Things to do Jan. 5-11: Concerts, shows and winter celebrations
This is one of the last weekends to experience a winter light show for the season. Or, get out and catch a concert or stage production, go ice skating or visit Frosty Fest.
Ongoing
Christmas Around the World and Holiday of Lights: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily through Sunday, Jan. 7, at the Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. The museum’s annual celebration features a four-story, floor-to-dome Grand Tree surrounded by a forest of more than 50 decorated trees. Museum admission. msichicago.org.
“Downton Abbey — The Exhibition”: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays through March 31 at Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center, 4905 Old Orchard Center, Skokie. See never-before-seen elements from the show, including original costumes, production-used props and exclusive footage from “Downton Abbey.” $27-$64. downtonexhibition.com.
WNDR Museum’s Winter WNDRland — “Iced In”: Opens at 10 a.m. daily through Monday, Jan. 15, at WNDR Museum, 1130 W. Monroe St., Chicago. The museum has been transformed into an icy winterscape for guests to explore the expansive chill of the winter season. General admission tickets start at $32. wndrmuseum.com.
Rosemont’s Chicago Wolves Ice Rink: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 28 at Parkway Bank Park, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. Free admission. Bring your own skates or rent skates on-site for $8. ParkwayBankPark.com.
Wintrust Winterland: 3-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, through Jan. 7, on Gallagher Way and inside Wrigley Field, Chicago. Family-friendly activities and interactive experiences, including a 40-foot Ferris wheel and a lighted tree; an ice rink with bumper cars and skating; carnival games and rides; a lounge with fire pits, s’mores kits and refreshments; live music and more. Free admission; the Wrigley Field portion requires tickets, which are $5 in advance. gallagherway.com.
Illumination, Tree Lights: Time slots from 4:30-8 p.m. daily through Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Holiday light display featuring 18 lighted installations, including two new and four returning favorites with enhanced experiences. $12.80-$39. mortonarb.org.
Lightscape: 4:30-9:15 p.m. select days through Sunday, Jan. 7, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Take an after-dark stroll through an array of illuminated displays from new installments to favorites like the Winter Cathedral. In advance: $30-$34 for adults, $17-$19 for kids 3-12; day of: $33-$37 for adults, $19-$21 for kids 3-12. Check for availability. chicagobotanic.org/lightscape.
Winter Lights: 4:30-9:30 p.m. daily through Sunday, Jan. 7, at Central Park, Jorie Boulevard and Forest Gate Road, Oak Brook. A free, half-mile illuminated walk along paved pathways. obparks.org/winterlights.
ZooLights: 4:30-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4:30-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, through Sunday, Jan. 7, at Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago. Lighted displays, photo ops and interactive programming. $10 Fridays and Saturdays, $7 most weekdays. lpzoo.org/event/zoolights.
Willow Hill Lights: 5-10 p.m. through Saturday, Jan. 6, at Willow Hill Lights, 1350 Willow Road, Northbrook. A drive-though holiday experience through 2.5 miles of displays including the Abominable Snowman and the 12 Days of Christmas. $40 per car/SUV; $60 per bus/limo. willowhilllights.com.
Starts before Friday
Magician Jamie Allan in "Amaze": 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday Jan. 4 and 5; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6; and 2 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at The Rhapsody Theater, 1328 W. Morse Ave., Chicago. Magician Jamie Allan unveils a new magic experience. $35-$100. rhapsodytheater.com.
Jan. 5
The Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at Center Theatre at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Performers include Shawn Klush, Cody Ray Slaughter and Ryan Pelton, along with The Blackwood Quartet and The Nashville Dreams. $39.50-$69.50. northshorecenter.org.
Jimmy Page Birthday Bash Featuring Kashmir: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Annual salute to the iconic music of Led Zeppelin celebrating the birthday of Jimmy Page, performed by Frank Livingston and Kashmir. $29-$39. arcadalive.com.
Victor Garcia Birthday Bash: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at Space, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. Trumpeter Victor Garcia will perform. Doors open at 7 p.m. $20-$30. evanstonspace.com.
