Sunday picks: Frozemont welcomes all skaters
Frozemont
Step onto the ice at the NHL-sized outdoor Frozemont ice rink at MB Financial Park at Rosemont, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. Skating runs through Sunday, March 1. Admission is free. Bring your own skates or rent some on-site for $8. Visit rosemont.com for information. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21; 4 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24; 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 25
Meet 'Zuzu'
Actress Karolyn Grimes is famed for playing the child “Zuzu” in the classic 1946 Frank Capra film “It's a Wonderful Life.” Meet with Grimes and ask her a question or two about her acting opposite late actors James Stewart and Donna Reed when she appears this weekend at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $20 (includes reception, meet and greet, Q&A session and screening). (888) 695-0888 or oshows.com. 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21
Land of Sweets
The Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet teams up again with the New Philharmonic Orchestra for performances of the Tchaikovsky seasonal classic “The Nutcracker” at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $43; $32 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21
Holiday circus
Cirque Dreams gets into the spirit of the season with its winter season “Holidaze” for a limited run at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $25-$75. (800) 745-3000 or thechicagotheatre.com. 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21
Blackberry trains
The Blackberry Farm Holiday Express promises loads of games, activities, products and displays for toddlers up to teenagers on Sunday, at Fox Valley Park District's Blackberry Farm, 100 Barnes Rd, Aurora. $5. (630) 892-1550 or foxvalleyparkdistrict.org/blackberry-farm. 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21
Dancing snow
The Joffrey Ballet “The Nutcracker” promises loads of games, activities, products and displays for toddlers up to teenagers on this week and next, at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $33-$134. (800) 775-2000 or joffrey.org. 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 21, 23, 26 and 27; 2 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday, Dec. 24 and 28
Wise men miracle
Gian Carlo Menotti's opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors” used to be an annual holiday TV tradition. If you miss it, then don't miss the return of a production by Chamber Opera Chicago and Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater this weekend at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Sung in English. $20; $15 seniors and students; $10 kids. (312) 988-9000 or chamberoperachicago.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21
Enchanted sweets
The domination of Tchaikovsky's classic Christmas ballet “The Nutcracker” continues on area dance stages when Berkshire Ballet Theatre revives its version this weekend at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $27-$30. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21
DIY Hallelujah
The Sing-a-long Messiah! Fox Valley Orchestra promises loads of games, activities, products and displays for toddlers up to teenagers on today, at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St., Batavia. $9-$10. (630) 937-8930 or bataviafineartscentre.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21
Celtic Christmas
The Michael Londra's Celtic Yuletide “A Christmas from Ireland” promises loads of games, activities, products and displays for toddlers up to teenagers on today, at the College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $38-$48; $37-$47 seniors; $12-$15 students. (847) 543-2300 or clcillinois.edu/tickets. 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21
Twinkly Christmas
Time is running out to catch the Naperville Sunrise Rotary's annual holiday display of Naper Lights at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. No admission charge. (630) 428-5800 or napersettlement.org. 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday; runs until Dec. 28 (closed Dec. 26)
Fun in dysfunction
Comedian Christopher Titus (“Titus”) draws from the deep well of his dysfunctional early family life for his humor this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $28 plus purchase of two menu items. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21
Rock on
The Robin Zander Band featuring Robin Zander of Cheap Trick promises loads of games, activities, products and displays for toddlers up to teenagers on today, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $19-$79. (888) 695-0888 or oshows.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21
Celebrate with the Griswolds
Join the fictional Griswold family on the quest for the ultimate Christmas at a screening of the 1989 John Hughes film “National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation” at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. The film stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. Admission is $6 adults; $3 for seniors, military and children under age 12. Bring a nonperishable food item for donation to the event and get $1 off a ticket. Visit geneseetheatre.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21