Festivals: Holiday events still going strong

Holiday Flower Show: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through December and 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in January, now through Jan. 7 at Wilder Park Conservatory, 225 S. Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. Get into the holiday spirit with Wilder Park Conservatory's festive holiday floral display. Free. (630) 993-8900 or epd.org.

Cosley Zoo Festival of Lights and Tree Sale: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through Dec. 30 at Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton. Lights go on at 3 p.m. Open from 9 a.m. to noon Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland with 20,000 twinkling lights, plus there's a selection of Christmas trees to purchase. Free. wheatonparkdistrict.com.

Illumination-Tree Lights: 4:30 to 9 p.m. daily (closed Sunday and Monday, Dec. 24-25) through Jan. 1 at The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. One-mile outdoor walking tour. New this year, interactive pendants that glow in sync with the sights. Pendants cost $10, $9 for members. Tickets are for a specific date and time. $12-$30. For tickets, call (630) 725-2066 or see mortonarb.org.

Mooseheart Holiday Lights: 5 to 9 p.m. daily through Dec. 31 along the Mooseheart campus, off Route 31, south of Batavia. The eighth annual event includes about 80 displays on a 1.8-mile route through the campus. Admission (cash only): $10 for cars; special rates for buses. Hot cocoa, cookies, crafts and more are free. Proceeds benefit Mooseheart Child City and School. (630) 906-3601 or mooseheart.org.

Fifth Third Bank Winter WonderFest: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 22-23, and Tuesday through Thursday, Dec. 26-28, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), through Jan. 7 at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. An indoor winter playground, now in its 17th year. $19-$27. navypier.org/winter-wonderfest.

Christkindlmarket: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Dec. 22-24, at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Christkindlmarket Naperville brings a cherished German and European tradition to Naperville with gifts, ornaments, food and more. Free admission. napersettlement.org.

Oakbrook Center Holiday Market: Noon to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 24, at Oakbrook Center, 22nd Street and Route 83, Oak Brook. Market features a variety of local artisans and one-of-a-kind food vendors. oakbrookcenter.com.

Naperville Santa House: 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, at the Naperville Riverwalk at Jackson Avenue and Webster Street, Naperville. A last chance for a visit and photos with Santa. Free, but photos cost $8. (630) 848-5000 or napervilleparks.org.

Aurora Festival of Lights: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 22-23, and 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, Dec. 24-26, at Phillips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive, Aurora. Drive through more than a mile of animated displays. New this year are dancing arcs and a 20-foot sign proclaiming Weisner Ice Rink. Hosted by the Aurora Rotary Cub. Free, but donations are welcome. aurorafestivaloflights.com.

Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, Dec. 26-31, at 8400 31st St., Brookfield. Festivities begin at 4 p.m. Guests can sing to the animals and enjoy professional ice-carving demonstrations, magic shows and a 41-foot talking tree at the 36th annual event. The zoo will be lit with more than 1 million LED lights and select animal habitats will remain open, as will zoo restaurants and gift shops. A schedule of music and live entertainment, costumed characters, a model railroad display and more can be found at czs.org/magic.

A Community Celebration of Kwanzaa: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St., Evanston. The traditional lighting of the Kinara and recitation of the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa includes music, dancing and more. Free. (847) 866-5914.