Festivals Nov. 12-18: Let It Shine Lightshows, Chicago Botanic's Lightscape are now open

This weekend

“Dr. Seuss Experience”: Noon to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Jan. 2 at Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Immersive exhibit lets guests journey through nine different Dr. Seuss books. $23-$30; free for kids younger than 1. Super Stoopendous tickets are available from noon to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon Fridays. www.experienceseuss.com.

Let It Shine Lightshow: 4:30-11 p.m. daily through Jan. 9 at Northbrook Court, 1515 Lake-Cook Road, Northbrook, and Friday, Nov. 12, through Jan. 9 at Fox Valley Mall, 195 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora, and Wintrust Field, 1999 S. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg. A drive-through wonderland of light displays synchronized to holiday classics. Online ticket purchase required. $29.99 per vehicle weekdays, $39.99 weekends and holidays, $20 add-on for Fast Pass. shinelightshow.com.

Lightscape: 4:30-11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, through Jan. 2 at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Last entry at 9 p.m. The enchanting, after-dark illuminated trail features an all-new path filled with artistic installations and new works. Admission: Adult: $24 for members, $26 for nonmembers; kids 3-12: $12 for members, $14 for nonmembers. Free for kids 3 and younger. Tickets purchased the day-of an extra $2. (847) 835-5440 or www.chicagobotanic.org/lightscape.

Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer: 6-10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, and 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Credit Union 1 Arena, 525 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. $85. North America's largest barrel-aged beer festival and competition features samples from more than 150 craft breweries. www.fobab.com.

Art + Market Aurora: 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Nov. 13 and 20, at Society 57, 100 S. River St., Aurora. Local vendors and makers sell baked goods, soaps, flowers, art and more at the indoor market. Free. auroradowntown.org/market/.

Artisan Craft and Food Fair: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, at Heritage Prairie Farm, 2N308 Brundige Road, Elburn. Chicago-area vendors sell handmade goods from mittens and jams to art, soaps and more in the heated event tent and rustic barn. Free. www.heritageprairiefarm.com.

Craft Fair & Bake Sale: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1244 W. Army Trail Road, Carol Stream. Artisan vendors sell holiday gifts and decor. Plus, there's a bake sale. Free admission. bit.ly/2ULGcH1.

Lurvey Holiday Open House and Pop-Up Event: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Lurvey Garden Center & Landscape Supply, 2550 E. Dempster, Des Plaines. Open house featuring a pop-up shop where local artisans will be selling their wares. Free. www.lurvey.com.

Rockford Arts & Crafts Holiday Spectacular: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, at Mercyhealth Indoor Sports Center, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park. More than 125 crafters and artists offer handcrafted items including home, holiday and yard decor, floral arrangements, crochet items, bath and body products, jewelry, pet supplies, woodcrafts, clothing and accessories, doll clothes, metalwork, baby items and more. Admission is $4; free for kids 11 and younger. Free parking. www.rockfordcraftshow.com.

Rolling Thunder, Veterans Day Stand Too: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Woodstock Harley-Davidson, 2235 S. Eastwood Drive, Woodstock. Honor veterans at the Woodstock Harley-Davidson's Hall of Honor. Veteran-related vendors, organizations and displays open at 11 a.m. Includes POW/MIA Remembrance Table Ceremony, food, music, guest speakers and ceremonies. woodstockilchamber.com.

Art In the Time of Pandemic: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 4 in the Batavia Fine Arts Centre gallery/lobby, 1250 W. Wilson St., Batavia. See the work of artists who responded to the pandemic through drawing, painting, sculpting, design, photography and more. Some artwork is available for sale. www.bataviafineartscentre.org.

Holiday Handmade Market: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale, Schaumburg. 75 local artisans will take over the fourth floor of the outdoor, covered parking garage for a Handmade Market. Free admission. fb.me/e/50v5hvaQ1.

The Rustic Fox Holiday Market: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at The Rustic Fox, 1790 Towne Center Drive, North Aurora. More than 150 vendors offer holiday decor, gifts, clothing, accessories, jewelry and more. Dapper Brews will be on site serving coffee and other beverages and Santiago's Taco Truck will serve Mexican food. www.therusticfoxhome.com.

