20 Things To Do In December
The holiday season in Chicago means rides on the CTA Holiday Train, glug at Christkindlmarket and caroling at Cloud Gate, but there are plenty more fun events beginning this month. Here are 20 of our favorites.
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FRIDAY DECEMBER 1
WINTER WONDERFEST
The 17th Annual Fifth Third Bank Winter WonderFest takes over Navy Pier for the entire month of December. Festival Hall turns into a winter wonderland decked in shimmering decor with rides and activities for all ages. Try out the Chicago Blackhawks Ice Skating Rink, Polar Extreme Obstacle Course or the enclosed 200-foot-tall Centennial Wheelwill. Tickets start at $12.
NUTCRACKER BALLET
Last winter the Joffrey Ballet debuted their brand new reenvisioned Nutcracker ballet, set right here in Chicago. Choreographer (and Tony winner) Christopher Wheeldon created the masterpiece, using the city’s 1893 World’s Fair Columbian Exposition as the backdrop for the classic story of wonder and imagination. Runs December 1–30 at Auditorium Theatre. Tickets start at $35.
SATURDAY DECEMBER 2
RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR
Those looking for a unique or handmade holiday gift will want to attend the upcoming Renegade Craft Fair at Bridgeport Arts Center this weekend. The Fair spans multiple floors and welcomes makers and other vendors from around the country selling everything from candles to jewelry, food and drink to keep you fueled. Open Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 3
DANCE-ALONG NUTCRACKER
Little ones can take their own turn dancing during Dance-Along Nutcracker® at the Chicago Cultural Center. Ballet Chicago offers basic ballet lessons over two sessions, followed by a performance set to the Tchaikovsky score performed by the Lakeside Pride Symphonic Band. Dance lessons at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. followed by performances at noon and 3 p.m. Free.
TUESDAY DECEMBER 5
JAY-Z
Jay-Z, Hova, Shawn Carter, Beyoncé’s hubs, or whatever you call him, is coming to the United Center at 8 p.m. The venerable rapper opened up on his latest album, 4:44, on topics ranging from his own infidelity to his relationship with Kanye. Tickets start at $75.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 7
ONE OF A KIND HOLIDAY SHOW
The One of a Kind Holiday Show really is one-of-a-kind with 600 artists and craftsmen gathering at the Merchandise Mart for three days. The weekend will include fashion shows and live music in addition to shopping vendors for jewelry, multi-media art, gourmet goods and more. Tickets are $12.
BREWLIGHTS
One of the best parts of ZooLights is BrewLights at Lincoln Park Zoo. The adults-only event presented by Louis Glunz Beer offers a rare kid-free evening at the festive zoo with local craft, seasonal, and international beers on tap. Tickets are $49 in advance.
B96 JINGLE BASH
Chicago’s B96 radio station continues the “Jingle Bash” tradition with a star-studded concert at Allstate arena at 7:30 p.m. Taylor Swift, Backstreet Boys, Fifth Harmony and DJ Khalid are just a few of the acts on the bill. Tickets start at $44.
SATURDAY DECEMBER 9
DOUBLE FEATURE SING-A-LONG
Join in on two holiday film classics at the 34th Annual Music Box Christmas Sing-a-long running through Christmas Eve. The double feature includes White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life back to back. Sing along with Bing Crosby and then stick around for the unforgettable lines of Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey. Tickets are $13 for one film, and $20 for the double feature in advance. Check website for showtimes.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 10
XRT HOLIDAY JAM CONCERT
Veteran indie rockers Spoon headline this year’s 93XRT/Goose Island Holiday Jam Concert at the Chicago Theatre at 7:30 p.m. The Austin-based band is on their ninth studio album, Hot Thoughts, and are as innovative as ever. They’ll be joined by special guests Real Estate. Tickets start at $67.
HOLIDOSE MARKET
Dose Market goes HoliDose for the holidays at Morgan Manufacturing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s the 7th Annual seasonal market for the Dose team, with more than 120 small businesses setting up shop with cozy stockings, menswear and pottery, just to name a few. They’ve also got workshops and other interactive activities going all day long. Tickets are $10 with a portion benefiting The Kitchen Community.
MONDAY DECEMBER 11
GEZELLIGHEID
Andrew Bird’s four-night “Gezelligheid” residency at Chicago’s Fourth Presbyterian Church returns for another year. The “cozy” concerts have become something of a local tradition for the local musician, marking the season with pretty melodies, big words and just a bit of whistling. Tickets are $46.
JOE BIDEN
Reminisce about more hopeful days gone by with Former Vice President Joe Biden on the American Promise Tour. He’s making a stop at the Chicago Theatre to discuss his 45 years of public service and life lessons learned, including the devastating loss of his son, Beau. Tickets start at $87 and include a copy of his new memoir, Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose.
TUESDAY DECEMBER 12
SAUCED NIGHT MARKET
SAUCED Night Market presents the Night Market Before Christmas at Chicago Athletic Association from 5 to 10 p.m. The “roving collection of Chicago chefs, artists and artisans” gets festive for the holiday season with 50 vendors ready to fill up your tummy and your stockings. Free.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 13
KISS FM JINGLE BALL
Kiss FM and iHeartRadio bring the biggest names in pop music to the Allstate Arena at 7:30 p.m. Songstresses Demi Lovato, Halsey and Kesha join heartthrobs Charlie Puth, Liam Payne and more for the season’s Jingle Ball concert. Tickets start at $30.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 14
ONE BOOK ONE CHICAGO KEYNOTE
The latest One Book, One Chicago from the Chicago Public Library shines a light on a Chicago music legend in “A conversation with Greg Kot and Mavis Staples” at 6 p.m. Kot’s new book, I’ll Take You There, is a biography of Staples’ career and life in civil rights, family and gospel. Free. Seating is first come, first served at Cindy Pritzker Auditorium.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 15
MERRY MERRY CSO
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra goes classic for Merry, Merry Chicago! They’ll be joined by the Chicago Children’s Choir and Broadway vocalist Ashley Brown for a program featuring holiday standards, carols and sing-alongs. Tickets start at $38.
SATURDAY DECEMBER 16
RANDOLPH STREET HOLIDAY MARKET
Randolph Street Market celebrates the holidays with a seasonal market indoors at Plumbers Hall on Saturday and Sunday. Shop decor, housewares, antiques, jewelry and more while sipping on a Bloody Mary from the Market Bar. Tickets are $8 in advance.
SKATE WITH SANTA
There’s nothing better than lacing up the skates and cruising around the Maggie Daley Park Skating Ribbon in a Chicago winter. Except for skating with Santa himself! Kids and adults alike can skate alongside the big man from 10 a.m. to noon. Free. Skate rental is $12.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 28
TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA
There are a lot of big concerts happening out at Allstate Arena this month, but none is as huge as the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. They’re rolling through town on their winter tour: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve. Expect everything to be over the top from the prog rock crescendos to the flames and lasers coming off the stage. Performances are at 3 and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $47.
