Happy Holidays! Celebrate the season on Chicago’s North Shore with festive events and cheerful gatherings. From dazzling light shows and holiday markets to wine walks, concerts and unique shopping experiences, there's something for everyone this December. Read on to discover all that’s happening this month. 

Wine & Art Walk

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4

Start at Forza Meats | 1811 Glenview Rd., Glenview


Sip, Sip, Hooray! Invite your friends for a delightful evening in downtown Glenview, where art and wine unite for an extraordinary journey through a dozen local businesses! Along the way, you’ll indulge in tastings of two exquisite wines at each location while exploring a curated collection of local artwork.

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Kohlights Holiday Lightacular

Tickets on sale now. Interact with light and color at the only area holiday light experience right-sized for young kids at Kohl Children's Museum through December 22.

Smile with Santa!

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 24

Westfield Old Orchard - Trolly Park | 4905 Old Orchard Ctr., Skokie



Kick off the holiday season with a visit to Santa in Trolley Park. Stop by Candy Cane Station located right outside of Trolley Park to enjoy everything festive while you wait. Visits with Santa are always free! Paid photo opportunities will be available. We suggest making your reservation ahead of time to secure your spot. 

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Wilmette 2024 Holiday Events

This holiday season is brimming with shopping, dining & events including the Holiday Open House in Downtown Wilmette on Thursday, December 5 and Holiday Happenings throughout Wilmette on Saturday, December 7.

First Look at the New Ryan Field


Northwestern University and the Ryan Family have officially unveiled the first public look at the new Ryan Field, a state-of-the-art $850 million sports and entertainment venue set to become a landmark for college football and Chicago. Scheduled to open in 2026, the new Ryan Field promises to bring a world-class student-athlete, fan and community experience to college sports.

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Guest Rooms Fit for the Nice List

Experience the holiday cheer at Hilton Orrington-Evanston with rooms that feature festive fun and décor for all ages.

2024 MDM Hometown Holiday Celebration & Stroll

FREE EVENT! Enjoy carolers, free hot cocoa or cider, raffle drawings and amazing in-store sales on the Main-Dempster Mile in Evanston, Thursday, December 5 - Sunday, December 8.

Holiday Cookie Walk

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7

Start at Who Modern | 7933 Lincoln Ave., Skokie


The holiday season is even sweeter with Skokie’s annual downtown Holiday Cookie Walk! Kick off the festive adventure at Who Modern, where you’ll register, pick up your cookie bag and receive a map of all the participating businesses. Then explore downtown Skokie, collecting delicious individually wrapped cookies at each stop. YUM! 

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Ravinia Winter Weekend

Feel the festive spirit at Ravinia with a weekend of enchanting concerts and winter holiday activities December 6-8!

45th Annual Red Invitation Event

Holiday gift shopping, wrapped gifts, bright lights, & more at this Sunday tradition in Winnetka, Northfield, & Glencoe on December 8.

Holiday Light Celebration

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7

Fountain Square | 1601 Sherman Ave., Evanston



Evanston’s annual tree lighting ceremony is a holiday favorite as Santa and Mrs. Claus welcome everyone to Fountain Square! Guests enjoy live holiday-themed music, complimentary hot cocoa, sweet treats and more!

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Peace, joy, and shopping on Central Street in Evanston

Light the way to your holidays on Central Street. Visit for a joyous season of holiday festivities and local shopping and dining.

It’s All Fun and Games: Celebrating the Holidays with Historic Toys

NOW THROUGH JANUARY 5, 2025

Evanston History Center | 225 Greenwood St., Evanston



This holiday season, discover and celebrate Evanston’s iconic contributions to the toy industry and explore the History Center’s extensive collection of historic toys and games. Did you know that Evanston residents invented Tinkertoys, Operation and Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots? It’s true! And Evanston’s toy story would not be complete without a spotlight on Rudolph, the beloved reindeer created by Evanston’s Robert L. May! 

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Evanston Made Annual Holiday Market

Shop for unique gifts by Evanston Made members including original artwork and more. December 5-22, Thursday – Sunday.

Holiday Entertainment!

THROUGHOUT DECEMBER

North Shore Center for the Performing Arts | 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie



The holiday entertainment season is in full swing! Tickets are still available for Salt Creek Ballet’s The Nutcracker (12/6), Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, the timeless tale of family, resilience, and a determined young writer finding her way in the world, (through 1/5) and Music Theater Works: Legally Blond (through 12/29). 

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Get Festive at Downtown Evanston's Warm Bevvy Walk on December 12!

Celebrate what we love most about the season — a holiday mug filled with warm bevvies, shopping, and showing love to our local business owners. This year, a portion of ticket sales will benefit the Rotary Club of Evanston to support the Watts of Love service project.

