Weekend picks: Santa's on the scene at Des Plaines Winter Wonderland

Dear, Santa

The Winter Wonderland Holiday Festival promises loads of games, crafts, performances and visits with Santa this weekend at its new location of the Prairie Lakes Community Center, 515 E. Thacker St., Des Plaines. No admission charge. (847) 391-57111 or dpparks.org. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2 and 3

Chicago's own

Chicago history lovers won't want to miss the return of the Joffrey Ballet's new production of "The Nutcracker," set at the Windy City's influential 1893 Columbian Exposition. See the classic Tchaikovsky ballet starting Friday at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $35-$158. (312) 341-2300 or joffrey.org. Through Saturday, Dec. 30

New 'Nutcracker'

A & A Ballet and The School of the Performing Arts (based in Naperville) collaborate to unveil choreographer Alexei Kremnev's new version of the classic Tchaikovsky Christmas ballet "The Nutcracker" this weekend at the Studebaker Theater, Chicago. $30-$45. (312) 753-3210 or aacenterfordance.org. 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2; 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3

Cool cat

See the comic strip characters Garfield, Odie, John and more when a "A Garfield Christmas" plays a family touring performance on Saturday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $20.50-$40. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2

Cracked-up Christmas

Chicago's best-known improv company brings seasonal, sketch comedy to the suburbs as "The Second City's Nondenominational Christmas Show" runs Dec. 1 to 23 at the Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3

Classics for Christmas

Classical music gets mixed with circus acts when Cirque Musica Holiday presents "Believe" in a spectacle-filled concert on Saturday at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $25-$85. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2

Red Theater mash-up

Red Theater Chicago combines the swashbuckling romance of "Cyrano de Bergerac" with the violence of "Little Red Riding Hood" in its latest production, "Little Red Cyrano." Described as "an apocalyptic clown comedy," Aaron Sawyer's all-ages mashup of classic tales features hearing actors and actors who identify as deaf. The cast includes Benjamin Ponce as Cyrano and Dari Simone as Red. Opens at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2; 4 and 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at Strawdog Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice Ave., Chicago. $15-$40. redtheater.org.

Hometown humor

Comedian Michael Palascak honed his craft in Chicago, so see how his standup career has grown when he returns for a series of standup shows starting Wednesday at Zanies at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $22 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com/rosemont. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2

Billy Gardell at the mic

Actor and comedian Billy Gardell ("Mike & Molly," "Sullivan and Son") returns to his standup roots for a special series of shows this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $28 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2

Here's to boy bands

Arlington Heights native and Joseph Jefferson Award nominee Max DeTogne co-stars in Theo Ubique's revival of "Altar Boyz." A sendup of boy bands and the Christian pop music scene, the mock concert unfolds during the final performance of a Christian rock band whose members are named Matthew (DeTogne), Mark, Luke, John and Abraham. Courtney Crouse directs. Previews at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at No Exit Cafe, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. The show opens Monday, Dec. 4. $34, $39. theo-u.org.

Soul sisters

Darlene Love and Shirley Alston Reeves (of the Shirelles) share a concert bill filled with holiday music on Sunday at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $49-$99. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com. 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3

Mmmboppy holidays!

Remember Hanson? The three brothers who Mmmbopped their way into the public consciousness back in 1997? In case you've missed it, they've been playing music this whole time, slinging out six studio albums in the last 20 years. Now they're back in Chicago, and this time they're bringing the holidays with them. Join the trio for their "Finally It's Christmastime" tour at Chicago's House of Blues this weekend, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $50-$55. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com. 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3

A Cappella caroling

Tickets are scarce to see "A Pentatonix Christmas," which sees the famed a cappella group performing a series of three concerts Sunday to Tuesday at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $149.50 and more for verified resale tickets. (800) 745-3000 or thechicagotheatre.com. 7 p.m. Sunday to Tuesday, Dec. 3 to 5

'Songs for Lulu'

Singer, songwriter and opera composer Rufus Wainwright performs an intimate concert of his music on Sunday at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $48-$68. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3

Concert highlights

Lynne Jordan's "A Great Big Diva": Noon Saturday, Dec. 2, at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $12. (312) 733-9463 or citywinery.com.

Chicagoland Pops Orchestra's Christmas at Pops Concert: 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Springbrook Community Church, 11247 S. Heggs Road, Plainfield. $14 in advance, $16 at the door. brownpapertickets.com.

Wheaton College Christmas Festival: 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Wheaton College, 501 College Ave, Wheaton. $18. (630) 752-5010 or wheaton.edu.

She's Alive, Better Love, Tiny Kingdoms, Detour North, The Glory Years: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Wire, 6815 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $10-$12. All ages, but 21+ after 10:30 p.m. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.

Inbound, Ignescent, Stosh: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Penny Road Pub, 545 Penny Road, Barrington. $8. (847) 428-0562 or pennyroadpub.com.

The Wild and Hungry, Revolt Coda, Barret's Hidden Agenda: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Live Wire Lounge, 3394 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. $8. (773) 756-5363 or livewire.do312.com.

The Werks, Concrete Roots: 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at BrauerHouse Live, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $12-$15. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Boy Band Review: 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $7. (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com.

Heartsfield: 9 p.m. Dec. 2, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $15. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

Angry Planet, Useless Fox, Over The Sun, River Snakes: 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at The Mutiny, 2428 N. Western Ave., Chicago. $5. (773) 486-7774 or themutinychicago.com.

Afterlife + SoundNest w/ Angelz, Bijou & Ciszak, Kings Of Class, Nikho, GoodSex, Eric Dangerwayne, Hi Five, Who Cares: 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Evil Olive, 1551 W. Division St., Chicago. $10. afterlifechi.com.

Marc Anthony: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $59. (800) 745-3000 or rosemont.com/allstate/events/marc-anthony/.

"A Pentatonix Christmas Tour": 7 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, Dec. 3-5, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $75. (312) 462-6300 or msg.com.

Jay-Z, Vic Mensa: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. Tickets start at $67. (800) 745-3000 or unitedcenter.com.

Joe Pug, Juanita Stein: 8 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.) Wednesday, Dec. 6, at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $22-$32. (312) 733-9463 or citywinery.com.

Nathan Weber & Friends: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, at Wire, 6815 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $8. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.

FitzGerald's New Faces Night with Christian Lopez: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $8-$10. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

Thrice, Circa Survive: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. Tickets start at $48. (844) 425-5923 or aragonballroom.org.

Andrew Ripp: 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Evanston S.P.A.C.E., 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $20-$35. (847) 492-8860 or evanstonspace.com.

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