After the performances, Mayor Rockingham will light the city tree and welcome the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus. Visitors are encouraged to stay and visit Santa, where each family will receive a complimentary photo along with some time to put in Christmas requests. In addition, city staff members will serve refreshments and holiday treats Details, 847-596-8640.
Round Lake Beach
Ceremony: Tree lighting will be a 6 p.m. Nov. 27 at Village Hall, 1937 N. Municipal Way. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive on a fire truck. Then guests are welcomed to go to the Cultural & Civic Center to see Santa and take photos, crafts, “shop local” holiday bags filled with special coupons and goodies, and more. Details, 847-546-2351.
Vernon Hills
Ceremony: Holiday tree/Menorah lighting veremony will be at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at Vernon Hills Golf Course, 291 Evergreen Drive. Details, 847-367-3700 .
Waukegan
Exhibit: Dandelion Gallery kicks off the holiday season with their annual “Small Works” show from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 21, 109 S. Genesee St., during the ArtWauk in downtown. The show features original artwork by a wide variety of local artists that are 12 inches or less in size. Artwork varies from watercolors, acrylics and encaustics to collage and ceramics. Prices also are very reasonable so that these art pieces become the ideal and unique holiday gift for family and friends. The gallery will also be open on Small Business Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 28. Details, 847-989-1021.
Concert: Five time Grammy Award Winner, Christopher Cross will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 22 at Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St. He made history in 1980 when his self-titled debut album rocketed to the No. 2 spot. Breaking out as the biggest new star of that year, he virtually defined adult contemporary radio with a series of smoothly sophisticated ballads . Now, 30+ years after his extraordinary emergence into the music business, Cross continues his recording and performing career with a new album, “Secret Ladder,” that evokes the artistry of such great singer-songwriters as Joni Mitchell and Randy Newman while addressing contemporary concerns head-on — a combination which is sure to please his loyal fan base. Tickets are $33-73 plus applicable service charges are available by visiting the Genesee Theatre Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster charge by phone at 800-982-2787.
Performance: For its second year in a row, Three Brothers Theatre will present “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians,” at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:30 Sundays Nov. 27 through Dec. 13 at 115 Genesee St. Adapted from the cult classic B-movie, the play is turning itself into it’s own Waukegan holiday tradition. It will feature ensemble members Brad Paschall, Josh Beadle, Justin Shaffer, Natsha Siri, and is directed by Waukegan theatre veteran Jim Neal. The story takes place on Mars where Momar and Kimar’s children are watching too much Earth television. Now, they decide to kidnap Santa in order to set up a toy factory on Mars. It’s up to young Betty and Billy to help Santa escape from Mars and get back to planet Earth in time to save Christmas. A special ‘Pay-What-You-Want’ performance Nov. 25. It will be a ‘Pay-What-You-Want’ performance. Patrons will be able to pay whatever they would like to see the show. Tickets are $15, and $10 for students and seniors. Details, 319-621-0024 or [email protected].
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