Weekend picks: ChristKindlFest brings German Christmas home

Gluhwein gathering

Twenty local and international vendors will be on hand for a ChristKindlFest with lots of traditional German holiday music, food, spiced wine, ornaments and more starting Thursday at the BMO Harris Parking lot, Cook Street at Station Street, Barrington. Free admission. (847) 387-3130 or christkindlfest.com. 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4; 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 and 6; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7

Arctic journey

Pajama-clad kids and parents can take a train ride to visit Santa and friends as part of Antioch's North Pole Express Train from Wednesday through Friday at the Antioch Metra Station, 305 Depot St., Antioch. $25. (847) 395-2160 or antiochchamber.org. 11 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, through Friday, Dec. 5

Ho! Ho! Oh no!

Get some adults-only laughs from the quirkier aspects of the Christmas season when the Paramount Theatre hosts “The Second City Dysfunctional Holiday Revue” starting this Friday at the intimate Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $35. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday from Dec. 5 through 21

Sketch greetings

Stay in the suburbs to laugh off all of December's joys and stresses when “The Second City's Holidays in the Heights” returns starting on Thursday at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $29.50-$34.50; $50-$60 New Year's Eve. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. Various dates and times between 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, through 10 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31

Here's to Grier

David Alan Grier is famous for his comic TV work (“In Living Color”) and also starring on Broadway (“The First,” “Porgy and Bess”). See Grier show off his standup comedy skills starting Thursday at the Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $24 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4; 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7

FRIDAY

Bark central

Cheer on your favorite dog breeds as they compete at the 107th Skokie Valley Kennel Club Dog Show and Expo this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $7 general admission; $3 kids. (847) 692-2220 or rosemont.com. 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, through Sunday, Dec. 7

Santa and song

The Palatine Concert Band performs its annual Holiday Concert at Cutting Hall, 150 E. Wood St., Palatine. The program features seasonal music, singalongs and a visit from Santa Claus. Hear tunes such as “Rhapsody for Hanukkah” by Stephen Bulla, songs from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” by Vince Guaraldi and more. $5-$8; free for kids ages 12 and younger. cuttinghall.org or palatineconcertband.org. 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5

'Captain Superlative'

Clockwise Theatre presents the holiday production “Captain Superlative” at the theater, 221 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. The cast is made up of teenage performers from across Lake County. $12. clockwisetheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7

Country quartet

Award-winning country band Little Big Town shares the bill with Brett Eldredge and Brothers Osborne in concert on Friday at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $30.50-$57.50. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5

Ballet classic

Schaumburg Dance Ensemble's annual production of “The Nutcracker” is back, featuring a cast of more than 100 performers. See this beloved Tchaikovsky Christmas ballet this weekend and next at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $26; $18 students and seniors. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 and 12; 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13; 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 and 14

Vocal holidays

Hear carols dynamically performed to highlight the human voice when Chicago a cappella brings its show “Holidays a cappella” to six Chicago-area locations. Suburban performances are at: St. Michael Catholic Church, 310 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton; Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St., Oak Park; Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $30-$40; $25-$27 seniors; $12-$14 students. (773) 281-7820 or chicagoacappella.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, in Wheaton; 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, in Oak Park; 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, in Evanston; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6, 12 and 13 at different venues in Chicago

SATURDAY

Singing with Santa

Children are invited onstage with old St. Nick during the interactive musical production “Sing Along With Santa: Santa and the Snow Queen” at Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $10. steelbeamtheatre.com. 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7

All aboard!

Hop on the Holiday Express train to celebrate the season at Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. Along with train rides, guests can meet with Santa Claus, see items from Victorian Christmases, view holiday lights, and hear stories and music. Visit the Candy Cane Village playground and make ornaments at the Little Elf Holiday Shoppe. $5; free for kids 2 and younger. (630) 892-1550 or foxvalleyparkdistrict.org. 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-7

Candlelight Reception

Costumed interpreters discuss pioneer life in the 1840s at the annual Candlelight Reception at Garfield Farm Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road, Campton Hills. Other highlights include tours of the candlelit inn/museum, traditional 19th-century dulcimer music from The Scantlin' Reunion, a bake sale, demonstrations of fireplace cooking and more. Free; donations are welcome. (630) 584-8485 or email info@garfieldfarm.org. 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-7

Oh really?!

Fans of the Emmy-nominated Discovery series “MythBusters” won't want to miss seeing co-hosts Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage performing live in “MythBusters: Behind the Myths Tour” on Saturday at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $32-$72. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com. 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6

A Swedish Christmas

The Swedish American Children's Choir hosts its 16th annual Swedish Christmas and St. Lucia Festival at Bethany Lutheran Church, 8 S. Lincoln St., Batavia. Enjoy a performance by the choir, a sweets table, visits with Jul-Tomte (a Swedish Santa), and sales of baked goods and Scandinavian gift items. Proceeds benefit the choir's tour fund. $15 adults; $8 kids 6-12. Make reservations by calling (630) 414-9700. 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6

'Celebrate the Season'

Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, see live reindeer and listen to carolers at the Celebrate the Season festival at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Don't miss the kids' crafts, a tree-lighting ceremony, horse-drawn sleigh rides, a Mistletoe Market and a performance by the Salt Creek Boys. Free admission with paid $2 parking. cantigny.org. 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6

Rockin' around

Pop sensations Ariana Grande, Pharrell Williams, 5 Seconds of Summer and Martin Garrix are just a few of the acts lined up for the annual B96 Jingle Bash concert on Saturday at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $55-$150. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6

Christmas crooner

For my money, Christmas songs don't get any better than when they're performed by the legendary Johnny Mathis. Mathis brings his smooth vocals to the suburbs for a holiday show at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont, this weekend. Tickets start at $65. Go to ticketmaster.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6

Record release

Chicago band Mutts, which has roots in the Northwest suburbs, will be celebrating the release of its new album, “Fuel Yer Delusion, Vol. 4,” at the Gapers Block Holiday Concert this weekend at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago. Mutts will headline the show, which will also include performances by Archie Powell & the Exports, the Kickback and Pop Goes the Evil. The Mutts deliver a growling garage-rock sound highlighted by funky keyboards and Tom Waits-influenced vocals. The new record comes out officially on Tuesday, Dec. 9, but this show gives fans a chance to hear it performed live a few days early, while enjoying sets from a strong lineup of openers. $12. Go to metrochicago.com. 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6

SUNDAY

A Christmas Concert

The Naperville Municipal Band presents its Christmas Concert in Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Free. (630) 778-9994 or napervilleband.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7