Weekend picks: Take a stroll through Brookfield Zoo

Wild lights

If your kids need some time out of the house over the holidays, why not pay a visit to Brookfield Zoo? The Chicago Zoological Society keeps things open over the weekend, and then resumes its evening Holiday Magic activities on Monday at the Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. $17.85; $12.50 seniors and kids. (708) 688-8000 or czs.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (Holiday Magic resumes 4 to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, Dec. 26 to 31)

'Animal Secrets'

Learn what eagles feed their young and how a mother bat finds her babies in a cave in the "Animal Secrets" exhibit at the Kohl Children's Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. Children can explore different environments, including a cave, a woodland and a meadow. $11-$12; free for kids younger than 1. (847) 832-6600 or kohlchildrensmuseum.org. Exhibit runs through Friday, Dec. 30. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 24-25

Festival of Lights

See more than 20,000 twinkling lights in holiday scenes at the Festival of Lights and Christmas Trees at the Cosley Zoo, 1356 North Ave., Wheaton. Visitors can purchase Christmas trees (with sales supporting the zoo), along with hot chocolate and holiday gifts. Free zoo admission during the festival. (630) 665-5534 or cosleyzoo.org. 3 to 9 p.m. nightly through Friday, Dec. 30. Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 24, and Dec. 31. Closed Sunday, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1

Victorian Christmas

Get in the outdoor holiday spirit at Antioch's Dickens Holiday Village, which features life-size figures from Charles Dickens' classic tale "A Christmas Carol" in scenes from 19th-century England, at Lake and Main streets in downtown Antioch. Free. (847) 395-2233 or antiochchamber.org. Daily through Sunday, Dec. 25

Lace up those skates

Strap on ice skates and hit the skating rink for Frozemont's Skating in the Park at MB Financial Park at Rosemont, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. In the evening, skaters can zip around on the ice under holiday lights. Free admission; skate rental is available for $8. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24; 4 to 11 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 25; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, Dec. 26-30; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1. Runs various days through Sunday, Feb. 26. For a schedule, see rosemont.com.

Take a walk

Enjoy a free stroll through the Morton Arboretum or the Botanic Garden. The grounds of both spots are open, though the holiday extras are not. Check websites for full details. The arboretum is open from 7 a.m. to sunset. It's at 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. The garden is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. The Regenstein Center and Wonderland Express are closed. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org.

Hit the slopes

Villa Olivia in Bartlett is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 1401 W. Lake St. (630) 289-1000 or villaolivia.com. Four Lakes Ski & Snowboard Area is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. (630) 964-2550 or fourlakessnowsports.com. Check websites for rates and rental information.

All of the lights

Ooh and ahh at Mooseheart's seventh annual Holiday Lights display. The drive-through display is open from 5 to 9 p.m. and features more than 80 lighted displays along a 1.8-mile route. Mooseheart is between North Aurora and Batavia, two miles north of I-88 on Route 31. $10 per car, cash only. mooseheart.org.

Seasonal fun indoors

Enjoy holiday thrills without the chills at the 16th annual Winter WonderFest, which features festive decor on nearly 500 trees, indoor ice skating and more. It's ongoing through Wednesday, Jan. 11, at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $10-$25. (800) 595-7437 or navypier.com. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday (closed Dec. 25); 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Jan. 1 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 24); through Jan. 11

Build it

Check out Legoland Discovery Center. Lego lovers can enjoy a number of attractions including a winter wonderland and a life-size Lego Santa. Legoland, at Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas Day. General admission is $19. (847) 592-9700 or legolanddiscoverycenter.com/chicago.

'Fiddler on the Roof'

Celebrate the start of Hanukkah with a screening of the 1971 Academy Award-winning musical "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. Directed by Norman Jewison and starring Topol and Norma Crane, the film follows a poor milkman and his family while they try to keep up with their Jewish faith and traditions in Czarist Russia. Songs include "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "If I Were A Rich Man" and "Sunrise, Sunset." $8-$12. musicboxtheatre.com. 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 25

Concert highlights:

Mr. Blotto's Annual Christmas Show: 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 25, Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. $15. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

Plain White T's - Hometown Throwdown with guests AM Taxi and Fairview: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Pop, punk, rock. $25-$45. (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com.

Ryan Powers and The Secret Weapons, Daniel Wade, More More More, Michael Chorvat and Dave Valdez: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, at Cobra Lounge, 235 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. $7-$10. (312) 226-6300 or cobralounge.com.

DNK., The Giving Moon, Trick Shooter Social Club, Owens Room: 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $10. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com.

Morris Day & The Time: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Rock. $29.50-$54. (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com.

Hemmingbirds, Mutts, Archie Powell & The Exports, Jesse W. Johnson: 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $10-$12. (773) 525-2501 or lh-st.com.

Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.