10 ways to kick-start holiday season in suburbs
As soon as the Thanksgiving leftovers are tucked away in the fridge, thoughts turn to Christmas and other winter holidays. To get you in the mood, here are 10 ways to kick-start the season this weekend in the suburbs:
1. Glimpse Hollywood glamour when "Blue Bloods" star and New Kids on the Block member Donnie Wahlberg and his wife, actress Jenny McCarthy, are honorary grand marshals for the Electric Christmas Parade at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, in St. Charles, where they live. The parade caps an afternoon of free fun at the Holiday Homecoming event, which includes a scavenger hunt, free sleigh rides, a free showing of the movie "Elf" and more. www.downtownstcharles.org. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, for Holiday Homecoming; 5:30 p.m. for the parade.
2. Head to Naperville for the debut of the Christkindlmarket, the suburban outpost of the annual Chicago tradition. The German outdoor Christmas market opens for the season on Friday, Nov. 25, at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St. Free admission. (312) 494-2175 or christkindlmarket.com/naperville. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday from Nov. 25 to Dec. 18; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily Dec. 19-23; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24.
3. Ooh and ahh when Rosemont hosts its Light Up The Park tree-lighting event and opens its Frozemont ice skating rink on Friday, Nov. 25, in MB Financial Park, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. Festivities include visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, ice-carving demonstrations and horse-drawn sleigh rides. The Chicago Skates synchronized figure skating team performs at 5:30 p.m. prior to the lighting of more than 80,000 holiday lights. Open skating on the rink is from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. during Light Up The Park. Skating continues daily through Monday, Jan. 2. Bring your own skates or rent them there. All events are free. rosemont.com. 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25.
4. Bring the kids to the Downers Grove Gingerbread Festival, featuring a gingerbread man hunt, free carriage rides, a competition of cookie houses and more this weekend at various downtown locations near 933A Curtiss St., Downers Grove. Free. (630) 725-0991 or downtowndg.org. 3:15 to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25; 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26; and 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27.
5. Interact with nature and innovative light and sound technology with the seasonal return of Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. Members: $13-$17; $7-$9 kids 2-17; nonmembers: $18-$22; $12-$14 kids 2-17. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. Times vary: 5 p.m. and later daily through Jan. 2; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and some Mondays.
6. Enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas feel in historic downtown Long Grove, at Robert Parker Coffin and Old McHenry roads. The town offers four weekends of holiday events with complimentary 30-minute carriage rides, costumed strolling carolers, a Christmas parade and more at the Home for the Holidays celebration. Free. longgrove.org. 1 to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Nov. 25-27; 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3-4; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10; 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11; and 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17-18.
7. Get caught up in Charles Dickens' holiday classic when "A Christmas Carol" returns to the McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, for its 15th season. See Ebenezer Scrooge learn the true meaning of the holiday as he is visited by three ghosts. $12-$15. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25, and 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 26-27.
8. Take in a suburban tradition as the Wonderland Express, with its model trains and miniature Chicago landmarks, opens at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. $13; $10 seniors and kids 3-12. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Friday, Nov. 25, through Thursday, Dec. 15; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily Friday, Dec. 16, through Monday, Jan. 2. Closes early on Christmas Eve and closed Christmas Day.
9. Revisit a beloved holiday tale with Metropolis Performing Arts Centre's "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play," adapted from the Frank Capra film as a 1940s radio broadcast. Kevin Wiczer directs the classic tale of George Bailey, who finds out - with the help of a guardian angel - what his sacrifices over the years have truly meant. It's at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $15, $30. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25; 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27.
10. Send up the season with Steel Beam Theatre's "The Ultimate Christmas Carol, by E. Scrooge, Esq. As Told to C. Dickens." A contemporary comedic take on a holiday favorite, the show features song parodies by Douglas Orlyk at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $23-$28. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25-26, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27.