Things to do Dec. 26 to Jan. 1: Trans-Siberian Orchestra, holiday concerts, New Year’s Eve events and more

Happening before Friday

“A Christmas Carol”: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23; 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 26; and noon Saturday, Dec. 27, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. Set in Victorian-era London, see Charles Dickens’ classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and the spirited ghosts that visit him one fateful Christmas Eve. Presented by Drury Lane Theatre for Young Audiences. $42-$62. drurylanetheatre.com.

Dickens Holiday Village: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through Jan. 1 inside Kringle’s Christmas Village, 510 Orchard St., Antioch. Public art exhibit featuring lifelike figures representing scenes from the Dickens era. Free. antiochchamber.org.

Winterland at Gallagher Way: 3-9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 31, at Gallagher Way, 3635 N. Clark St., Chicago. Holiday hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 29-30, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31. Family-friendly activities and interactive experiences, holiday rides, ice skating, visits with Santa and live music. Ride the Holiday Train along the Wrigley Field Concourse, with pricing starting at $5 per ride. Gallagher Ice Rink open through Feb. 15; skating starts at $8, skate rentals start at $16, with Discount Nights on Mondays and Tuesdays. Free entry. gallagherway.com.

Naper Lights: 4-10 p.m. daily through Jan. 1 in downtown Naperville. Display of holiday lights and music along Water Street, Foyo Plaza, Jaycees Park and the Riverwalk. Free. naperlights.com.

Joffrey Ballet presents “The Nutcracker”: 2 and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, and Friday and Saturday, Dec. 26-27; 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24; and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Tony Award-winning Christopher Wheeldon’s kaleidoscopic reimagining of “The Nutcracker” set amid the spectacle of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Ticket prices start at $62. joffrey.org.

“A Christmas Carol”: 2 and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23; 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 26-27; 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28; and 2 and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Charles Dickens’ classic holiday story. Tickets start at $29. goodmantheatre.org.

Noël Lounge at the McCormick House: 4-10 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, through Jan. 4, in the Noël Lounge at the McCormick House at Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Also open 4-10 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays through Dec. 30. Closed Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Experience the pop-up lounge in the elegant second-floor rooms with artisanal, shareable small plates and a curated wine list and signature craft cocktails. $20 booking deposit per person. Christmas at Cantigny Light Show purchase required. Tickets: cantigny.org/event/noel-lounge-11-21.

Santa’s Rock N Lights: Time slots vary by day but usually start at 4:45 or 5 p.m. and end at 9 or 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, through Dec. 31, plus Monday, Dec. 29, at the Kane County Cougars Stadium, 34W002 Cherry Lane, Geneva, and 3900 N. Rockwell St., Chicago. Drive-thru light show featuring a mile of lights that dance in sync with music in larger-than-life displays. $29.99-$49.99 per car. santasrocknlights.com.

Friday, Dec. 26

McHenry Festival of Trees: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Sunday, Dec. 28, at McHenry City Hall, 333 S. Green St., McHenry, and 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily through Sunday, Dec. 28, at McHenry Rec Center, 3716 Municipal Drive, McHenry. See decorated trees sponsored by local businesses and civic organizations. Vote for a favorite tree with a donation of canned nonperishable food or toiletries for Veteran’s Path to Hope. facebook.com/mchenryareachamber.

Cosley Zoo Festival of Lights: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through Tuesday, Dec. 30, at Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton. Thousands of twinkling lights and Christmas trees, wreaths, greenery and hot chocolate for sale. Proceeds benefit Cosley Zoo. Free. Lights turn on at 3 p.m. cosleyzoo.org/festival-of-lights-tree-sale.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: 2:30 and 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, at the Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont. “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve.” $55. rosemont.com/allstate.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Holiday Magic: 3-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, through Sunday, Jan. 4, at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. Lights festival featuring 3.5 million twinkling LED lights, a giant light-up maze, interactive light displays, a twinkling star walk-through experience, a Holiday Dolphin Show, Santa visits on select nights and a holiday market. $20.95-$34.95. brookfieldzoo.org/HolidayMagic.

Time Warp Express After Christmas Adventure: Time slots start at 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Dec. 26-28, at Volo Auto Museum, 27582 Volo Village Road, Volo. Board the Time Warp Express, a fully enclosed and decorated trolley, to save Santa. All paying customers get a free hot chocolate and cookie. $31.95; free for kids 4 and younger, who must ride on a guardian’s lap during the trolley ride; lap riders can purchase a hot chocolate and cookie for a $3.95. volofun.com/events.