Jan. 6
Frozen Gnome Trail Races: 7:45 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at 431 Walkup Ave., Crystal Lake. Choose either the 50K ultra run or the 10K race. The single-track course will take runners through Veteran Acres and Sterne's Woods. Enjoy a sliding hill, hot food, coffee, heat and the Gnome Depot Aid Station. $20-$30. trailrunner.com/event/frozen-gnome-trail-races.
Frosty Fest: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at Viking Park, 4374 Old Grand Ave., Gurnee. Viking Park will be transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with outdoor sleigh rides, games, crafts, ice skating (weather permitting) and more. Free. gurneeparkdistrict.com.
Alfonso Ponticelli with Guest Artists: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at Space, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. A journey around the world through music, with Alfonso Ponticelli on guitar/dulcimer and guest artists Gypsy Jazz Odyssey. $20-$30. evanstonspace.com.
The Procrastinator's Ball Featuring Mr. Blotto: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Jam Band Mr. Blotto will play covers and original songs from their seven albums and other unreleased crowd favorites. $19-$29. arcadalive.com.
Jan. 7
"The Ballad of the Brown King": 9 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at Barrington United Methodist Church, 98 Algonquin Road, Barrington. On Epiphany, the Barrington UMC choir, will present the cantata "The Ballad of the Brown King." Dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr., the libretto was written for Margaret Bond by Langston Hughes and tells the Nativity story of the Magi. Free. barringtonumc.com.
Bring The FIYAH Dance Convention and Competition: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at the Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St., Chicago. Dance convention for students of all ages, skill levels and socioeconomic backgrounds featuring master classes, symposiums and a culminating Youth Dance Showcase. $20. flofiyah.com.
Christmas Carolfest: 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at Glenview Community Church, 1000 Elm St., Glenview. Carolfest with organ, flute, violin, and homegrown voices. Free. gccucc.org.
Arts Alive Concert, Katie Kostner: 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at the Rolling Meadows Library, 3110 Martin Lane, Rolling Meadows. Singer, actress, musician and songwriter Katie Kostner performs Broadway, current pop, rock, folk country and beyond. Free. Register at rmlib.org.
Petra van Nuis Jazz Quartet: 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at the Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton St., Skokie. Chicago-based jazz vocalist Petra van Nuis will perform. Free tickets will be given to those present starting at 2:30 p.m. skokielibrary.info.
Albert Lee, 80th Birthday Celebration: 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at Space, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. Celebrate the birthday of Grammy Award-winning British guitarist Albert Lee. $20-$35. evanstonspace.com.
Jan. 8
After Hours Film Society Presents "Radical": 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8, at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove. A Spanish-language gem about a real teacher’s impact on a poor Mexican border town. A discussion follows the film. $7 for members, $11 for nonmembers. afterhoursfilmsociety.com.
Jan. 9
Get Lit Public Domain Party: 5:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan Ave., second floor, Chicago. Join the American Writers Museum in welcoming an array of new works entering the public domain in 2024. Includes an Opening Ceremony to symbolically unlock the works; the Public Domain Read-A-Thon, in which participants read a previously copyrighted work live on the museum's social media; Remix Stations and hands-on activities that celebrate the spirit of collaboration and creativity; a Public Domain Time Capsule; Poems While You Wait; refreshments and more. $18-$25. americanwritersmuseum.org.
Silent Action Comedy Film "The Cameraman": 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Hopelessly in love with a woman working at MGM Studios, a clumsy man attempts to become a motion-picture cameraman to be close to the object of his desire in this 1928 film. Live accompaniment provided by organist Jay Warren. $10. arcadalive.com.
Le Consort: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St., Chicago. This baroque ensemble of four young musicians from Paris brings a program showing the expressive range and creativity of Bach, Vivaldi, Corelli, Purcell, Rameau, and others. $40, $20 for under 35, $10 for students. chicagopresents.uchicago.edu.
Shakespeare's Sonnets Reborn: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, at Space, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. The Mortal Fools, a collective of Chicagoland musicians, will perform Shakespeare’s sonnets as songs. $12-$20. evanstonspace.com.
Jan. 10
Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts: 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, at the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago, 55 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Join Classical Music Chicago in person or online for pianist John Bitoy in music by J.S. Bach, James Lee III, Maurice Ravel and Margaret Bonds. Free. classicalmusicchicago.org.
