CHICAGO — The first weekend of December in Chicago is filled with holiday shopping opportunities, tree lightings and seasonal celebrations for all ages.
The One of a Kind Holiday Show is back at the Mart with over 600 artists and makers, local parks will be lighting up their own trees and menorahs, Lillstreet Art Center is celebrating 50 years of being a creative space and the Chris White Jazz Trio is performing “A Charlie Brown Christmas” tunes at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Here’s a roundup of 18 things to do in Chicago this weekend:
All Weekend
One of a Kind Holiday Show and Sale
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
Merchandise Mart – 7th floor, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza
The One of a Kind Holiday Show returns for its 24th year with over 600 artists, designers and makers. Alongside this unique holiday shopping event that attracts thousands of guests each year, people can enjoy artful projections on the Mart after the market each night at 7:30 p.m. More info here.
Visitors at a past Winter WonderFest. Credit: Provided/Navy Pier
Winter WonderFest
10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
Navy Pier – Festival Hall, 600 E. Grand Ave.
At this family-friendly holiday experience, Navy Pier is putting on a winter wonderland with an ice rink, rides, live music and performances, a complimentary ride on the Centennial Wheel, bumper cars and more.
Learn more and get tickets starting at $25 here.
Merry Market
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
4842 W. Irving Park Road
The Portage Park Chamber of Commerce is hosting a holiday market featuring over 20 local artists and vendors selling handmade goods. There will also be food and drinks, a crafts table for kids, a raffle and entertainment.
Learn more here.
Gangnam Market Anniversary
11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
1001 W. Chicago Ave.
This Asian supermarket and food hall will be celebrating its second anniversary, offering free food, drinks, beer and wine samples by over a dozen vendors. There will also be lion dancers. In their food hall, enjoy 20 percent off all menu items.
Admission is free.
Friday
A past Lillstreet Art Center holiday party. Credit: Joe Tighe
Lillstreet Art Center’s 50th Anniversary Holiday Party
5-8 p.m. Friday
Lillstreet Art Center, 4401 N. Ravenswood Ave.
Lillstreet Art Center is celebrating 50 years of being a creative workspace for artists of all levels this weekend with food and drinks, live music, open studios, workshops, a free art demo and a gallery show of functional ceramics. There will also be a screening of “Dream a Lill: 50 Years of Molding Makers,” a new documentary about Lillstreet’s origin story by Chicago filmmaker Gabriel Cuillier.
This event is festive, family-friendly and open to the public. Learn more here.
Saturday
Western Avenue Holiday Road
All day Saturday
A stretch of Western Avenue from 99th to 115th streets, plus The Shops at Church 103, in Beverly/Morgan Park
The Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association is hosting a festive small business Saturday with more than 30 participating businesses, a Holiday Road Trolley, festive food and drink specials, a scavenger hunt, loteria, face painting, trivia, ornament-making, a visit with Santa and more.
Learn more here for specific times and locations.
Hyde Park Holly-Day
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Various locations
Hyde Park Holly-Day is a free, family-friendly celebration with activities around the neighborhood, including a self-guided sculpture stroll along 53rd Street, ice carving demos and costumed characters like Elsa and Olaf in Harper Court and more. There will also be live reindeer at the Hyde Park Shopping Center and dance performances, photos with Santa and holiday crafts at The Promontory.
Learn more, find the full schedule and RSVP for free here.
Queerkindlmarket
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
6500 N. Clark St.
Gerber/Hart Library and Archives is hosting a combination book sale and queer artist market featuring local artists and makers.
There’s a suggested $5 donation upon entry. Learn more here.
Wicker Park/Bucktown Winter Wonderland & Tree Lighting
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Multiple locations in Wicker Park
The Wicker Park Advisory Council will be holding a family-friendly day of festive activities starting with fountain decorating and ending with the Wicker Park tree lighting.
Learn more here for specific times and locations.
Drie-cember Market
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Driehaus Museum, 50 E. Erie St.
This one-day market features more than 25 vendors selling vintage jewelry, handcrafted goods and more. There will also be coffee from Chicago Brew Crew, Cajun cuisine from Dolin’ Out and vegan baked goods from The Vulgar Vegan Cupcakes.
Admission is free. Learn more here.
The Holiday Hop
Noon Saturday
Utopian Tailgate, 1608 N. Wells St.
Enjoy a festive Christmas bar crawl in Old Town throughout 12 pariticipating bars.
Learn more and get tickets starting at $15 here.
Mimosas and Holiday Music Day Party
Noon-3 p.m. Saturday
Old Crow Smokehouse, 3506 N. Clark St.
This day party includes three hours of unlimited mimosas as well as non-stop holiday music. There will also be $5 holiday shots for purchase.
Tickets start at $25.72 here.
Ravenswood Light Up Nights Festival and Holiday Market
3-7 p.m. Saturday
Wilson Avenue between Ravenswood and Hermitage
This free community celebration features a tree lighting ceremony, an indoor holiday market with 16 local vendors, live music, food and drink vendors, a scavenger hunt for kids, photo stations, hot cocoa, caroling, photos with Santa and more. The tree lighting ceremony will be at 5 p.m.
Learn more here.
Light Up Mary Bartelme Park For Christmas and Hanukkah
3:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday
Mary Bartelme Park, 115 S. Sangamon St.
Neighbors and families are invited to gather at the park and count down for its 15th annual tree and menorah lighting. There will also be a visit from Santa, holiday music by Merit School of Music, holiday cupcakes and hot cocoa.
Of Women by Women: Short Films by South Asian Women Filmmakers
4-6 p.m. Saturday
South Asia Institute, 1925 S. Michigan Ave.
Catch screenings of short films by South Asian women filmmakers Arielle Khan and Aisha Hamid at the South Asia Institute. There will also be a live Q&A afterward, where audience members can ask the filmmakers about their work and journeys.
This program runs alongside the institute’s permanent exhibit “Of Women by Women: South Asian Feminist Art and Artists from the Hundal Collection.” Learn more and get tickets for $7.18 here.
Sunday
Holiday Market and Exchange
Noon-3 p.m. Sunday
National Public Housing Museum, 919 S. Ada St.
The National Public Housing Museum is hosting its first holiday market in its new home this weekend with a lineup of local artists, makers and creative entrepreneurs. There will also be hands-on workshops and cake. The museum also teamed up with the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness to collect hygiene and winter readiness donations during the event. Find a list of items here.
Learn more and register to attend here.
Chris White Jazz Trio Tribute to ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
3:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m. shows Sunday
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St.
The Chris White Jazz Trio is celebrating the holidays with a jazzy twist, performing Vince Guaraldi’s classic Charlie Brown soundtrack. There will be a matinee show at the Pepper Family Wildlife Center and two evening shows at Café Brauer.
All tickets include entry to the show, hot cocoa and cookies, a cash bar and light snacks for purchase, dancing with Snoopy, an appearance from Santa and admission to the ZooLights afterward. Tickets start at $36.60 here.
A Salute to Ziad Rahbani with the Middle East Music Ensemble
5 p.m. Sunday
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St.
The 70-piece Middle East Music Ensemble is back on stage this weekend with a tribute concert to Ziad Rahbani, the late Lebanese composer, pianist and playwright who died in July. The show will feature special guests Firas Zreik on qanun and Andrew Lawrence on piano.
Doors open at 4:30 and seats are first come, first served. Learn more here.
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