Best Bets: Illumination: Tree Lights ready to dazzle at Morton Arboretum
All aglow
The ninth annual Illumination: Tree Lights, the popular one-mile walk-through winter-season spectacle combining color, light and festive music, returns Saturday at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. There will be concession tents along the path serving warm beverages and snacks as well as fire pits where patrons can warm up and toast marshmallows. Member tickets: $14-$19 for adults, $8-$11 for kids 2-17; nonmember tickets: $19-$24 for adults, $13-$16 for kids 2-17. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. Admission times: 4:30-8 p.m. select dates; runs through Jan. 2
Spooky celebrities
The "Days of the Dead" fan convention gathers loads of celebrities like Alice Cooper, Richard Dreyfuss, Kathleen Turner and more for meet-and-greet opportunities this weekend at the Crowne Plaza O'Hare, 5440 N. River Road, Rosemont. $35-$40 single-day admission; $80 weekend admission. Extra fees for photo opportunities. (847) 671-6350 or daysofthedead.com. 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, through 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21
Be amazed
Impact Field in Rosemont gets into the game of elaborate holiday displays with its new AMAZE Light Festival featuring more than one million holiday lights, Santa's Workshop (complete with lit see saws and giant light brights), costumed characters, holiday food and beverages, toboggan rides, a Polar Peak tubing ride, train rides, a holiday market, an immersive storybook experience and more starting Saturday at 9850 Balmoral Ave., Rosemont. $23 for adults; $18 for kids 2-12; $34-$85 VIP ticket. (847) 636-5450 or amazerosemont.com. 6-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 19-20, and 5-9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21; and various times and dates through Sunday, Jan. 2
Exit slide included?
Kids can pay a visit to Santa Claus this season alongside a custom set that re-creates scenes from the beloved film "A Christmas Story" starting this weekend at the Hawthorn Mall, 122 Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills. $5 per child; free for adults and kids 2 and younger; proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation. (847) 362-2600 or shophawthornmall.com. Santa arrives between 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19; hours and days vary through Friday, Dec. 24
Symphonic cinema
Relive the aural silver screen sweep of movies like "E.T.," "Jaws," "Star Wars" and more when the Elgin Symphony Orchestra performs "The Film Music of John Williams" this weekend at two locations: first at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, then at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $50; $40 youth. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, in Skokie, and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, in Elgin
Quirky history
Fans of books like "Assassination Vacation" and "Unfamiliar Fishes" won't want to miss seeing author "Sarah Vowell in the Land of Lincoln" at Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $35. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu/arts. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19
What's cooking?
See "MasterChef" and "MasterChef Jr." contestants go head-to-head in onstage cooking demonstrations as part of "MasterChef Live!" The national tour arrives Saturday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $35-$45. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20
'Daily Show' Noah
"The Daily Show" host Trevor Noah is back on the road with his "Back to Abnormal World Tour." Catch his standup comedy set Saturday at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. $45-$85; $375 VIP tickets. (800) 745-3000 or unitedcenter.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20
Top 'Talent'
The Texas Tenors, who rose to stardom on NBC's "America's Got Talent!," bring their vocal talents to the Belushi Performance Hall at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, to promote their new album, "Outside The Lines." In-person tickets are $55-$65; virtual tickets are $50 a household. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org/events/the-texas-tenors-2/. 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21