Weekend picks: Warm up the holiday weekend with VoicePlay in Schaumburg

Vocal workout

The a cappella ensemble VoicePlay brings its "Warm Up: A Holiday Special" on Saturday to Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $28; $26 seniors and students. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22

Vote for trees

Time is running out for you to vote on your favorite decorated tree to benefit nonprofit organizations as part of the Community Trees event at Cantigny Park's McCormick House, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Free admission, but $5 parking. (630) 668-5161 or cantigny.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 22-23 and 29-30, and Wednesday through Friday, Dec. 26-28

Watery wonderland

Kids between the ages of 3 to 9 are invited to the Arlington Heights Park District's Swimming with Santa event this Saturday at the Olympic Indoor Swim Center, 660 N. Ridge Ave., Arlington Heights. For ages 3 to 9. Registration required through the Arlington Heights Park District. $15. (847) 577-3000 or ahpd.org. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22

Germanic cheer

Find a last-minute gift or two at the suburban outpost of the German Christkindlmarket. Enjoy the fun and nosh on some German specialties like bratwurst, pretzels, strudel, roasted nuts and more through Monday at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Free admission. (630) 420-6010 or christkindlmarket.com. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 24

Angel wings

'Tis the season to watch late actors James Stewart, Donna Reed and more in "It's a Wonderful Life." Director Frank Capra's 1946 holiday classic is screened Saturday at the Catlow Theater, 116 W. Main St., Barrington. $5. (224) 634-7880 or thecatlow.com. Noon Saturday, Dec. 22

Such characters

Antioch's free Dickens Holiday Village continues through Monday, Jan. 1, but this is the last weekend to experience Santa's Frozen Village complete with great photo opportunities at Antioch Village Hall, 882 Main St., Antioch. $5 admission (includes a child's gift). (847) 395-2233 or antiochchamber.org. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 22-23

Linus & Lucy

Experience the great jazzy holiday music of Vince Guaraldi in the national tour of "A Charlie Brown Christmas Live!" on Saturday at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $25-$65. $15-$25 parking. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22

Man's best friend

The canine residents of The Barkley, a prestigious kennel and dog-training facility, share stories about themselves and their human companions in "Dogs," a new holiday musical by Mike Sigman and Jerry Sigman. The family-friendly show comes to the Pheasant Run Resort and Spa for a brief run. 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22 29; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, at 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $20. (630) 584-6300 or pheasantrun.com/entertainment.

Blaqrock, Conway and more

Cobra Lounge packs an eclectic mix of musicians into Saturday night with rock band-backed rapper Blaqrock heading the charge. Catch them when they play with fun and energetic rock band Conway, the funky blues-rock of self-described "Slow Jam Chorizo Music" artists Papi Le Gusta, hometown alternative rockers Breakfast Beer and the soulful folk-rock stylings of Owen and the Ghosts. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at Cobra Lounge, 235 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. $10-$12. (312) 226-6300 or cobralounge.com.

High-tech illusions

There are laser levitations, death-defying water chamber escapes and more in "Jamie Allan's iMagician ... It's Magic Beyond Belief." See the famed British illusionist starting this weekend at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $49.99-$159.99. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22; 2 p.m. Sunday and Wednesday, Dec. 23, 26 and 30; 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 27 and 28; 2, 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29

Christmas with Bret

What's Christmas without a visit from Poison frontman Bret Michaels? The longtime rocker, reality star and entrepreneur brings his annual "Bret Michaels Christmas Party" to St. Charles' Arcada Theatre this holiday weekend. Tickets are also available for an exclusive after-party, featuring stories, acoustic songs, and a meet-and-greet. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $69-$125. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

'Into the Woods'

Several familiar Grimm Brothers characters embark on a journey "Into the Woods" that alters them in profound ways in the musical by Stephen Sondheim and writer James Lapine that examines what happens when happily ever after doesn't unfold as hoped. Music Theater Works revives the show under director Rudy Hogenmiller and conductor Roger L. Bingaman. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston. $34-$96. (847) 920-5360 or musictheaterworks.com.

In the spirit

Bub City Rosemont is getting in the holiday spirit with its annual Bad Santa Christmas Party starting at 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22. Sip on $5 Old Fashioneds, spiked cider and boozy hot cocoa while enjoying live music, giveaways and photos with Santa. Bub City is at Parkway Bank Park, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 261-0399, and 435 N. Clark St., Chicago, (312) 610-4200, or bub-city.com/.

Second City sendup

The Second City returns to the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre with its "Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue" featuring new sketches skewering holiday traditions, office parties, family reunions and all things Christmas. 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23; runs at various times Dec. 27-31 at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $30-$60. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

Ugly Sweater Brunch

Grab the gaudiest Christmas sweater you can find and head to Shaw's holiday-themed Ugly Sweater Brunch from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23. Shaw's will reward all those wearing an ugly holiday sweater with a $25 gift card to use at a future visit. Brunch costs $65 for adults, $15 for kids 7-12, and free for kids 6 and younger. Shaw's Crab House Schaumburg is at 1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-2722 or shawscrabhouse.com/events/ugly-sweater-brunch-december-23/.

Concert highlights

Hi Infidelity: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at RocHaus, 96 W. Main St., West Dundee. $5-$18. (815) 482-2870 or rochaus.com.

Fairview, Darren Vorel, Steve Knecht: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at Fitz's Spare Keys, 119 N. York St., Elmhurst. $10. (630) 379-5007 or fairviewtickets.bigcartel.com.

VoicePlay "Warm Up: A Holiday Special": 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $26-$28. (847) 895-3600 or schaumburg-prod.civica.granicusops.com.

Kory Quinn: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $12-$25. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com.

Rosie and The Rivets: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at Frankie's Blue Room, 16 Chicago Ave., Naperville. $8. (630) 416-4898 or frankiesblueroom.net.

Toys for Tots featuring Frankie B, Dina Bach, Kate Schell: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. $10 or free with toy donation. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

Christmas with The Cutscenes, The Beta Waves and Welcome to Jonestown: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at Silvie's Lounge, 1902 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. $5. (773) 871-6239 or silvieslounge.com.

Hybrid Theory, Fool's Brew: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at Quarry Pub and Grill, 1015 State St., Lemont. (630) 241-7227 or quarrylemont.com.

Johnny Burnett Band: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

Hillbilly Casino/Hillbilly Rockstarz Holiday Party with The Krank Daddies, Them Guilty Aces: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at BrauerHouse and BrauerHouse Live, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $10-$15. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Ronnie Baker Brooks: 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $20-$25. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

Kayen, Frank Waln, Demi Amparan: 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $15. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com.

Wedding Banned: 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $7. (847) 358-9150 or eventbrite.com.

Xmas Party with CantBuyDeem, Heffy, Unkle Slump, Terry Tertiary, Bombay Boyz, Yung Tact, Man Cub, Illy Muse, Ever Evolved, Revolt Coda and more: 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $15. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

Dark Side of the Yule - Christmas Meets Rock with Classical Blast: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $20. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

Better Love, Old Sol, Rare Candy, Wilmette: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

The Belvederes: 10:15 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23 (after the "It's a Wonderful Life" screening), at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. Free. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

• Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with the venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings or to add an event, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.