Get in the holiday spirit with these local events!
Holiday Stroll. Mount Greenwood Holiday Stroll, Fri., Dec. 1, 4 to 7 p.m., participating businesses on 111th Street between Sacramento and Pulaski. The family-friendly event is sponsored by the Mount Greenwood Community and Business Association and features special offers, visits with life reindeer and holiday characters, music, raffles and more. Info: 773-881-0622 or mgcba2013@gmail.com.
Holiday Musical Theater for Kids. Chicago Kids Company presents “Mrs. Claus: A Holiday Musical,” a one-hour musical geared to children ages 2 to 10, selected dates Dec. 1 through Dec. 23. Mrs. Claus and the Elf Class of 2017 scramble to find Santa’s list in time to save Christmas. Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago. $12 (group rates available). Tickets and information: 773-205-9600 or www.chicagokidscompany.com.
Breakfast with Santa at the Castle. Enjoy a pancake breakfast and visit with Santa Sat., Dec. 2, 8 a.m. to noon, Beverly Unitarian Church, 10244 S. Longwood Dr. Don’t forget to bring your camera! $5 per person. Info: 773-233-7080.
Castle Christmas Tree Sale. Buy your fresh and fragrant Fraser or douglas firs, 5 to 10 feet tall. Sat., Dec. 2, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun., Dec. 3. Sat., Dec. 9 and Sun., Dec. 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Beverly Unitarian Church parking lot, 103rd and Seeley. Your purchase helps support the Castle. www.beverlyunitarian.org.
Pictures with Santa. Santa is stopping by Beverly Bank, 10258 S. Western, Sat., Dec. 2, 1 to 3 p.m. to hear children’s Christmas wishes and take pictures.
Uprising Craft Holiday Market. The Beverly Area Arts Alliance will host the 2nd annual Uprising Craft Holiday Market Sun., Dec. 3, 12 to 5 p.m., Olivia’s Garden, 10730 S. Western. More than 40 makers and artisans from Illinois and surrounding states will offer a variety of unique, handmade items ranging from stationary and candles, to jewelry and holiday decorations. Crème of the Crop food truck — a Beverly Art Walk favorite — and Coco’s Tamales will offer tasty treats and Ruta Spenser, DJ at St. Xavier University’s WXAV radio station, will spin not-your-average holiday tunes. List of vendors/info: www.beverlyarts.org.
Party With Santa. Christmas Party meet and greet with Santa, Sun., Dec. 3, 2 to 4 p.m., Barney Callaghan’s, 10618 S. Western.
Handel’s ‘Messiah.’ The 15th annual performance of Handel’s “Messiah” will be presented Sun., Dec. 3, 3:30 p.m. at Morgan Park Presbyterian Church, 2017 W. 110th Pl. The performance features soloists, a mass choir and orchestra conducted by Charles T. Hayes, and is presented as a beautiful start to the advent season. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students and free for children under age 10. Proceeds benefit Morgan Park Presbyterian Church and the church music program. Info/tickets: 773-779-3355.
Christmas Concert. The Southwest Symphony Orchestra along with St. Georges Children’s and Adult Choirs, and Oak Lawn Voices of the Valley present “ Holiday Destination at St. George,” featuring holiday classics, a hand bell choir and a carol festival sing along, Sun., Dec. 3, 4 p.m., St. George Church , 6707 175th St., Tinley Park. Adults and seniors, $20; students, $7; children under age 10, free. Tickets/info: southwestsymphony@gmail.com or 708-802-0686
Holiday Tea. Saint Xavier University (SXU), 3700 W. 103rd St., cordially invites area residents to Holiday Tea, Thurs., Dec. 7, 1 to 3 p.m., Warde Academic Center Butler Reception Room. Admission is $20 and includes assorted finger sandwiches, scones with whipped butter and sweets, a variety of teas, coffee or perhaps a glass of wine. Entertainment will be provided by violinist Miriam-Rose LeDuc. All are welcome the noon liturgy in McDonough Chapel prior to the tea. Register online, www.sxu.edu, keyword: Christmas or 773-298-3316.
Beverly Neighborhood Choir Concert. Chicago Children’s Choir Beverly Neighborhood Choir will perform in a Target Community Concert alongside DiMention and select Voice of Chicago singers in an evening that captures the variety of the Chicago Children’s Choir’s program and repertoire, Thurs., Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m., Kroc Center Chicago, 1250 W. 119th St. Reservations: ccchoir.org/events or 312-849-8300.