Lights! Camera! Action!: 4:30-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, through Tuesday, Jan. 4, at Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Stroll through Cantigny’s illuminated gardens and landscapes to iconic movie songs and instrumental themes; check out the Historic McCormick House and its 20-foot Christmas tree, Noel Shop and Noel Lounge; enjoy the outdoor ice-skating rink ($7 admission, $3 rentals); warm up in the heated hospitality tent and more. $15 in advance, $20 day of; $10/$15 for kids 3-15; free for kids younger than 3. cantigny.org.

Santa’s Village Magical Christmas Drive-Thru: 5-9 p.m. Friday through Tuesday, Dec. 26-30, at 601 Dundee Ave., East Dundee. See the light displays synchronized to holiday music from your car. Visit with Santa at the end. $29.99 per vehicle, $5 discount for season-pass holders. (847) 426-6751 or santasvillagedundee.com.

“A Christmas Carol — A Live Radio Play”: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26; 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, at Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road, Glenview. Return to WBFR Studios on Christmas Eve in 1946 and follow Ebenezer Scrooge on his journey to find the true spirit of the holiday season, complete with live sound effects, radio jingles and more. $55. oillamptheater.org.

The Second City presents “Jack Frost Roasting on an Open Fire”: 7:30 p.m. Friday through Wednesday, Dec. 26-31, at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. A fast-paced, interactive comedy revue featuring seasonal songs, sketches and improv comedy. $40. metropolisarts.com.

Saturday, Dec. 27

The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party: 9:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 27-28, at Chicago Children’s Theatre, 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. Four Beatrix Potter favorites come to life in this interactive trunk and puppet show, complete with original music. After the show, head to the lobby to play with the puppets, take pictures with the cast, and join fellow Chicago families for a communal holiday party. $44.25-$54.25; kids 18 months and younger are eligible for $13 lap seats. chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

Elton Rohn: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Elton John tribute artist Ron Camilleri. For ages 12 and older. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $59. rauecenter.org.

Sunday, Dec. 28

Nurtured by Nature: 10-11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, at Hannaford Woods Forest Preserve, 5S002 Merrill Road, Sugar Grove. Incorporates gentle stretching, deep breathing and a focus on awareness during gentle hikes designed to nurture the mind, body and spirit. For ages 18 and older. Free; registration is required. kaneforest.com.

Scott Smith’s All Animal Expo: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Bimonthly show that hosts vendors from the Midwest. $3-$8. allanimalexpo.com.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, at the Chicago Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. The CSO celebrates the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss Jr. with a selection of overtures, arias and duets. $52.90. cso.org.

Monday, Dec. 29

Movie Mondays: 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29, at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. See 1994’s “The Lion King.” $1 tickets at the door; cash only ($20 bills or less). Concessions for purchase (credit/debit cards accepted). paramountaurora.com/series/movie-mondays.

Old 97s with Rhett Miller: 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 29-30, and 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Space, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $60.45 for Monday or Tuesday and $80.35 for Wednesday. evanstonspace.com.

Tuesday, Dec. 30

New Year’s Eve-Eve Family Celebration: 9-10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, at Station 34, 34 S. Main St., Mount Prospect. The Mount Prospect Downtown Merchants Association presents a kid-friendly family celebration to ring in the new year featuring entertainment, food, goody bags and a midday balloon drop. Tickets: $15 for 10 and older; $12 for kids 2-9; and free for kids 2 and younger. mpdowntown.com/new-years-eve-eve.

New Year’s Beach Ball Drop Pool Party: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, at the Vaughan Athletic Center, 2121 W. Indian Trail Road, Aurora. Water slides, floating obstacle course, splash zones, zero entry pool, refreshments and more. $13-$17; free for kids 1 and younger. foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

Bobby Lewis Jazz Trio: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, at the Wilmette Public Library, 1242 Wilmette Ave., Wilmette. Celebrate 2026 at the library's traditional early New Year’s concert. Free. wilmettelibrary.info.

Two Nights of Dehd’s Bye Bye ’25 NYE Run: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, and 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St., Chicago. With Wombo on Tuesday and Sharp Pins on Wednesday. $39.96-$52.98 Tuesday, $46.39-$66.63 Wednesday. thaliahallchicago.com.

Wednesday, Dec. 31

Last Chance Burn: 7-10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road, Glen Ellyn. A morning of calorie-burning group fitness classes. The fee to participate is a nonperishable food item or toiletry donation to benefit the Glen House Food Pantry. gepark.org/calendar.