The Bowie Project: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, at Space, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. Vocalist Paul Marinaro and the Metropolitan Jazz Octet, under the direction of Jim Gailloreto, team up to explore the music of David Bowie. $20-$35. evanstonspace.com.
Jan. 11
Music on Tap at Alter Brewing Co.: 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at Alter Brewing Company, 2300 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 213, Downers Grove. Local performers will perform a variety of musical genres. Free admission alterbrewing.com.
Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood’s "Asking For Trouble": 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Improv masterminds Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood create scenes, sketches and songs from whatever the audience suggests. $25-$45. geneseetheatre.com.
Tribute to Chris Stapleton: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. The Ultimate Eric Church Tribute Band and Tennessee Whiskey Chicago will perform a tribute to Chris Stapleton and Eric Church. $29-$49. arcadalive.com.
On Stage
“The Immersive Nutcracker — A Winter Miracle”: Hourly from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 6-7, at Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago, 108 W. Germania Place, Chicago. This 30-minute immersive experience, set to Tchaikovsky’s music, weaves the classic tale of Marie and her toy nutcracker. $29.99. immersive-nutcracker.com.
“Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”: 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 1 and 5:30 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 14 at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. This musical follows young Charlie Bucket and his Grandpa Joe as they tour the magical chocolate factory of Willy Wonka. $56. paramountaurora.com.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella": 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3; 1:30 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4; 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6; 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. A young woman wishes for a life as beautiful as a fairy tale. This musical is rated "G." $100.75-$111.25. drurylanetheatre.com/cinderella.
37th Annual Young Playwrights Festival: Previews at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 4-6; Opening Ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7; performances 7 p.m. Fridays and 2:30 and 7 p.m Saturdays through Jan. 28 at Chicago Dramatists, 798 N. Aberdeen St., Chicago. Pegasus Theatre Chicago presents four new plays by Chicago teens that explore bias across time and space. Teachers and school administrators interested in booking a weekday school matinee can email ypf@pegasustheatrechicago.org. $30 for adults, $25 for seniors, $15 for students. pegasustheatrechicago.org.
“Christmas With Elvis”: 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 4-6; and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 6 and 7, at The Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. The dramedy tells the story of a lonely, anxious and slightly angry woman who discovers, on Christmas Eve, that her ex-husband is getting remarried. Before she can indulge in her misery, the ghost of Elvis Presley appears in her apartment. Contains adult themes and language. $50-$75. chopintheatre.com.
“Ho-Ho-Holiday Revue”: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Jan. 4 and 5; and 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at Studio5 Performing Arts Center, 1934 Dempster St., Evanston. Practical Theatre Company’s holiday show mixing music, variety, and vaudeville. $30-$55. tickettailor.com/events/practicaltheatre.
Winter Dance RSO Festival: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6; 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12; 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14; and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 19 and 20, at the Logan Center for the Arts, Theater East, 915 E. 60th St., Chicago. A collaboration between the TAPS Dance Program and UChicago student-run dance groups will host a series of dance performances. Performances include: UChicago Maya on Jan. 5 and 6; RBIM X UC Dancers on Jan. 12; Apsara on Jan. 14; Tap That! on Jan. 19; and Ankara Magic on Jan. 20. Free. cli.re/55872-winter-dance-rso-festival.
Lucy's Comedy: 8:30-10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at the Raue Center For The Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Raue Center’s longest-running program features Chicagoland stand-up comics. $25. Rauecenter.org.
Mermaid Theatre's "Rainbow Fish": 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Gorton Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s new show will include an original stage adaptation of Marcus Pfister’s colorful story, as well as two of the author’s companion tales, "Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea" and "Opposites." Tickets start at $15 in advance. gortoncenter.org.
GreenRoom Improv: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Raue Center For The Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. GreenRoom specializes in a unique blend of clean, high-energy, multi-faceted improv comedy. $13-$20. Rauecenter.org.
“The Merry Wives of Windsor”: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Jan. 10-13, Wheaton College’s Armerding Center for Music and the Arts Concert Hall, 520 E. Kenilworth Ave., Wheaton. Otto Nicolai’s version of “The Merry Wives of Windsor” is an operatic adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedic play. This production, set in the 1950s, will be sung in English and will also feature Florence Price’s Encore Songs. For ticket information, visit tickets.wheaton.edu or call (630) 752-5010.