CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Christmas has come and gone, but if you are not ready for it to be over just yet, there is still time to enjoy the magic of the holiday season! Plus, it's another holiday weekend, so be sure to get out and celebrate the coming of the new year. This weekend's forecast is a bit of a roller coaster, with highs ranging from the low 20s to mid 40s, and lows ranging from the single digits up to the mid 30s. The coldest day will be Sunday.
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This weekend is New Year's Eve and there are tons of hotels, bars, restaurants, and other venues hosting parties throughout Chicago and the suburbs. Plus, the city announced plans to welcome in the New Year with a 1.5-mile-long midnight fireworks display along the lakefront and Chicago River. This will be the largest fireworks display the City’s ever had!
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Meanwhile, if you are still looking to celebrate the Christmas season, there is still a little bit of time left to check out one (or a few) of Chicago's favorite pop-up bars. There are a ton in Wrigleyville, including Santa Baby Bar at Dueces, 8 Crazy Nights at The Graystone Tavern, Griswolds at Houndstooth Saloon, Whooville at Moe's Cantina, Rudolph’s at Casey Moran's, Santa’s Workshop at Old Crow Smokehouse, and Elf’d Up at Stretch Bar & Grill. Or head to the next neighborhood over and check out Misfit Christmas at The Rambler Kitchen + Tap, located in Chicago's North Center neighborhood.
Plus, this is the last weekend to enjoy the Christkindlmarket in Wrigleyville. It is also the last weekend to enjoy many of the area's holiday light displays including ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo and Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo; Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light at the Museum of Science and Industry, the brand new AMAZE Light Festival at Rosemont's Impact Field, Holiday in the Park Lights at Six Flags Great America, Light Up the Lake at Navy Pier, Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum, Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden.
Additionally, it is the final weekend to check out The Dr. Seuss Experience at Water Tower Place.
For sports fans, the Chicago Bears host the New York Giants on Sunday at noon. And if all goes well, the Chicago Bulls are scheduled to play New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. First on Friday, the Bulls travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers on at 2 p.m. and then on Saturday travel to Washington, D.C. to take on the Wizards at 6 p.m. Meanwhile, the Chicago Blackhawks are scheduled to travel to Nashville on Saturday (New Year's Day) to take on the Predators at 1 p.m. and then host the Calgary Flames on Sunday at 6 p.m.
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Here's a look at things to do this weekend in Chicago and the suburbs:
Holiday in the Park Lights at Six Flags Great America
Who said Six Flags Great America is all about the roller coasters? Holiday in the Park Lights is returning to Six Flags Great America this holiday season where guests can enjoy twinkling lights, spectacular shows, delicious snacks, and holiday shopping.
The event runs Nov. 26 through Dec. 30 and features holiday treats and unique holiday-themed activities. Additionally, while the thrill rides are in "hibernation" until spring, families can still ride the smaller rides like Columbia Carousel, Krazy Kups, ZoomJets, and even The Dark Knight coaster and Justice League: Battle for Metropolis.
And let's not forget about the food! According to Six Flags, Mrs. Kringle has sprinkled unique holiday recipes throughout the park, all bound to leave your stomach as stuffed as your stocking. Be sure to not miss out on the peppermint funnel cake sundae! MORE INFO.
Where: Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Pkwy, Gurnee
When: Now through Dec. 30
Cost: $24.99+
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Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo
Guests are welcome to join Brookfield Zoo in celebrating the 40 years of festive fun at Holiday Magic, Chicagoland’s longest-running lights festival.
Holiday Magic features over two million twinkling LED lights; and has several new features this year, including the “Sea of Lights," featuring more than two miles of colorful, sparkling lights, the zoo’s entire West Mall has been transformed into a magical creation of waves immersing guests in the holiday spirit. Adjacent to the spectacular display, guests can feel the season’s cheer while strolling through the 600-foot-long “Tunnel of Lights," synchronized to music.
Additionally, guests will be mesmerized as they look up at the zoo’s 41-foot-tall tree. Located at the north entrance, the "show-stopping" attraction is adorned with thousands of brilliantly colored LED lights and choreographed to seasonal tunes, according to the zoo. Plus, the walkways along the zoo’s malls and around Roosevelt Fountain shine with more than 700 community and corporate trees decorated with ornaments. There will also be larger-than-life illuminated animal sculptures, including a giraffe, bison, bear, and reindeer, to add to the ambiance throughout the park. MORE INFO.
