‘Twas The Night Before… By Cirque du Soleil
Dec21
Theatre & Performing Arts

‘Twas The Night Before… By Cirque du Soleil

Due to overwhelming success, the celebrated holiday theatrical ‘Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil is returning to The Chicago Theatre for a limited…

Sunday, December 21st
7:30 p.m.9:30 p.m.
Chicago Theatre
Best Comedian 2025 Nominee Showcase
Dec21
Music & Comedy, Theatre & Performing Arts

Best Comedian 2025 Nominee Showcase

Check out this showcase for a chance to see all 10 of The Reader’s nominees for Best Comedian 2025 (standup and non-standup) This show is…

Sunday, December 21st
8:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.
The Lincoln Lodge
2040 North Milwaukee Avenue
Halloween Chicago Ghost Tour & Hunt: Lincoln Park Hauntings by American Ghost Walks
Dec21
Festivals, Fairs & Special Events, Tours & Attractions

Halloween Chicago Ghost Tour & Hunt: Lincoln Park Hauntings by American Ghost Walks

Join American Ghost Walks on a spine-chilling Chicago Ghost Tour & Ghost Hunt in Lincoln Park, known for its eerie hauntings and chilling history. Dive…

Sunday, December 21st
8:00 p.m.10:00 p.m.
Meeting Point: In front of the Chicago History Museum
1601 N Clark St.
The Disco Biscuits: U.S. 2025 Tour
Dec21
Music & Comedy

The Disco Biscuits: U.S. 2025 Tour

Get ready, Chicago — the legendary The Disco Biscuits are heading your way for a high‑energy live show at Thalia Hall. Known for their unique…

Sunday, December 21st
8:00 p.m.11:00 p.m.
Thalia Hall
1807 South Allport Street
Chicago’s Best Stand Up
Dec21
Music & Comedy

Chicago’s Best Stand Up

Welcome to The Laugh Factory – Chicago, where Chicago’s Best Stand Up will be hitting the stage on December 21, 2025, at 9:00 PM. Get…

Sunday, December 21st
9:00 p.m.11:00 p.m.
The Laugh Factory
175 N Broadway
The Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Dec22
Theatre & Performing Arts

The Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker

Experience magic this holiday season with two-time Tony Award®-winner Christopher Wheeldon’s ‘The Nutcracker’. On a magical Christmas Eve, mere months before the opening of Chicago’s…

Monday, December 22nd
Lyric Opera of Chicago
20 N. Wacker Dr., Ste. 860
The Phantom of the Opera
Dec22
Theatre & Performing Arts

The Phantom of the Opera

THE BRILLIANT ORIGINAL RETURNS “MORE SPECTACULAR THAN EVER” – Sunday Express The Phantom is back to thrill audiences once again! Cameron Mackintosh presents a revitalized…

Monday, December 22nd
Cadillac Palace Theatre
151 W. Randolph St. , Chicago, IL, 60601
Letter to Santa
Dec22
Festivals, Fairs & Special Events

Letter to Santa

Little ones are invited to share their holiday wishes in our beautifully decorated lobby. Children can pen letters to Santa and place them in our…

Monday, December 22nd
Viceroy Chicago
1118 N State St
Lincoln Park ZooLights
Dec22

Lincoln Park ZooLights

Chicagoland’s favorite holiday tradition is back and brighter than ever! ZooLights Presented by Invesco QQQ and ComEd twinkles with more than 3 million lights, hundreds…

Monday, December 22nd
Winter Wonderfest
Dec22

Winter Wonderfest

Spot twinkly light displays and playful pops of holiday cheer inside Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, take in the towering 42-foot Holiday Tree, and discover endless ways to…

Lightscape
Dec22

Lightscape

Tickets are on sale now for all. Book in advance and secure your preferred slot; popular dates and times go fast! Step into an enchanting…

North Suburbs

Event details
Monday, December 22nd
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Rd.
Balloon Museum: EmotionAir
Dec22

Balloon Museum: EmotionAir

The Pop Air and Let’s Fly exhibitions continue to thrill and engage a participative audience, but EmotionAir sets an even more ambitious goal. This latest…

Monday, December 22nd
Chicago :The Fields Studios – Gate 1
2828 N. Pulaski
Paris in Black Exhibition Opening at the DuSable Museum
Dec22
Festivals, Fairs & Special Events, Museums, Galleries & Exhibitions, Tours & Attractions

Paris in Black Exhibition Opening at the DuSable Museum

Join us at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center for the opening of Paris in Black: Internationalism and the Black Renaissance.  Discover the…

Monday, December 22nd
DuSable Museum of African American History
740 East 56th Place
Holidays at Skydeck!
Dec22
Festivals, Fairs & Special Events

Holidays at Skydeck!

