This fair offers families, teachers, toy and game enthusiasts the chance to preview new toys and games, compete in tournaments, meet toy and game inventors and shop for the holidays. Also featuring live entertainment and roving characters. Includes giant-sized games, Settlers of Catan North American Catan Championship, Speed Stacks sport stacking demo and tournaments, meet the Moshi Monsters, Star Wars lunch (Sat.) and Pony Royale Princess Party (Sun.).

Various activities held throughout the holiday season including light parade and lighting ceremony, entertainment, demonstrations and giveaways.

Lincolnwood Thanksgiving Turkey Trot and Drumstick Dash  | Lincolnwood

5K and 10K run, 5K walk and Drumstick Dash.

Featuring horse-drawn carriage rides, visits with Santa and entertainment. Check website for detailed schedule. Weekends from Nov. 10-Dec. 23, 2012.

Santa visits on Saturday-Sunday and there are special activities each weekend.

The festival kicks off at 6 p.m. on Nov. 15 in Pere Marquette park. Featuring live music, fireworks and the ceremonial lighting of the downtown lights. The light festival features thousands of lights and holiday displays.

Settlers' Day  | South Holland

FREE

Visit with costumed living history demonstrators, representing American history from French fur trading days, pioneer times, and the Revolutionary and Civil War periods.  Activities include joining an imaginary wagon train, guided history hikes, trying your hand at a two-person buck saw, and making a craft.

Search for gnomes in the Children's Garden using your best "I Spy" skills. Checklist provided.

Drop in anytime between 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the conservatory's Elizabeth Morse Genius Children's Garden to plant an imaginary garden, build a tropical habitat, help water the plants, or read a book under the tropical canopy. Runs through entire 2012.

Visitors can walk inside the two-story silo and turn the crank of a silage machine, watching "corn plants" delivered to the top of the silo. Plus, learn about the history of silos and silage, build miniature silos with building blocks simulating wood, brick and metal and much more.