‘Tis the Season: Holiday Happenings on the North Shore 

THROUGHOUT DECEMBER

Various Locations



Photos with Santa, holiday performances, tree lightings, light shows, a holiday cookie walk, family holiday teas, a house tour, shopping events, and so much more – it’s easy to get into the holiday spirit on Chicago’s North Shore! There’s so much to do and see. Start planning today! 

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Shine: A Chanukah Celebration

Join the Northbrook Park District and Congregation Beth Shalom on December 15 to celebrate with music, crafts and cookies.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

THROUGH DECEMBER 4, 2024

Northbrook Theatre, Northbrook

The Secret Garden

THROUGH DECEMBER 22, 2024

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, Evanston

The Kohlights Holiday Lightacular!

THROUGH DECEMBER 22, 2024

Kohl Children's Museum, Glenview

Meet Santa

THROUGH DECEMBER 22, 2024

Abt Electronics, Glenview

Weekend Brunch with Santa

THROUGH DECEMBER 22, 2024

Pinstripes, Northbrook

Santa Brunch

THROUGH DECEMBER 22, 2024

Saranello's Wheeling

22nd Annual Winter Arts and Crafts Expo

THROUGH DECEMBER 24, 2024

Evanston Art Center, Evanston

Santa Photos in Trolley Park

THROUGH DECEMBER 24, 2024

Westfield Old Orchard, Skokie

A Christmas Carol - A Live Radio Show

THROUGH DECEMBER 30, 2024

Oil Lamp Theater, Glenview

Game of Gnomes

THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2024

Plaza del Lago, Downtown Wilmette

Bad Momz of Comedy

DECEMBER 4, 2024

Hangar Two by Tangled Roots Brewing Co., Glenview

Sip, Sip, Hooray! First-Ever Wine & Art Walk

DECEMBER 4, 2024

Downtown Glenview

Ana Gasteyer Sugar & Booze Live 2024

DECEMBER 4-5, 2024

Evanston SPACE, Evanston

MDM Hometown Holiday Celebration & Stroll

DECEMBER 5, 2024

Main-Dempster Mile, Evanston

Lincolnwood Lights

DECEMBER 5, 2024

Village Hall Promenade, Lincolnwood

Holiday Open House

DECEMBER 5, 2024

Various Locations, Downtown Wilmette

Evanston Made Holiday Market

DECEMBER 5-22, 2024

924 Davis Street, Evanston

Live at Studio5! Raíces Plays “Soul Sauce”

DECEMBER 6, 2024

Studio5 Performing Arts Center, Evanston

Northwestern University Men's Basketball vs Illinois

DECEMBER 6, 2024

Welsh-Ryan Arena, Northwestern University, Evanston

WASSAIL! An Irish-American Christmas Featuring Apollo’s Fire

DECEMBER 6, 2024

Ravinia Festival, Highland Park

Winnetka Tree Lighting

DECEMBER 6, 2024

Dwyer Park, Winnetka

Winter Wonderland

DECEMBER 6, 2024

Community Recreation Center, Wheeling

Salt Creek Ballet's The Nutcracker

DECEMBER 6-7, 2024

North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Skokie

Artist Talk: Larry Geni & Robyn McMurray Hurtig

DECEMBER 7, 2024

Creative CoWorking, Evanston

Laurie Berkner: A Live Holiday

DECEMBER 7, 2024

Evanston SPACE at Cahn Auditorium, Northwestern University, Evanston

Downtown Evanston Holiday Light Celebration

DECEMBER 7, 2024

Fountain Square, Downtown Evanston

Andrew Bird Trio - Sunday Morning Put-On

DECEMBER 7, 2024

Martin Theatre, Ravinia Festival, Highland Park

Winter Wanderland

DECEMBER 7, 2024

Community House Winnetka

Evanston Made - First Saturdays Evanston Art Events

DECEMBER 7, 2024

Various Locations, Downtown Evanston

Downtown Skokie Holiday Cookie Walk

DECEMBER 7, 2024

Downtown Skokie

A Very Merry Holiday Market

DECEMBER 7, 2024

Soul Good Coffee at Sketchbook Brewing Co., Skokie

Robert Ellis & Joe Pug

DECEMBER 7-8, 2024

Evanston SPACE, Evanston

Breakfast with Santa

DECEMBER 7-21, 2024

The Lawn Grill, Wilmette Golf Club, Wilmette

The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass A Very Brassy Christmas

