On the road: Bring the family for holidays in Lake Geneva
Chicago
Board the beer bus
Why not treat yourself and a friend to Chicago's Original Brewery Tour for a pre-holiday outing? Saturday afternoons, beer aficionados meet and sip at Haymarket Brewery, then it's on to another brewery or two and a premiere Chicago craft beer bar. Expect to sample only locally made beer as you tour three Chicago breweries via the Chicago Brew Bus. Tickets include beer at each stop, and there's time to order food, more beer, or nose around each location.
4 p.m. Saturdays at the Haymarket Pub & Brewery, 737 W. Randolph St., Chicago. The tour is $59.99 per person, which includes transportation, beer flights and tour. (773) 340-2739 or chicagobrewbus.com.
To market, to market
Forget the mall. Randolph Street's Holiday Market allows you to stretch your cash stash to the max this holiday season while selecting from a distinctive assortment of smartly priced antique, vintage and contemporary goods including jewelry, home goods, accessories, clothing and just a lot of other cool items. It's simple one-stop shopping for memorable and custom-made gifts. There's free on-site parking and gift wrapping, too.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday to Sunday, Nov. 22-23, at Journeymen Plumbers Hall, 1340 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago. Admission tickets are $8 online or $10 at the gate. (312) 666-1200 or randolphstreetmarket.com.
Let the games begin!
Play in tournaments, meet characters from Star Wars to Moshi Monsters, and so much more at the 12th Annual Chicago Toy & Game Fair. There will be interactive exhibits, a young inventor challenge, Illinois State Yo-Yo Championship, live entertainment and opportunities to preview, play and purchase the hottest toys and games, relive classics, and meet the inventors.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Tickets are $10 for an adult and $5 for kids. (312) 595-7437 or chitag.com.
Midwest
It's a wonderful life in the country
Frazzled drivers honking in the mall parking lot does not a Currier and Ives card make. But Christmas in the Country, courtesy of the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, will get you back to that gentle holiday state of mind with 2 million holiday lights, music, festive food, family fun and interactive displays throughout the resort. Running for five weeks, the annual event features two live holiday performances, daily holiday teas and Breakfast with Santa. There are lots of family activities, including live music and a fireworks display, taking place on kickoff night, Nov. 23. Stay overnight and enjoy a comfortable guest room or suite, spa, restaurants and a ski facility.
Nov. 23-Dec. 31 at Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. (800) 558-3417 or GrandGeneva.com.
Sinterklaas is coming to town
He's called “Santa” here, but in Pella, Iowa, it's “Sinterklaas.” During Sinterklaas Day in Pella, the man in the red suit arrives in a wooden ship, wears a bishop's miter and has a Moorish servant as helper. Watch the parade of Christmas characters, decorated Dutch peddler carts and caroling bands march past downtown's Dutch buildings to the Tulip Toren. At the end of the procession looms a large ship carrying Sinterklaas and his helper Piets. An annual Sinterklaas party at the Pella Opera House follows the parade.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, in downtown Pella and the Pella Opera House, 611 Franklin Street Pella, Iowa. Admission for brunch celebration is $10-$12; parade is free. (641) 628-4311 or pellahistorical.org.
Fairly mad
It's always a good time to visit Madison, Wisconsin, especially when the annual Holiday Art Fair is going on. The juried show includes more than 90 artists exhibiting ceramics, fiber art, glass, jewelry, paintings, prints, photographs, and other genres with performances by local arts organizations throughout the weekend. Nosh and sip holiday refreshments, attend the Rediscovered Arts & Treasures Sale, silent auction, and visit the Gourmet Gallery filled with edible treats and gifts.
2:30 to 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 21; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 227 State St., Madison, Wisconsin. Admission is $6; children under 12 free. (608) 257-0158 or mmoca.org.