Best bets: 'Blue Nativity'
Puppet crèche
Quest Theatre Ensemble's 10th anniversary tour of its “Blue Nativity” is also billed as its last. So if you haven't seen it yet, catch “Blue Nativity” Sunday courtesy of the First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. Free, but donations appreciated. (312) 458-0895 or questensemble.org. 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18
Nutcracker of the week
Unlike some other dance companies that use a taped version of Tchaikovsky's classic ballet score, von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet's “The Nutcracker” features the live New Philharmonic for its performances this weekend at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $37; $35 seniors; $27 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18
Mexican dance
Aurora's own Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl performs regional dances of Mexico on Saturday at the Paramount Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $25; $18 kids. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17
‘Messiah' music
If you want a performance of Handel's classic oratorio “The Messiah” that isn't participatory, be sure to check out performances by the Apollo Chorus of Chicago and the Elgin Choral Union. The Elgin Choral Union performs Saturday and Sunday at Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $18-$23. (847) 622-0300 or elginchoralunion.org. The Apollo Chorus performs Sunday at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $40-$55. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, in Elgin, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, in Chicago
Celtic Christmas
The all-female ensemble Celtic Woman marks the holiday season with “A Christmas Celebration — The Symphony Tour” Saturday at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $65-$80. (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu/showtix. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17
Britten bounty
The Music Institute of Chicago Chorale teams up with the Rogers Park and Humboldt Park Neighborhood Choirs of the Chicago Children's Choir this Sunday for an all Benjamin Britten concert at the Music Institute of Chicago's Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $15; $10 seniors; $7 students. (847) 905-1500, ext. 108, or musicinst.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18
Hanukkah dinner
Usher in Hanukkah with a special dinner celebration and a performance by the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band Wednesday at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. $43; $37 kids ages 3-12 (includes admission to the Wonderland Express exhibit). (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 5:30 p.m. dinner, 7 p.m. concert Wednesday, Dec. 21
Standard-bearer
Local jazz standards stalwart Ron Hawking performs his “Home for the Holidays” show starting Thursday for a special run at the newly refurbished Des Plaines Theatre, at the intersection of Dempster and Miner streets, Des Plaines. $38-$50. (630) 254-5466 or ronhawking.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22; 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23; and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24