THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year — Christmas is less than two weeks away! Whether you’re all set (bring it on) or haven’t even started yet (OMG), this weekend is for you!!
The Randolph Street Market (1341 W. Randolph St.) on the Near West Side returns this weekend with its Holiday Market to help you manage your shopping list or just hang out with family and friends. It’s the Windy City’s most beloved holiday shopping tradition! The halls will be decked out with 3 floors of one-of-a-kind shopping and fun for the whole family. Here you’ll find the most unusual and stylishly crafted mix of vintage and modern decorative objects, housewares, fashion, fancy foods, hostess gifts, and more from 125 vintage dealers and makers! Plus kids of all ages are welcome at the complimentary Elves Workshop on-site with hands on arts & crafts like making your own wrapping paper, designing wacky holiday headgear, and decorating mini gingerbread houses while mom and/or dad are shopping. From 12 pm-2 pm each day Santa Claus will be at the workshop to meet the kids and take down their holiday wishes!!
Join Lincoln Park Zoo (2001 N. Clark St.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood as they celebrate 25 years of Zoolights under the glow of 2.5 million lights. Not only does it feature hundreds of themed larger-than-life displays, incredible 3D displays, a 65-foot Ferris wheel, and a one-of-a kind light maze, but it also offers incredible seasonal activities such as live ice carving, strolling carolers, a musical light show at the Winter Wonderlawn, holiday snacks, gift shopping, and much more! Plus take a photo with Santa on select days (through December 23rd). After all, the most wonderful time of the year deserves the most wonderful event of the year right in the heart of the city!!
Chicago’s holiday spirit wouldn’t be the same without its Holiday Bar Crawls, which are taking place this Saturday! And they are –
It’s time to get into the holiday spirit on the Chicago Santa Crawl from 11 am-6 pm at River North’s best bars including Bar Louie, Hubbard Inn, Ironside, JoJo’s Milk Bar, Joy District, Moe’s Cantina, Old Crow Smokehouse, and more! Your ticket gets you admission to all participating venues, a free breakfast buffet, three $4 gift cards to use on the crawl, a Santa Hat, drink specials, giveaways, and more!! So throw on your ugly Christmas sweater (or other holiday gear), grab your friends, and come spread some holiday cheer!!!
Festa’s 24th annual Twelve Bars of Xmas takes place from 9 am-9 pm at Wrigleyville’s best bars. Festivities kick off with live music from Hairbanger’s Ball at Cubby Bear (9 am) and continue to over 30 participating venues. Your ticket includes free breakfast, $12 of gift cards to use during the day, swag (gloves, gym bags, & t-shirt Koozies), their world-famous cereal shots, stickers and picture frames, drink specials, contests, and prizes galore! New this year is their MeMe Garden where participants can take face in the hole pictures. This is the world’s largest and longest-running Christmas/Costume/Charity Bar Crawl and is not to be missed!!
Returning for its 2nd year, the 12 Bars of Charity takes place from 2 pm-9 pm at West Loop bars. This crawl is a friendly competition between 8 local charities. The charities are split up into teams and assigned a team color. Participants then pick the charity they want to support and receive a charity team color sweatshirt, $15 donation to the charity of their choice, free shuttle rides, free admission, and drink specials at all participating bars. Also once on the event, participants have the freedom to go wherever they want, whenever they want, and with whomever they want! It’s a super fun event that gives back in the true spirit of the holidays!!
Have a Wonderful Time!
