Weekend picks: Pentatonix, Lovato head up Jingle Bash party
Jingle pop
Demi Lovato, Pentatonix, Jason Derulo and 5 Seconds of Summer are some of the pop and rock acts attached to this year's edition of the Jingle Bash at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $60-$105; $13-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12
Winter Festival
Randall Oaks Zoo hosts its first Winter Festival, including hayrides, Santa Claus sightings, ice sculpting on Saturdays, live reindeer from 2 to 6 p.m. Sundays, caroling to the animals, bonfires and more, in Randall Oaks Park, 1180 N. Randall Road, West Dundee. Plus, the zoo is decorated with more than 3,000 feet of holiday lights. Activities are included with $3.25-$4 general zoo admission, except for hayrides ($2 per person) and face painting ($3-$5). dtpd.org. 2 to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Dec. 11-13 and 18-20
Boston Brass
The Boston Brass quintet performs classical, jazz and holiday selections during two concerts in Bennett Gordon Hall at Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $10. (847) 266-5000 or ravinia.org. 6 and 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11
Garage rock with heart
On my first listen to The Shams Band's “Cold City,” I was immediately struck by memories of The Lemonheads' seminal 1992 album “It's A Shame About Ray.” Take some garage rock and blues and a heavy helping of folk and country, liberally peppered with references to hometown Chicago, and you have an idea of The Shams Band sound. It's fun. It's the kind of party where the whiskey keeps flowing long after the lights are turned on and the conversations take a more personal note. See them at Old Towne Pub & Eatery, 40W290 Lafox Road, St. Charles. $5. (630) 513-4240 or otpwasco.com. 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11
Lego Train Show
Calling all Lego lovers: Thousands of Lego bricks are transformed into a variety of landscape and holiday scenes at the Northern Illinois Lego Train Club's 14th Annual Show in the Visitors Center at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. New to this year's show is a 26-foot-long Lego replica of the U.S. naval battleship the USS Missouri on display in the First Division Museum's lobby. Free admission with paid $5 parking fee; parking is free if you donate a new unwrapped toy for the Marine Toys for Tots drop boxes inside the Visitors Center. (630) 668-5161 or cantigny.org. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12-13
'Home Alone'
See a free screening of the 1990 family holiday film “Home Alone,” written and produced by John Hughes, at the Elk Grove Theatre, 1050 Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village. The PG-rated film stars Macaulay Culkin as an 8-year-old who, when accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation, goes to great lengths to protect his home from a pair of burglars. Guests can take photos with Santa Claus, who will be on hand to greet moviegoers. classiccinemas.com. Doors open at 9 a.m.; movie starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12
Holiday Faire
The McHenry County Fair Association hosts its annual Holiday Faire at the McHenry County Fairgrounds, 11900 Country Club Road, Woodstock. With a theme of “Homemade for the Holidays,” the fair showcases 30 booths of handmade items and holiday gifts for purchase. Kids can create winter crafts and holiday ornaments, and Santa Claus will visit with guests. Other highlights include a hayride with storytelling, gingerbread house and cookie-making competitions and more. Admission is $2 per person, or one nonperishable food item for donation to local food pantries. Children ages 7 and younger admitted free. (815) 338-5315 or mchenrycountyfair.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13
Wallop of hops
The returning Beer Fest Beatdown promises an unconventional mix of sampling craft beers while watching Mexican-style wrestling at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $45 (includes commemorative glass and 25 tasting tickets); $65 VIP tickets; $10 designated drivers. (888) 732-7784 or beerfestchicago.com or searscentre.com. Noon Saturday, Dec. 12
Long Grove celebrates the season
Celebrate the season with holiday festivities in downtown Long Grove, at Robert Parker Coffin and Old McHenry roads. Free holiday horse-drawn carriage rides run from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday starting at Mill Pond Shoppes. Santa Claus visits with guests from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Visitors Center. Bring a camera to take photos with Santa. Other highlights include free performances by the Long Grove Carolers from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, and the Adlai E. Stevenson High School choral group from noon to 1 p.m. and the Top of the World Quartet from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The groups will stroll throughout the village performing. (847) 634-0888 or visitlonggrove.com. Holiday events run weekends through Sunday, Dec. 20
Mozart for kids
The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series looks ahead to its 10th season by retransmitting its very first opera simulcast: the family-friendly version of “The Magic Flute” sung in English and staged by “The Lion King” director Julie Taymor. See it on Saturday and Wednesday at select participating movie theaters in Rosemont, Mount Prospect, Chicago, Lincolnshire, Vernon Hills, Batavia and more. Prices vary by venue, but largely $14-$18. Visit fathomevents.com for exact locations. 12:55 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16
Land of sweets
Dancenter North stages its 27th edition of “Magic of the Nutcracker” at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $15-$36. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12
Improv duo
“Whose Line is It Anyway” veterans Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood display their amazing flair for improvisational comedy when they perform “The Two Man Group Tour” at Belushi Performance Hall at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $55-$75. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12
Classical circus
Seasonally inspired circus acts share the stage with a full classical orchestra for a “Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular” at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $25-$85. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12
Linus and Lucy
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” by hearing Vince Guaraldi's beloved TV score performed live by David Benoit with special guest Jane Monheit in a “Christmas Tribute to Charlie Brown” at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $40-$50. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12
Mike and Joe
Rock out to hits from the '90s to the present when Mike and Joe performs songs from Foo Fighters, Fallout Boy, Mumford and Sons, Ed Sheeran and more at H.O.M.E Bar, 1227 N. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. $5-$10. (847) 577-4663 or homebarchicago.com. 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12
Country vibe at BaseCamp
If you're feeling the need for a little country music, head to Lisle this weekend. The Naperville band Mason Rivers has been putting out energetic, twangy rock in a few different incarnations since the band's inception in 2000, but its current blend of city bar tunes and country vibes seems to be the perfect mix for a raucous good night. They bring the show to BaseCamp Pub & Eatery, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle, for a 21-and-older show. $5. (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com. 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12