DECEMBER 8, 2024

Martin Theatre, Ravinia Festival, Highland Park

Holiday Tea for Grown-Ups

DECEMBER 8, 2024

Evanston History Center, Evanston

Annual Red Invitation Sale

DECEMBER 8, 2024

Various Locations, Winnetka & Glencoe

Show & Tell: Play It Again, Snowman

DECEMBER 10, 2024

Writers Theatre, Glencoe

Evanston Warm Bevvy Walk

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Various Locations, Downtown Evanston

Design Your Gingerbread House

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Will's Place, Skokie

Woven Rhythms: Textile, Music, Motion - Qianwen Yu

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Evanston Art Center, Evanston

Late-er Night on Central

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Central Street, Evanston

Dan Rodriguez: All I Want for Christmas is Whiskey Tour

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Evanston SPACE, Evanston

Josh Ritter Great to Small, Small to Grand 2024 Fall Tour

DECEMBER 13, 2024

Evanston SPACE at Cahn Auditorium, Northwestern University, Evanston

Family Gingerbread House

DECEMBER 13, 2024

Community Recreation Center, Wheeling

Leo Kottke

DECEMBER 13-14, 2024

Evanston SPACE, Evanston

Los Lobos A Concert for Justice w/ Dave Spector

DECEMBER 14, 2024

Evanston SPACE at Cahn Auditorium, Northwestern University, Evanston

Skate with Santa 2024

DECEMBER 14, 2024

Skatium Ice Arena, Skokie Park District, Skokie

Shine: A Chanukah Celebration

DECEMBER 15, 2024

Northbrook Leisure Center, Northbrook

A Charlie Brown Christmas with Chris White Trio

DECEMBER 15-16, 2024

Evanston SPACE, Evanston

Resilience - A Sansei Sense of Legacy

DECEMBER 15, 2024 - JUNE 1, 2025

Illinois Holocaust Museum, Skokie

Pure Soul presents Jazz & Soul Christmas

DECEMBER 19, 2024

Evanston SPACE, Evanston

Music Theater Works presents "Legally Blonde"

DECEMBER 19-30, 2024

North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Skokie

Nathan Graham: Full Band Early/Late Show

DECEMBER 20, 2024

Evanston SPACE, Evanston

Practical Theatre Presents WEIRD!

DECEMBER 20-22, 2024

Studio5 Performing Arts Center, Evanston

Music of the Baroque: Holiday Brass & Choral

DECEMBER 21, 2024

Saints Faith Hope and Charity Catholic Church, Winnetka

Northwestern University Men's Basketball vs DePaul

DECEMBER 21, 2024

Welsh-Ryan Arena, Northwestern University, Evanston

Holiday Tea for Families

DECEMBER 21, 2024

Evanston History Center, Evanston

Music of the Baroque: Holiday Brass and Choral Concerts

DECEMBER 22, 2024

Alice Millar Chapel, Evanston

Joel Paterson

DECEMBER 22, 2024

Evanston SPACE, Evanston

Holiday Public Skate 2024

DECEMBER 23, 2024 - JANUARY 3, 2025

Skatium Ice Arena, Skokie


Ouray

DECEMBER 27, 2024

Evanston SPACE, Evanston

An Evening with Big Suit: The All-Star Tribute to Talking Heads

DECEMBER 28, 2024

Evanston SPACE, Evanston

Northwestern University Men's Basketball vs Northeastern

DECEMBER 28, 2024

Welsh-Ryan Arena, Northwestern University, Evanston

Skokie Itty Bitty New Year 2025

DECEMBER 31, 2024

Oakton Community Center, Skokie Park District, Skokie

Happy Noon Year

DECEMBER 31, 2024

Community Recreation Center, Wheeling

New Year's Eve Party

DECEMBER 31, 2024

Saranello's, Wheeling

Low Key NYE 2024

DECEMBER 31, 2024

Ignote Gaming, Skokie

New Year's Eve Celebration

DECEMBER 31, 2024

Pinstripes, Northbrook

It’s All Fun and Games: Celebrating the Holidays with Historic Toys

THROUGH JANUARY 5, 2025

Evanston History Center, Evanston

Chicago Botanic Garden Lightscape

THROUGH JANUARY 5, 2025

Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe

Willow Hills Lights

THROUGH JANUARY 5, 2025

Willow Hill Golf Course, Northbrook

Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women

THROUGH JANUARY 5, 2025

Northlight Theatre, Skokie

Titanic: The Exhibition

THROUGH JANUARY 5, 2025

Westfield Old Orchard, Skokie

Thomas & Friends - Explore the Rails!

THROUGH JANUARY 5, 2025

Kohl Children's Museum, Glenview

Every Brilliant Thing

THROUGH JANUARY 5, 2025

Writers Theatre, Glencoe

Shtetl in the Sun Andy Sweet’s South Beach 1977-1980

THROUGH JUNE 1, 2025

Illinois Holocaust Museum, Skokie



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