Kohl’s New Year’s Eve Bash: 8:30-11 a.m. or 12:30-3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. Children’s concert with Wendy and DB for the morning session; DJ and dance party for the afternoon session. Interactive bubble show with the Amazing Jason, crafts, photo ops, a confetti drop to close each of the sessions and more. $26-$36, free for kids younger than 1. kohlchildrensmuseum.org.

Bubble Bash New Year’s Eve: 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the DuPage Children’s Museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville. Dance, create, explore and count down to noon with confetti, bubbles and more. $40. dupagechildrens.org.

New Year’s Eve Countdown to Noon: 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Downers Grove Recreation Center, 4500 Belmont Road, Downers Grove. Kids 2-10 can ring in the new year with party favors, a DJ, a photo booth, activities, a balloon drop and more. Guardians must supervise their kids. Siblings younger than 2 can attend for free with a paid child. Space is limited; advance registration required. $25-$35. dgparks.org.

Noon Year’s Eve Party: 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Salt Creek Sports Center, 647 Consumers Ave., Palatine. Ring in the new year in your favorite pajamas. There will be bounce houses, dancing, photo ops, games and refreshments, followed by a countdown to noon and a balloon drop. $10-$15. saltcreekpd.com/special-events.

Family New Year’s Eve Bash: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Vaughan Athletic Center, 2121 W. Indian Trail Road, Aurora. Bounce in inflatables, play games, participate in interactive entertainment and dance to music. There will be a countdown and a balloon drop at noon. $15-$19. foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

Happy Noon Year: 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Community Recreation Center, 100 Community Blvd., Wheeling. Games, music, balloon drop and a sparkling grape juice toast. Each participant receives a glow-stick necklace, a party hat and a noisemaker. $2. Registration required. wheelingparkdistrict.com.

New Year’s Neon Bash: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Triphahn Center & Ice Arena, 1685 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates. Kids 4-10 can dance under black lights, play games and countdown to noon with pizza, music and neon fun. $18 for residents, $20 for nonresidents. Register at heparks.org with 245920-A.

Noon Year’s Eve: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at The Loft at Ethereal, 140 Cass St., Woodstock. Ring in the new year with a kid-friendly countdown to noon, complete with a sparkling juice toast and a balloon ball drop. Adults must attend with their child; everyone attending must register. $12-$18. woodstockrecreationdepartment.com.

Hawthorn Noon Year Celebration: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Center Court at Hawthorn, 122 Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills. Families can count down to 2026 early with a family-friendly celebration featuring a live DJ, face painting, balloon twisting, refreshments and a festive balloon drop at noon. Free. visithawthorn.com.

Family New Year’s Eve Party: Noon to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Heavy appetizers while grooving to a live DJ, plus a balloon drop, an ice cream sundae bar and cocktails/soft drinks (for purchase). Only 200 tickets will be sold. $22.50. arcadalive.com.

New Philharmonic New Year’s Eve Concert: 1:30, 5 and 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, in the Belushi Performance Hall, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Maestro Kirk Muspratt conducts a New Year’s Eve pops concert with soprano Alisa Jordheim, featuring light classics, Strauss waltzes, arias, champagne and surprises. $68-$80. AtTheMAC.org.

Family New Year’s Eve Party: 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Prairie Lakes Community Center, 515 E. Thacker St., Des Plaines. A celebration to welcome the new year. $10-$12; adult admission is free when accompanied by a child. dpparks.org.

American English’s “The Beatles in Bloom”: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Set in four “seasons,” audiences take a journey through projected visuals, poetic narration, and era-inspired lighting and costuming. Audience sing-alongs include “Hey Jude” and “All You Need Is Love.” For 12 and older. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $59. rauecenter.org.

New Year’s Bash with Felix and Fingers: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. The Woodstock Opera House and Stage Left host a night of music and dancing featuring Felix and Fingers, the dueling pianos duo, starting at 9 p.m. All-night Karaoke in Stage Left. A champagne toast at midnight. $65-$105. woodstockoperahouse.com.

A Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Party with ARRA and Thunderstruck: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Classic rock tribute. $46.75-$98.75. arcadalive.com.

New Year’s Eve Pajama Party: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Three Brothers Theatre, 115 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. There will be a DJ, sleepover, movies playing throughout the theater and more. $53.95. threebrotherstheatre.com.

360 Chicago’s Annual New Year’s Eve Event: 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, to 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, at 360 Chicago, 875 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. See Chicago’s skyline lit up with fireworks displays from the observation deck on the 94th floor. One glass of prosecco included with every ticket. Full cash/credit bar all night with specialty cocktails and a selection of mixed drinks, wine and beer. CloudBar will serve light bites. For ages 21 and older; cocktail attire required, black-tie optional. Starting at $125. 360chicago.com.