Holiday Market. Businesses on Walden Parkway, Wood Street and 99th Street will celebrate the season at a Holiday Market, Thurs., Dec. 14, 6 to 10 p.m. Shop and visit at Beverly Barre, Capsule Chicago, B Sides Coffee + Tea, Cakewalk Chicago, Sweet Freaks, Tranquility Salon and more. Enjoy live music, drinks, desserts, locally sourced products and lots more.
‘A Wonderful Life.’ BAC Professional Theatre, “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Fri., Dec. 8 and Sat., Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m.; Fri., Dec. 15 and Sat., Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m.; and Sun., Dec. 17, 3:30 p.m. $22 ($20 for Beverly Arts Center members). The classic story of George Bailey on a fateful Christmas Eve unfolds as a live 1940s radio broadcast in a family-friendly performance. Beverly Art Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago. Info: 773-445-3838, www.beverlyartcenter.org.
Christmas Open House. Dance Gallery Chicago, 10628 S. Western, hosts a Christmas Open House, Sat. Dec. 9, 4 to 6 p.m. Dancers will enchant visitors and passersby in The Nutcracker Windows, starting at 4:30. The event also features student performances and a visit from Santa. Info: 773-445-8910 or info@dancegallerychicago.com.
Skate With Santa. Family and friends are invited to enjoy the holiday spirit, skating with Santa to holiday music on Sun., Dec. 10, 3:30 to 4:50 p.m., Morgan Park Sports Center, 11505 S. Western. Event includes cookie decorating in the Winter Wonderland area, and a Blackhawks ticket raffle benefitting Special Olympics Chicago. Admission: Adults/teens, $5, children age 12 and under, $4, seniors, $2. Skate rental: $3.
Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus. Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus presents “Naughty or Nice,” Sun., Dec. 10, 3 p.m. Members of the chorus must choose which list they’ll be on, and there are a lot of naughty and nice musical choices. $28. Beverly Art Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago. Info: 773-445-3838, www.beverlyartcenter.org.
Dodge Ball Tournament. Register by Dec. 18 for Ald. Matt O’Shea’s Holiday Dodge Ball Tournament for 19th Ward elementary school students, Dec. 26 and 27, Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, 3857 W. 111th St. Players will be grouped randomly and assigned teams. $1 per player. Register at www.the19thward.com. Info: 773-238-8766.
BACinema Screens ‘White Christmas.’ Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” (1954), Wed., Dec. 20, 7 p.m. In this holiday classic a song-and-dance duo (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) team up with a sister act (Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen) to perform a Christmas show in rural Vermont. $6 ($5 for Beverly Arts Center members). Beverly Art Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago. Info: 773-445-3838, www.beverlyartcenter.org.
Christmas Jazz Concert. Sure to delight young and old alike, catch Lowdown Brass Band at Morgan Park Presbyterian Church, 2017 W. 110th Pl., Fri., Dec. 22, 7 p.m. The all-ages event is a free and will feature Christmas classics and carol singing accompanied by the powerful funky jazz of Lowdown Brass which brandishes a powerful brass frontline of trumpets, trombones, saxophones, with a funky backline of drums and sousaphone. A freewill offering will be taken during the performance. Info: morganparkpres.org/jazz-christmas
19th Ward Children’s Film Festival. The 19th Ward Youth Foundation presents the 8th annual Children’s Film Festival Thurs., Dec. 28, Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St. “Despicable Me 3” will be screened at 10 a.m. and “The Nut Job 2” will be screened at 2 p.m. Admission is $1 per person per show, first come, first served, and includes the movie and snacks. Adult chaperones appreciated.
Holidazed and Confused. The Second City presents “Holidazed and Confused,” a hilariously irreverent comedy revue of the holidays, Sat., Dec. 30, 8 p.m. $25 ($23 for Beverly Arts Center members). Beverly Art Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago. Info: 773-445-3838, www.beverlyartcenter.org.
New Year’s Eve Party at Noon. 19th Ward seniors are invited to the New Year’s at Noon Party, Sun., Dec. 31, 11:30 a.m., Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, 3857 W. 111th St. The cost is $5, which includes a fried chicken lunch. Reservations are required: 773-238-8766. The event is sponsored by 19th Ward Ald. Matt O’Shea, State Sen. Bill Cunningham, State Rep. Fran Hurley, Smith Village, CHAS and KFC Beverly.
