Weekend picks: Hannibal Buress brings the funny to Zanies

Hail Hannibal

Award-winning comedian and writer Hannibal Buress (“30 Rock,” “Saturday Night Live”) returns to the Chicago area for performances at three Zanies locations: 5437 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 813-0484; Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 584-6342; and 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago, (312) 337-4027. $30 with a two-menu item purchase in the suburbs; $35-$45 with a two menu-item purchase in Chicago. zanies.com. 8 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, in Rosemont; 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, in St. Charles; 6:30, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31, in Chicago

Winter Flower & Train Show

Model trains wind their way through a miniature village, filled with colorful poinsettias and models of various Chicago landmarks, at the Winter Flower & Train Show at the Lincoln Park Conservatory at 2391 N. Stockton Drive, Chicago. Many of the poinsettias on view are named for the season, including the Sparkling Punch, Eggnog and Peppermint Twist varieties. Free admission. (312) 742-7736 or chicagoparkdistrict.com. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Sunday, Jan. 6

The world of Dickens

Learn about the life of author Charles Dickens, creator of some of literatures's most famous characters, including Ebenezer Scrooge and Oliver Twist, at the “Dickens: 200 Years of Celebrity” exhibit at the Lake County Discovery Museum, on Route 176, west of Fairfield Road, in the Lakewood Forest Preserve, Wauconda. See hundreds of Dickens-related documents and objects, including the author's own traveling inkwell. Admission is $2.50-$6. Kids ages 3 and under are free. On discount Tuesdays, admission is $3 adults; free for youth ages 17 and younger. (847) 968-3400 or visit lcfpd.org. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30

A Victorian holiday

Experience a Victorian Christmas at the Christmas Memories House Tour at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Guests can see the farmhouse, decked in greens, and a table set for company, while they smell the aroma of holiday treats. Free. (630) 876-5900 or dupageforest.org. Tours begin on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Dec. 29-31

Grab your skates

The Park at Rosemont is offering extended holiday hours for its outdoor skating rink, on River Road, between Bryn Mawr and Balmoral avenues in Rosemont. Admission is free. Note: Skate rental is available for $8. Visit rosemont.com. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily through Sunday, Jan. 6

Rockettes in Rosemont

This is the final weekend to see the Rockettes perform the annual holiday show “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular — Starring the Rockettes” at the Akoo Theatre at Rosemont, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. The show features new special effects, new scenes and five new dance numbers. $47-$102. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. Noon, 3:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, and noon and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30

'War Horse'

See “War Horse,” the Tony Award-winning stage show based upon Michael Morpurgo's novel about a horse's experience during World War I, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $30-$105. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com. 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30

Lighting up the night

See thousands of twinkling lights and holiday scenes at Brookfield Zoo's annual Holiday Magic lights festival. Event highlights include laser shows, music and dance performances, ice-carving demonstrations and other family activities. Activities are free (with the exception of rides and photo opportunities) with paid $10.50-$15 general zoo admission. Parking is $10 per car. Brookfield Zoo is at First Avenue and 31st Street, Brookfield. (708) 688-8000 or CZS.org. 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Dec. 29-31

Spoofing Harry Potter

Watch a spoof of the seven “Harry Potter” novels in “Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience — A Parody By Dan and Jeff” at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $39.95-$99.95. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30

'Singin' in the Rain'

See the musical “Singin' in the Rain,” a production based on the 1952 MGM film, at the Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. Tickets cost $40-$52. Dinner packages are available. (630) 530-0111 or drurylaneoakbrook.com. 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, and 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30

ZooLights

Lincoln Park Zoo becomes a winter wonderland with more than 2 million colorful lights at the annual ZooLights celebration. This family event features lighted animal characters, glittering light tunnels, ice-sculpting demonstrations, food, crafts and more. Free admission. (312) 742-2000 or lpzoo.org. Lincoln Park Zoo is at 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago. 5 to 9 p.m. nightly through Sunday, Jan. 6

Closer to free

The alternative rocks sounds of The BoDeans will fill the Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet, this weekend. Tickets cost $35-$65. (815) 726-6600 or rialtosquare.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29

Sail away

Legendary rock band Styx headlines the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Tickets cost $58-$83. (847) 782-2366 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29

Time to party

Suburban party band Dot Dot Dot will perform Saturday at Ballydoyle Irish Pub, 5157 Main St., Downers Grove. The band plays a mix of originals (culled from the four EPs the band has released on its own) and covers, all designed to deliver as energetic and upbeat a vibe onstage as possible. Here's a great pre-New Year's Eve option for suburban music fans. Go to ballydoylepub.com. 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29

'Touching on Traditions'

See displays of winter items from various cultures around the world at the annual “Touching on Traditions” exhibit at the Elgin Public Museum, Lords Park, 225 Grand Blvd., Elgin. $1-$2. (847) 741-6655 or elginpublicmuseum.org. Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, and noon to 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31

Logging in

See if your searching skills are up to snuff at The 35th Annual Hunt for the Yule Log Sunday at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. $12; $11 seniors; $9 kids. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30

Quartet countdown

Welcome in the New Year by reflecting on pop hits from the 1950s and '60s when Under the Streetlamp performs Sunday at Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $55-$64. (847) 782-2366 or geneseetheatre.com. Then Monday at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $55-$65. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, in Waukegan, and 6 and 10 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31, in Aurora

Bubble Bash

The DuPage Children's Museum's hosts its 11th annual family-friendly New Year's Eve Celebration, Bubble Bash 2012 at Wentz Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center at North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. The program features music by Jeanie B. and the Jellybeans, with a special performance by Geoff Akins, The Bubble Wonder Man. $10 members; $15 nonmembers. Reservations are required. (630) 637-7469 or dupagechildrensmuseum.org. 10:30 a.m. to noon Monday, Dec. 31

New Year's rock

Monday, of course, is New Year's Eve, and there are plenty of rock shows on tap for that night. Among the highlights close to home are Soul Asylum's appearance at the annual New Year's Rock 'N' Roll Ball at the Montrose Room, 5300 River Road, Rosemont. Different ticket packages available. Go to montroseroom.com. Local band Lucky Boys Confusion's 15th anniversary show is set for the Cubby Bear North, 21661 N. Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire. Tickets start at $25. Go to cubbynorth.com. Either show would provide an excellent way to welcome 2013. Soul Asylum at 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31, and Lucky Boys Confusion at 10 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31