Where: Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Rd, Brookfield
When: Select dates now through Dec. 31
Cost: Reservation times for Holiday Magic are available in 15-minute increments. Zoo admission and parking tickets, which must be reserved in advance at CZS.org/HolidayMagic, are $24.95 for adults, $17.95 for children ages 3-11, and $19.95 for seniors 65 and over. Parking is $15.
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ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
ZooLights returns Saturday, Nov. 20, transforming Lincoln Park Zoo into a twinkling winter wonderland, complete with festive activities, such as visits with Santa, a holiday pop-up bar, an Enchanted Forest, Light Maze, sweet treats of all kinds, and much more.
ZooLights runs from 4 to 10 p.m. on Nov. 20-24, 26-30, Dec. 1-23, 26-31, and Jan. 1-2. Tickets to ZooLights are free on Mondays and Tuesdays and are $5 Wednesday-Sunday. Tickets are on sale now and available via Eventbrite at lpzoo.org/zoolights. Note, tickets are required for all guests including infants and children. MORE INFO.
Bonus event: Zoo Year’s Eve! Take a break from the bars and start a new tradition: spend New Year’s Eve at Lincoln Park Zoo! This special ticketed event will take place under the glow of ZooLights presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ in one of Chicago’s most beautiful parks. At this adults-only event (21+ only), guests can enjoy millions of dazzling lights, cash bars (beer, wine, champagne and spirits), plus a DJ, games, giveaways, and more! Animal buildings will be open, so there will be plenty of spots to warm up and enjoy the zoo. GET TICKETS AND MORE INFO HERE.
Where: Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St.
When: Now through Jan. 2
Cost: $5+; Free on Mondays and Tuesdays
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Light Up the Lake
An all new, holiday experience is coming to Navy Pier this winter season. Light Up the Lake will be an indoor, temperature-controlled experience, featuring large-scale light-sculpture displays, comprising more than 600,000 twinkling lights; a regulation-size Alpine ice rink; an authentic holiday beer garden; kiddie train rides; Santa’s Village; and gift market and other family-friendly events.
Transforming more than 100,000 square feet of Navy Pier’s expansive Festival Hall, Light Up the Lake will also offer sit-down dining with holiday-themed eats, signature cocktails, and seasonal brews. Grab-and-go meals and snacks will be available throughout the event space.
Offering something for everyone, Light Up the Lake will run from Nov. 26 through Jan. 2, in the Festival Hall at Navy Pier. Tickets start at $15 and are on sale now at NavyPier.org; and every ticket comes with a free ride on the Centennial Wheel. MORE INFO.
Where: Festival Hall at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.
When: Now through Jan. 2
Cost: $15+
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Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum
Those looking for a unique winter light show this year will find it in the ninth annual Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum, opening Nov. 20 with five new features and a curated selection of music from around the world along the walking path.
Illumination attendees will find familiar favorite features from previous years, as well as the newly created experiences of the Arboretum’s 26-foot tall Human+Nature Hallow sculpture lit at night, a glittering entry gateway, passage through 150 colorful lanterns, a blanket of white lights across a hilltop meadow and a conifer trail lined with dozens of spectacularly colored light reeds. MORE INFO.
Where: Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle
When: Now through Jan. 2
Cost: Ticket prices range from $8 to $24 per person. Children under age 2 will be admitted free of charge.
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AMAZE Light Festival
Starting in November, Rosemont's Impact Field will transform into the ultimate holiday destination with the debut of The AMAZE Light Festival. Visitors are welcome to enjoy outdoor holiday activities for all ages amongst an immersive display of more than one million holiday lights.
In addition to enjoying timed light shows and seven theme-based illuminated worlds, AMAZE guests can take advantage of tubing on “Polar Peak,” a holiday market, festive food and beverages, a candy shop, and more. Children can also enjoy visits to Santa's Workshop, holiday craft making, and even festive train rides on the “Arctic Express.” MORE INFO.
Where: Rosemont’s Impact Field, 9850 Balmoral Ave.
When: Now through Jan. 2
Cost: General admission tickets are $23 for adults and $18 for children ages 2-12.
