Sunday picks: Gaudete Brass Quintet in concert

Dancenter North tours #8220;The Magic of the Nutcracker#8221; to the Genesee Theatre,203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $15-$36. (847) 782-2366 or dancenter-north.com. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16

' at Batavia Fine Arts CentreState Street Dance Studio presents its take on #8220;The Nutcracker#8221;at Batavia Fine Arts Centre,1201 Main St., Batavia. $28; $23 kids ages 10 an younger. (630) 232-0444 or statestreetdancestudio.com. 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16It's 'Yesterday Once More'Author Randy L. Schmidt reads from and discusses his new book, #8220;Yesterday Once More: The Carpenters Reader,#8221; a book looking at the 1970s superstar brother-and-sister recording artists Richard and Karen Carpenter, at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. Schmidt will also discuss his best-selling 2010 biography of Karen Carpenter, #8220;Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter.#8221; The evening includes a performance by Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters. Event is open to the public. Admission is $10 ($5 can be applied to a book purchase). Tickets will be available at the door. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16Night lightDrive through 97 acres of holiday lights and holiday scenes at #8220;A Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show,#8221; at the Cuneo Museum and Gardens, 1350 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills. $10 per car. (847) 362-3042 or cuneomansion.org. 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16'Let It Snow!'The Elgin Symphony Orchestra stars with its #8220;Let It Snow!#8221; concert at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Holiday selections are featured. Tickets begin at $26. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16Ralph's holiday worldRalph Covert, lead singer of the children's music group Ralph's World, teams up with the DuPage Symphony Orchestra for #8220;A Ralph Covert Holiday,#8221; a program of seasonal songs from around the world, at Wentz Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center at North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $8-$10. (630) 637-7469. 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16Christmas tunes in filmWatch scenes from classic holiday films that feature Christmas tunes at the Christmas Music in the Movies program at the Wheaton Public Library, 225 N. Cross St., Wheaton. Guests are welcome to sing along with the songs from featured films including #8220;White Christmas,#8221; #8220;Holiday Inn,#8221; #8220;Meet Me in St. Louis#8221; and others. For reservations, stop by the library's checkout desk, call (630) 868-7516, or visit wheatonlibrary.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16Skate with SantaFamily members of all ages are invited to Skate with Santa at the Triphahn Community Center and Ice Arena, 1685 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates. Highlights include skating appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Christmas Mouse. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served. Admission and skate rental are free. (847) 885-7500 or heparks.org. 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16Tailgate at WicketsJoin a pregame party before the Bears take on the Packers at Wickets Bar and Grill, 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg, with football food and cold brews. Dec. 16. Chef George Garcia will grill up $2.50 bratwursts, $1.50 hot dogs and $3.50 burgers. Score a bowl of homemade chili for $2. Stay warm by moving it inside for the game. Corona and Corona Light go for $2.50 all day. (847) 619-1400 or wicketsbarandgrill.com. 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16Zoo aglowSee Brookfield Zoo all lit up with thousands of twinkly lights via its seasonal Holiday Magic displays at First Avenue and 31st St., Brookfield. $10.50-$15 general admission (extra for rides and special photos). $10 parking. (708) 688-8000 or czs.org. 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and daily from Wednesday, Dec. 26, through Monday, Dec. 31Brassy holidays The award-winning Illinois Brass Band presents traditional and jazzed up versions of seasonal songs for its #8220;A Christmas Fantasy#8221; concert at two locations: Cutting Hall, 150 E. Wood St., Palatine. $12; $6 kids. (847) 202-5222; also at Cosman Cultural Center, 12015 Mill St., Huntley. $10; $5 kids. illinoisbrassband.org.6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, in Palatine; 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, in Huntley 18011199The Agape Ringers performs shows off its amazing handbell skills with the concert "Sounds of the Season" at the Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church on Saturday, Dec. 15. 22551501The Brookfield Zoo is lit up for the season on weekends and around Christmas for Holiday Magic. 21451425Pianist Rich Ridenou is part of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s concerts “Let it Snow!” which also features soprano Rachel DeShon, the Elgin Choral Union, the Elgin Children’s Chorus and the Midwest Dance Collective. 36012401Lindsey Ray stars as Clara in Dancenter North’s “The Magic of the Nutcracker” at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan.Courtesy of Studio West Photography 14682201Singer and musician Ralph Covert, of the Ralph’s World children’s music group, teams up with the DuPage Symphony Orchestra for “A Ralph Covert Holiday” concert at Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College in Naperville.Daily Herald file photo