Most emailed Events items
1. Great Tree Lighting
Macy's - 111 N. State St. - Chicago (Loop)
Singer Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child fame helps light the tree at noon.
2. Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
Michigan Avenue, from Oak Street to Wacker Drive - 990 N. Michigan Ave. - Chicago (Magnificent Mile)
Mickey Mouse leads a street-lighting procession along North Michigan Avenue at this annual event.
3. Wicker Park/Bucktown First Friday
Flat Iron Arts Building - 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. - Chicago (Bucktown/Wicker Park)Explore two floors of art in more than three dozen artist studios and living spaces. Guest artists exhibit in the building's common areas, and impromptu performances take place throughout the evening.
4. ZooLights
Lincoln Park Zoo - 2200 N. Cannon Drive - Chicago (Lincoln Park)More than two million lights add holiday cheer to the zoo grounds. Ice carving demonstrations, kids' activities and visits with Santa round out the festivities.
5. Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Tour
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio - 951 Chicago Ave. - Oak ParkTours of the historic museum, which served as the residence and workplace of America's best-known architect.
6. Old Town School Holiday Craft Bazaar
Old Town School of Folk Music - 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. - Chicago (Lincoln Square)
Browse an array of inexpensive, handmade gifts such as prints, cards, knit items, jewelry and soaps at the fifth annual event.
7. SOFA Chicago 2009
Navy Pier - 600 E. Grand Ave. - Chicago (Streeterville)
The 16th annual International Exposition of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art features three-dimensional fine art in glass, ceramics, wood, metal and fiber.
8. One of a Kind Show and Sale Chicago
Merchandise Mart - 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza - Chicago (River North)
Shop for holiday gifts from more than 500 emerging and established North American artists and designers at the ninth annual showcase, featuring blown glass, jewelry, paintings, sculptures, clothing and furniture.
9. Pearl of the Snowlands: Buddhist Printing at the Derge Parkhang
Columbia College Chicago's Center for Book & Paper Arts - 1104 S. Wabash Ave. - Chicago (South Loop)The first exhibition of its type in the U.S. features prints, books, photographs and videos of the only surviving traditional Tibetan printing temple.
10. Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise
Chicago's First Lady - 112 E. Wacker Drive - ChicagoThe 90-minute tour highlights more than 50 historic and architecturally significant sites along the Chicago River.
11. McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade 1
State Street and Congress Parkway - 500 S. State St. - Chicago (South Loop)
The 76th annual procession features marching bands, floats, giant helium balloons, horses, performances and more.
12. Christkindlmarket Chicago
Daley Plaza - 50 W. Washington St. - Chicago (Loop)
An open-air, German-style market showcases handmade ornaments, accessories, clothing and gifts from more than 50 vendors. Also features German food and drink such as beer, hot spiced wine, potato pancakes, bratwurst, schnitzel, strudel and more.
13. Weekly wine tasting
Taste Food & Wine - 1506 W. Jarvis Ave. - Chicago (Rogers Park)Sample from the store's extensive inventory.
14. Chicago Architecture Foundation's 'Highlights by Bus' tour
Chicago Architecture Foundation - 224 S. Michigan Ave. - Chicago (Grant Park Museums)An architecture tour covers more than 30 miles in the Loop, Hyde Park, the Gold Coast and other neighborhoods.
15. Bobby's Lakefront Neighborhoods Bicycle Tour
Bobby's Bike Hike Kiosk - 465 N. McClurg Ct. - Chicago (Streeterville)A guided tour highlights Lincoln Park Zoo, the Playboy mansion, historic Old Town and more. Includes bikes and helmets.
16. Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer
Journeymen Plumber's Hall - 1340 W. Washington Blvd. - Chicago (West Loop)
The afternoon session of the seventh annual fest is sold out, but you can still attend the evening session.
17. Chicago Hauntings Ghost Tours
Clark and Ohio Streets - 610 N. Clark St. - Chicago (River North)A bus tour of locations featured in Ursula Bielski's "Chicago Haunts" book series. View Hull House, Death Alley, the sites of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and Eastland Disaster and more.
18. Modern Vintage Holiday Market
Journeymen Plumber's Hall - 1340 W. Washington Blvd. - Chicago (West Loop)
The third annual shopping event from the people behind the Chicago Antique Market and the Indie Designer Market features handcrafted items.
19. Polar Adventure Days
Northerly Island - 1400 S. Linn White Drive - Chicago (Grant Park Museums)
The fifth annual indoor-outdoor winter celebration features ice sculptures, an arctic dog sled team, storytelling and the chance to peek at birds of prey and other animals. Also, rent snowshoes for free and trek about the grounds. The first 500 visitors receive free hot chocolate.
20. Free Chicago events 2
Go ahead, be cheap! These fun events won't break the bank
21. City of Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Daley Plaza - 50 W. Washington St. - Chicago (Loop)
The 54 foot tall great tree serves as the centerpiece of the 96th annual spectacle.
22. Margaret Atwood
Merle Reskin Theatre - 60 E. Balbo Drive - Chicago (South Loop)
The author gives a 70-minute dramatic reading from her 13th novel, "The Year of the Flood," with accompaniment by a troupe of actors and a choir.
23. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago at The Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago - 111 S. Michigan Ave. - Chicago (Grant Park Museums)The modern dance ensemble creates and performs new works at various locations throughout the museum and hosts discussions in conjunction with The Art Institue's permanent collection of modern and contemporary art.
24. Brewery tour
Goose Island Brewpub - 1800 N. Clybourn Ave. - Chicago (Sheffield/De Paul)Take a behind-the-beer tour of Goose Island's facilities; you'll get a brewer's-eye view of the process, plus six brew samples and a Goose Island glass to take home.
25. Manicure & Martini – Ladies Night Out
The Palm Court at the Drake Hotel - 140 E. Walton Pl. - Chicago (Magnificent Mile)Relax with a glass of champagne and appetizers (5-6 p.m.), plus a chocolate tasting, a manicure, a martini and a screening of the "Sex and the City" movie.