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The Dr. Seuss Experience
Welcome to The Dr. Seuss Experience, an imaginative and interactive immersion into the wondrous world of Dr. Seuss! This Seuss-tacular sensory spectacle takes you on an awe-inspiring journey through nine different, visually stunning Dr. Seuss worlds. You can swing among Truffula Trees from The Lorax, make your way through a brilliant balloon-filled maze from Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, stroll through towering clovers listening for a Who from Horton Hears a Who!, or join the Circus McGurkus! Join us and meet the characters, live the stories, and experience Dr. Seuss like never before in this once in a lifetime experience not to be missed! MORE INFO.
Where: Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., Ste 100
When: Now through Jan. 2
Cost: $26-$59
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Christmas Around The World and Holidays of Light at the Museum of Science and Industry
Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light return to the Museum of Science and Industry this November highlighting the rich customs of more than 50 countries and cultures.
Hundreds of volunteers from Chicago's diverse communities use handmade décor and personal mementos to decorate a forest of trees and displays that line the Museum's Rotunda and main floor in a stunning spectacle. Guests can learn why silver spiders are good luck, find out which country celebrates the world's longest Christmas season, marvel at intricate origami ornaments and more. MORE INFO.
Where: Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
When: Now through Jan. 3
Cost: Included in museum entry
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The Office Experience
Fans of The Office will be transported to the world of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, as The Office Experience is set to make its debut in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 15. The interactive two-story experience features 17 rooms filled with original props and costumes, set re-creations, and more as fans visit Scranton Business Park and other sites associated with the beloved series. Guests will be able to take pictures throughout the Dunder Mifflin office including Pam’s desk, Michael’s office, and Ryan’s closet, as well as Schrute Farms. Fans will also relive iconic episodes and memorable moments, such as Kevin’s Chili Spill and Beach Day, in the largest official interactive fan experience based on The Office. MORE INFO.
Where: The Shops at North Bridge on the Magnificent Mile, 540 N. Michigan Ave.
When: Now through Jan. 17
Cost: $37.50 plus taxes and fees
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Disney's Frozen
From the producer of The Lion King and Aladdin, Disney’s Frozen, the Tony®-nominated Best Musical, is currently playing an exclusive 10-week premiere engagement at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, with performances through Jan. 22, 2022, only.
Frozen stars Caroline Bowman as “Elsa” and Caroline Innerbichler as “Anna,” the sisters at the heart of the joy-filled musical. Joining them are principal cast members Austin Colby as “Hans,” F. Michael Haynie as “Olaf,” Mason Reeves as “Kristoff,” Jeremy Morse as “Weselton,” Collin Baja and Evan Strand alternating as “Sven,” as well as Natalia Artigas (“Young Elsa”), Olivia Jones (“Young Anna”), Arwen Monzon-Sanders (“Young Elsa”) and real-life sisters Natalie Grace Chan (“Young Elsa”) and Victoria Hope Chan (“Young Anna”).
Individual tickets for Disney’s Frozen are on sale now. Ticket prices range from $33 - $179 plus a select number of premium tickets are available. MORE INFO.
Where: Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.
When: Now through Jan. 22
Cost: $33-$179
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Immersive Van Gogh
Step inside of Starry Night and The Bedroom in Arles with the help of more than 75 digital projectors in this high-tech exhibition that explores the work of Vincent Van Gogh. Designed by the Italian creative team that worked on the "Atelier des Lumières" exhibitions in Paris, "Immersive Van Gogh" covers 35-foot walls with animated versions of the Dutch painters work, accompanied by a score that blends electronic and classical compositions. MORE INFO.
Where: Lighthouse ArtSpace, 108 W. Germania Pl.
When: Now through Feb. 6
Cost: $39.99+
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Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group will welcome colder temperatures this fall and holiday season with an expanded performance schedule at Chicago’s Briar Street Theatre. The added performances include Blue Man Group Chicago’s first-ever shows on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, bringing louder drummer boys and not so silent nights to Chicago locals and visitors alike this holiday season.
Blue Man Group originally debuted at the Briar Street Theatre in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood in 1997. A dynamic combination of art, music, comedy and technology, Blue Man Group encourages audiences to reconnect with their inner (and outer) child in order to see the world through a new perspective. Three bald and blue men explore today’s cultural norms with wonder, poking fun at the audience’s collective quirks and reminding them how much they all have in common. The show is continually refreshed with new music, stories, custom instruments and state-of-the-art technology. MORE INFO.