HOLIDAYS @ SKYDECK CHICAGO! Celebrate the season from 103 stories above the city at Holidays @ Skydeck! Skydeck’s lower-level Chicago museum and observation deck will…

Monday, December 22nd
Skydeck Chicago
233 S Wacker Dr.
By A Thread: Nature’s Resilience
Dec22
Museums, Galleries & Exhibitions

By A Thread: Nature’s Resilience

By A Thread: Nature’s Resilience dives into the science of biodiversity and what it takes to protect it—showcasing the research, conservation, and education work happening…

Monday, December 22nd
10:00 a.m.4:00 p.m.
Not a Soft Thing: A Group Exhibition by Artist Mothers
Dec22
Museums, Galleries & Exhibitions

Not a Soft Thing: A Group Exhibition by Artist Mothers

Not a Soft Thing is a multifaceted exhibition by 15 artist/mothers spanning diverse cultural backgrounds, disciplines, and stages of caregiving. Together, this artist collective challenges…

Monday, December 22nd
10:00 a.m.4:45 p.m.
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington St
Homeschool Days at PEPPA PIG World of Play Chicago
Dec22
Tours & Attractions

Homeschool Days at PEPPA PIG World of Play Chicago

Join us for Homeschool Days at Peppa Pig World of Play Chicago, where preschool families can enjoy an OINKTASTIC discount! Experience the magic of Peppa…

Monday, December 22nd
10:00 a.m.5:00 p.m.
Peppa Pig World of Play Chicago
5 Woodfield Mall
Big Bus Tours’ Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour
Dec22
Tours & Attractions

Big Bus Tours’ Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour

Big Bus Tours’ daily Hop-On, Hop-Off tours offer visitors a convenient way to explore Chicago’s vibrant downtown, including historic landmarks, cultural institutions and hidden gems.…

Monday, December 22nd
10:00 a.m.5:00 p.m.
Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360
Dec22
Museums, Galleries & Exhibitions

Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360

Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360 provides a panoramic view through history and truth, inviting visitors of all backgrounds to witness stories of survival, ask questions, and reflect…

Monday, December 22nd
10:00 a.m.5:00 p.m.
Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360
360 N State St
Take Care with Peanuts: The Exhibit
Dec22
Museums, Galleries & Exhibitions

Take Care with Peanuts: The Exhibit

Good grief! Join Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Gang at Chicago Children’s Museum! Step into Take Care with Peanuts: The Exhibit and be transported into…

Monday, December 22nd
10:00 a.m.5:00 p.m.
Chicago Children’s Museum
700 E. Grand Ave.
American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture
Dec22
Museums, Galleries & Exhibitions

American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture

American Prophets journeys through the pages of American history to explore the influence of religion and spirituality on writers and culture, with interactive displays incorporating…

Monday, December 22nd
10:00 a.m.5:00 p.m.
American Writers Museum
180 N. Michigan Ave.
Museum of Ice Cream’s Pinkmas
Dec22
Museums, Galleries & Exhibitions

Museum of Ice Cream’s Pinkmas

Pinkmas at Museum of Ice Cream is officially back for the season, step into the sweetest holiday celebration of the season, happening now through January…

Monday, December 22nd
10:00 a.m.7:00 p.m.
435 N Michigan Ave Suite G, Chicago, IL 60611
435 N Michigan Ave. Suite G
Pilsen Day Trip
Dec22
Festivals, Fairs & Special Events, Tours & Attractions

Pilsen Day Trip

We’re excited to host a Pilsen Day Trip Passport for visitors to shop local, shop small for their holiday shopping needs or for anyone who…

Monday, December 22nd
10:00 a.m.7:00 p.m.
Pilsen Commercial Corridor, 18th Street from Damen to Morgan
W 18th St & S Damen Ave
Mrs. Claus! A Holiday Musical at Stahl Family Theatre
Dec22
Theatre & Performing Arts

Mrs. Claus! A Holiday Musical at Stahl Family Theatre

Chicago Kids Company’s Holiday Classic returns for the 26th Year!  Our biggest and most colorful show will put you in the Holiday Spirit in no…

Monday, December 22nd
10:30 a.m.11:00 a.m.
Stahl Family Theatre
5900 W Belmont Ave