Weeklong holiday fest features display of holiday trees, wreaths and decorations; numerous special events such as concerts, holiday classic films, performance of the Nutcracker and the Teddy Bear Tea. Visit the website for a complete schedule of events.

Historic Holidays at Clarke House Museum  | Chicago

Experience a traditional mid-nineteenth century Christmas at Clarke House Museum this holiday season. Discover the simple joys of homemade decorations, including pine boughs and a tabletop Christmas tree, which adorned the 1850s Chicago home. Learn about gifts exchanged by families like the Clarkes and pick up a period recipe to try.

A lightly narrated 2-hour tour showcasing the best of Chicago's holiday lights and sights. Passengers see views of the Magnificent Mile, State Street & Macy's Holiday Windows, the John Hancock Plaza tree, Navy Pier's Winter Wonderfest, Buckingham Fountain and have time to hop off at the Zoo Lights at Lincoln Park Zoo and the Christkindlmarket.

Exhibit examines the ancestry and evolution of numerous species, ranging from huge to tiny, from speedy to sloth-like, and displays animals with oversized claws, fangs, snouts, and horns. Highlights include taxidermy specimens, an entire skeleton of a giant hoofed plant-eater, a life-size model of the largest land mammal that ever lived, one of the oldest fossilized bats ever found, and an impressive diorama featuring the swamps and forests of an island in the Arctic. Runs May 26, 2012-Jan. 6, 2013.

Join the Elf Class as they try to find the missing list in time for Christmas in this musical show. Performances at Stahl theater from Nov. 24-Dec. 21 and from Nov. 28-Dec. 21 at the Beverly Arts Center.

Join Cinderella, her Fairy Godmother, a handsome Prince, and two selfish stepsisters in Rodgers and Hammerstein's most beloved tale. Performances run Nov. 17-Dec. 31.

A festive event with Santa and his friends runs from Nov. 17-Dec. 23.

See a variety of styles ranging from hip-hop, ballet, tap and jazz to contemporary and more. The festival is a cornerstone of the city's fall dance season and showcases more than 300 individual dynamic acts from more than 2,500 talented dancers and choreographers from some of Chicago's best dance companies. Check website for schedule. Oct. 20-Dec. 1.

Based on the book by Ludwig Bemelmans, Performances run Saturdays and Sundays at 4 p.m. Nov. 24-Dec. 2.

The mansion served as the Nickerson's winter residence during the late 19 ^th century, and the family spent every holiday season in Chicago lavishly entertaining acquaintances, friends, and family from near and far. During this tour, participants are transported back to the winter months of 1899, where they discover through a servant's eyes how the Nickersons celebrated the holidays. As applicants to a position in domestic service, participants learn the best methods for preparing plum pudding, how to prevent the new electrical lights on the Christmas tree from catching it on fire, and more.