It’s the most wonderful time of the year to experience holiday shopping, live shows and other seasonal activities in Chicagoland.
Depending on the weather, residents can venture out to Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston (Dec. 16) or stay in and livestream A Jazz Christmas. The soulful production showcases vocalist Tammy McCann and the TRIIO quartet as they perform “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve” and “Let It Snow,” among other festive songs. “This show is the perfect way to escape the holiday madness for a couple of hours,” says Music Institute President Mark George.
The glamour of 1930s high society is realized when a Black family in Manhattan experiences a jazzy Nutcracker via Sugar Hill: The Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker (Dec. 20-Dec. 30) at the Auditorium Theatre. Similarly, Black Girls Dance founder and choreographer Erin Barnett uses ballet, hip hop, tap, and contemporary dance to reimagine the traditional Black Nativity in Mary, A Holiday Dansical (Dec. 17) at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts.
Thanks to M.A.D.D. Rhythms and Chicago Tap Theatre, the Chicago Tap Allstars invites families and friends of dance to Winter Wonderland (Dec. 9) at the Harold Washington Cultural Center. “One of Chicago Tap Allstars’ goals is to introduce audiences to other talents and companies expanding people’s understanding of tap and Winter Wonderland does this with a holiday twist,” promises Chicago Tap Theatre Artistic Director Mark Yonally. Click here for $25 tickets and $75 VIP packages.
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater performs classical, folkloric, escuela bolera and flamenco styles of Spanish dance during its 48th Family Holiday Concert (Dec. 15) at the Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium, as the Chicago Theatre opens its doors for ’Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil this December. Click here for tickets ($36+) to the variety show which includes hair suspension by Priscila Teixeira Santos of Brazil.
A beloved board game comes to life via CLUE: A Walking Mystery – Holiday Edition. The interactive event presented by Apollo Theater and Right Angle Entertainment turns attendees aged 8 and up into detectives at Block 37 and adjacent locations. “We are so elated with the enthusiastic response we’ve received from our players,” says Right Angle Entertainment producer Kevin Hammonds. “Gathering clues to solve the mystery will be just as exciting for newcomers, and although the mystery is the same, most of the locations are new, so returning players will enjoy discovering fun Christmas cheer sprinkled throughout the experience.” Tickets start at $35 and are available here.
Immersive art and technology fans can virtually experience an icy winterscape at Winter WNDRland: Iced In (through Jan. 15) at WNDR Museum Chicago. Click here to order tickets and gifts, or to donate gently-used coats for the SocialWorks’ Warmest Winter program.
In addition to its Drie-cember Holiday Pop-Up Concerts, the Driehaus Museum hosts Santa Saturday and Caroling with the St. James Youth Choir (Dec. 2) for families ($25 adults/$13 children). The museum’s multi-cultural events include Hanukkah Songs with the Music Institute of Chicago (Dec. 9); St. Lucia Day Songs with the Swedish American Museum (Dec. 16); and Kwanzaa Celebration with the African American Museum of Performing Arts (Dec. 21). Gift givers are also invited to the Driehaus Museum Store Trunk Show (Dec. 16).
“The museum truly sparkles during the holiday season, and we welcome families across Chicagoland to come in from the cold and enjoy our festive programs as they celebrate the holidays downtown this month. With our pop-up holiday concerts, our Museum Store filled to the brim with great gift ideas, and exciting new work from contemporary artists, we are opening our doors even wider and inviting visitors of all ages and neighborhoods to come together at the Driehaus Museum this season,” says Executive Director Lisa Key.
The Village of Rosemont hosts its Sparkle Light Festival (through Dec. 31) at Impact Field. The interactive wonderland features an ice skating rink, access to five illuminated villages (Frozen Forest, Snowflake Circle, Winter Wonderland, the North Pole and Deck the Walls); tubing rides on the “Alpine Slide” ($22 pp); free Holly Trolly train rides; plus food and drink options. Click here for a full schedule and information on general admission tickets ($24 adults/$18 children).
“Rosemont has always been a must-visit destination for holiday happenings, and we are thrilled that Sparkle Light Festival will once again light up Impact Field this winter,” states Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens. “Sparkle is the perfect addition to Rosemont’s premier shopping, dining and entertainment offerings for the holidays, and we can’t wait to welcome new and returning visitors to make this light festival a long-standing family tradition.”