Cheap stuff: 'Symphony in Lights', 'Mookie' art, Pat McCurdy

Free

Lighting up the night

The Promenade Bolingbrook continues its “Symphony in Lights” holiday light show, featuring more than 250,000 LED lights embedded in thousands of feet of holiday foliage. The show is choreographed to the taped music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Show runs daily, at dusk, through Friday, Dec. 31, at the Promenade Bolingbrook, 631 E. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook. Shows run every hour on the hour. Free general admission. Visit thepromenadebolingbrook.com.

‘Mookie & The Christmas Tree'

The Barrington Area Library is featuring original artwork from the children's book “Mookie & The Christmas Tree,” illustrated by Barrington native Sue Daly, through Saturday, Jan. 1. The new exhibit features original illustrations from the book, written by Judith Kristen. Daly and Kristen have teamed up to produce five Mookie books, which focus on the characters of Mookie the Cat and Pup Buddy Henley.

Exhibit runs during regular library hours through Saturday, Jan. 1, at the Barrington Area Library, at 505 N. Northwest Hwy., Barrington. Free. Call (847) 382-1300 or visit balibrary.org.

Caroling at Cloud Gate

Singers of all ages are invited to join voices for sing-a-longs with the Wicker Park Coral Singers for the annual Caroling at Cloud Gate event. Friday, Dec. 17, is the final evening of singing for the season.

6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, at Millennium Park, Michigan Avenue between Randolph and Monroe streets, Chicago. Free. (312) 742-1168 or millenniumpark.org.

The duo of Dan and Kate

Dan Zahn and Kate Moretti present a concert of holiday favorites, folk music, standards and original songs at the Mount Prospect Public Library. Moretti sings, while Zahn plays guitar and mandolin and joins in on the vocals. The duo has traveled the country, performing their blend of folk, swing and original music.

1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, at the Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St., Mount Prospect. Free, but registration is required. Call (847) 253-5675 or visit mppl.org.

$10 and under

Pat McCurdy

Musician and stand-up comic Pat McCurdy brings his mix of comedy and folk/rock music to the stage at The Cubby Bear North in Lincolnshire.

9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, at The Cubby Bear North, 21661 N. Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire. Admission is $6. (847) 541-4700 or visit http://cubbynorth.com.

Crafty kids

Youngsters are invited to put their artistic talents to use to construct simple versions of traditional Native American objects, using everyday craft materials, at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian's Kids Craft Morning. Staff and volunteers will lead participants in an informal, hourlong art session. The final program for the season on Saturday, Dec. 18, features Inuit snow goggles. The program is recommended for ages 5 and older, but there is no minimum age requirement.

11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, at 3001 Central St., Evanston. Admission to the craft event is free with paid $2.50-$5 general museum admission. Maximum admission per family is $10. Free for museum members and tribal members. (847) 475-1030 or mitchellmuseum.org.

Winter Recital

The Schaumburg Academy of Music hosts its 11th annual Winter Recital on Sunday, Dec. 19. Students will sing and perform on a variety of instruments including the guitar and piano. Musical selections will include classical, Broadway tunes and holiday songs. Proceeds will benefit the academy's Artistry in Music Scholarship Foundation, an organization that provides music lessons to needy students.

Events begin at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 930 W. Higgins Road, Schaumburg. Admission is $5 per recital. For information, call (847) 534-6633.