Where: Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St.
When: Tickets available for select dates now through February 2022
Cost: Ticket prices range from $49 – $89
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Ice Skating at Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon
The Maggie Daley ice skating ribbon, located at 337 E. Randolph St., is slated to open Nov. 19, weather permitting, with Van Gogh-inspired visuals on the ice provided by Immersive Van Gogh Chicago, the blockbuster immersive experience seen by more than 3.5 million visitors since its North American debut last year.
This year, skaters will be able to glide across sunflowers and 'Starry Night' brush strokes, as they take part in a unique and exciting winter experience for all ages.
Reservations for the opening skate are now available online. The ice will be open seven days a week with four sessions a day; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. MORE INFO.
Where: Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon, 337 E. Randolph St.
When: Now through March, weather dependent
Cost: Prices begin at $16 for skate times Monday through Thursday and $20 for holidays and skate sessions Friday through Sunday. This price includes a skate rental. If you are bringing your own skates, admission is $5, excluding the 11 a.m. session, which is free for anyone with their own skates.
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The Infinite Wrench
At The Infinite Wrench, you’ll see 30 original plays in 60 minutes; written and performed by The Neo-Futurist Ensemble. Each play offers something different, be it funny, profound, elegant, disgusting, topical, irreverent, terrifying, or a song; all are truthful and tackle the here-and-now, inspired by the lived experiences of the performers. With new plays every week, The Infinite Wrench is The Neo-Futurists’ ongoing and ever-changing attempt to shift the conventions of live performance and speak to those unreached or unmoved by traditional theater.
The Infinite Wrench is recommended for audience members 14 and older. Performances are weekly on Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m., at The Neo-Futurist Theater, located at 5153 N. Ashland. Performances of The Infinite Wrench are priced at $10. Note: walkup tickets are available with cash or card. MORE INFO.
Where: The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland
When: Now through 2022
Cost: $10
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Teatro ZinZanni
Teatro ZinZanni is pleased to announce its grand reopening with a brand-new show starring veteran performer, Frank Ferrante. An experience unlike any other, Teatro ZinZanni is a whirlwind of international cirque, comedy and cabaret served with a multi-course gourmet feast. Teatro ZinZanni takes place on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel Chicago Loop, 32 W. Randolph St. in the heart of Chicago’s Theatre District.
Described as a “feast for the senses” by The New York Times, the fast-paced action unfolds around, above and alongside guests. World-class acrobats, musicians, divas, illusionists, madmen, and aerialists fill the intimate Spiegeltent ZaZou, a unique jewel box mirror tent located in the heart of Chicago’s Downtown Theater District. MORE INFO.
Where: Cambria Hotel Chicago, 32 W. Randolph St. (14th Floor)
When: Tickets available for select dates now through August 2022
Cost: Individual tickets, which include a four-course meal, range in price from $119 - $189. Limited à la carte “show-only” tickets will also be available for $69.
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Human+Nature
The Morton Arboretum’s next outdoor art exhibition, Human+Nature, will inspire awe and wonder as it connects people and trees. Internationally renowned artist Daniel Popper created five 15- to 26-foot-tall sculptures exclusively for the Arboretum that will be featured in various locations across its 1,700 acres, leading guests to areas they may not have explored before. It will be his largest exhibition to date anywhere in the world.
On the East Side, a short walk from the Visitor Center, guests will be able to step within a huge female figure, as if into the heart of nature. Continuing along a less than mile-long walk, they will encounter a majestic maternal figure as tall as a tree, and a sculpture of diverse human facial traits interwoven with root structures. On the West Side, two hands joined by intertwining roots will extend near a grove of old oaks, and a towering face will evoke the interconnectedness of humans and trees. Made of concrete, fiberglass, and steel, each sculpture will weigh several metric tons. The largest ground footprint will be 28 feet wide and 37 feet long.
Human+Nature will be included with timed-entry admission to the Arboretum. The exhibition is planned to run for at least one year. MORE INFO.
Where: Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, Lisle
When: Now through next year
Cost: Included with timed-entry Arboretum admission
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