St. Peter's UCC Holiday Craft Show: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at St. Peter's UCC, 8013 Laramie, Skokie. More than 30 vendors will be selling jewelry, handmade crafts and clothing, homemade jams, holiday baskets, baked goods and more. Free. www.stpeteruccskokie.org.

Tempel Farms Behind-the-Scenes Tour and Training Session: 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Tempel Farms, 17000 Wadsworth Road, Old Mill Creek. A unique way to learn more about the Lipizzan breed of horse and Tempel Farms' training facility. Tickets are $15 for kids 4-14, $25 for adults. www.tempelfarms.com.

“Beyond The Nutcracker” Tea: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at School of Ballet 5:8, 11545 183rd Place, Suite 101, Orland Park. A special performance of excerpts from Ballet 5:8's “Beyond the Nutcracker” designed especially for families. After the performance, there will be light refreshments and a meet-and-greet with the characters. $5. ballet58school.ticketleap.com.

Wickstrom Lincoln Tree Lighting: 5:30-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at The Arboretum of South Barrington, 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington. DJ dance party; visits from Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch, Cindy Lou Who; magician, balloon artist, event performances and more. www.shopthearb.com.

Santa's Arrival & Fireworks: 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Deer Park Town Center, 20530 N. Rand Road, Deer Park. Santa will make his grand entrance via a Lake Zurich fire truck for a tree lighting ceremony and fireworks. shopdeerparktowncenter.com.

Model railroad open house: 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, in the basement of 3 E. Ash St., Lombard. Prairie Scale Model Railroaders is celebrating its 20th anniversary with an open house. Members will be on hand running trains and available to answer questions. Free; donations accepted. www.psmrr.org or www.facebook.com/PSMRCLUB.

This week

“Listening To Their Stories”: 10-11:30 a.m. Monday, Nov 15, at the Metropolis Ballroom, 6 S. Vail St., Arlington Heights. Join students from Saint Viator High School on a journey into the minds, lives and experiences of veterans who served in the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan. The students share what they learned by engaging with these veterans, who will be in attendance to offer more insight. Bring donations of packages of Ramen noodles, cans of fruit, soup or chili, Pop Tarts or individual servings of nuts, fruit, trail mix and cold drink mixes. Free, but registration is required. (847) 259-7730, ext. 21, or email LLahey@WheelingTownship.com.

Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays from Nov. 17 through Jan. 3 at the Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Explore holiday traditions from around the globe. $21.95 for adults, $12.95 for kids 3-11. msichicago.org/catw.

Thanksgiving Honey Extraction: 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, at the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. Join a Thanksgiving Honey Extraction and hear about the benefits of honeybees and other pollinators. www.clcillinois.edu.

Santa Paws Pet Night with Santa: 4-7 p.m. Thursdays, Nov. 18 and Dec. 2 and 9, at Fox Valley Mall, 195 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. Pet owners are invited to bring their pets to a special photo session with Santa Claus. Well-mannered, leashed or kenneled pets can visit with Santa in the “Peanuts Christmas Experience with Santa” on the lower level near Macy's while professional photographers take photos. Pets must enter the mall through Entrance 1 near Macy's on the lower level and may not leave the Macy's court. Make reservations at bit.ly/30wb8h7. www.ShopFoxValleyMall.com/holiday.

Media Arts Fall Festival: 4:45 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, and 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, at the Chicago Academy for the Arts, 1010 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago. The fall fest theme is “Thriller” and features animation, creative writing and film during three shows. www.chicagoacademyforthearts.org.

IllumiBrew: 5:30-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Nov. 18-19, at The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. See “Illumination: Tree Lights” before it opens to the general public while sampling seasonal beers, ciders and meads from Chicago-area breweries stationed along the 1-mile trail. Each $75 ticket includes 15, 3-ounce pours and a souvenir glass. The designated driver ticket is $40 and includes hot cocoa or cider. The event is 21 and older only. mortonarb.org/explore/activities/art-and-entertainment/illumibrew/.

Friendsgiving Farm Dinner: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, at Cantigny Golf, 27W270 Mack Road, Wheaton. This five-course feast features a farm-to-table menu and open bar with recommended wine pairings. $80 per person. www.cantignygolf.com.