New Year On The Pier: NYE 2026 at Bar Sol: 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, to 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, at Bar Sol, 700 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. A multifloor event offering views of Navy Pier’s midnight fireworks show. Tickets start at $99. navypierevents.greencurtainevents.com.

New Year’s Eve with Sixteen Candles: 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Joe’s Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. Music of the ’80s. $32.52. joesliverosemont.com.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Navy Pier: 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Watch 2026 arrive with a 10-minute show synchronized to music. Free. navypier.org.

Thursday, Jan. 1

Cheers to New Year’s 5K Run/Walk: 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, at Church Street Brewing Company, 1480 Industrial Drive, Itasca. Run, walk and enjoy the craft beer of Church Street Brewing Company. Results will be posted at J3Timing.com. Registration starts at $40. indyrunners.org.

Sinfonietta Bel Canto New Year’s Day Gala: 3 p.m. Thursday Jan. 1, at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 5739 Dunham Road, Downers Grove. SBC’s annual benefit concert. Maestro Dan Pasquale D’Andrea conducts music featuring the 250th anniversary of America, an array of vocal and instrumental solos and more. $40, $30 for students, and $5 for kids 12 and younger. sinfoniettabelcanto.org.

Ongoing

Holiday Flower Show: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in December and 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 1-17 at Wilder Park Conservatory, 225 S. Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. Free. epd.org.

Christmas Around the World & Holidays of Lights: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Jan. 5 at The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. 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 trees and displays decorated to represent the holiday traditions from cultures around the globe. Museum admission: adults $25.95; kids 3-11 $14.95; free for members. griffinmsi.org.

Alex Ross — Heroes & Villains: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays through Sundays and Wednesdays and 2-8 p.m. Thursdays through Feb. 16 at the Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County, 1899 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville. A larger-than-life presentation of the work of legendary comic book artist Alex Ross featuring heroes and villains from the Marvel and DC universes. Museum admission $3-$10, exhibit tickets $5-$10, and free for kids 3 and younger. LCFPD.org/planyourvisit.

Illumination: Tree Lights: Time slots between 4:30 and 8 p.m. through Jan. 3 at The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Displays of lights and music that highlight the beauty of trees in winter. Roast marshmallows for s’mores and enjoy a hot seasonal beverage from the concession tents along the trail. The exhibition is closed select Mondays and Tuesdays. Tickets start at $20. mortonarb.org.

Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience: Time slots start at 4:30 p.m. Fridays through Sundays through Jan. 4; plus Monday, Dec. 29, and Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Camp Duncan, 32405 N. U.S. Hwy. 12, Ingleside. Lights transform the landscape into a magical outdoor trail featuring creatures from the “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” films. A themed village at the end of the trail offers food and drink (Butterbeer) and a gift shop. Tickets start at $31 for kids 3-12 and $46 for adults. HPForbiddenForestExperience.com.

Lightscape: 4:30-9:15 p.m. select dates through Jan. 4 at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Take a nighttime stroll through illuminated displays. Adults: $26 for members, $29 for nonmembers; kids 3-12: $14 members, $16 nonmembers; free for kids 2 and younger. chicagobotanic.org/lightscape.

ZooLights: Time slots start at 4:30 p.m. select dates through Jan. 4 at Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago. Features more than 3 million lights, including hundreds of luminous LED displays and festive experiences. $7-$12; free on select Mondays. lpzoo.org/event/zoolights.

Chicago Wolves Ice Rink at Parkway Bank Park: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 5 (except for special holiday hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 1); plus 4-9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, Monday, Jan. 19, and Sunday, Jan. 25. Free. rosemont.com/thepark.

Home for the Holidays Lighted Christmas Trail: 5-9 p.m. through Friday, Jan. 2, in Shiloh Park, starting at Port Shiloh Pool parking lot, 1501 Shiloh Blvd., Zion. Drive through a lighted trail with over 50 displays and 100,000 lights. zionparkdistrict.com.

Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas”: 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 5:30 p.m. Sundays, and 1:30 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Jan. 11 at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Tickets start at $31. paramountaurora.com.

“Million Dollar Quartet Christmas”: Various times most Wednesdays through Sundays and some Tuesdays through Jan. 4 at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Christmas musical in which Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley come together to celebrate the holidays at Sun Records studio. Tickets start at $70. marriotttheatre.com.