THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Enjoying the Enchantment & Magic of the Holidays!
This weekend will have you, your family, and friends filled with the enchantment and magic of the Holiday Season!
Chicago’s theatre scene brings the holidays to life with the following holiday productions:
Cirque du Soleil brings its first holiday show, ‘Twas the Night Before… to the Chicago Theatre (175 N. State St.) in the Loop now through December 28th. This joyful show is an interpretation of the well-known Christmas classic “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” poem where a jaded young Isabella rediscovers the magic of the holidays. The performance troupe features an international cast of thrilling acrobatics, lovable characters, and a holiday classics soundtrack re-invented by Cirque du Soleil. It’s a festive flurry of love and cheer created especially for families!
A Christmas tradition for over 40 years, A Christmas Carol returns to the Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn St.) in the Loop now through December 31st. This annual holiday production of the Charles Dickens classic returns to the stage with Larry Yando portraying the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, and Jessica Thebus returning to direct it. Attendees will watch this Christmas story unfold right before their eyes as the three spirits visit Scrooge in this touching tale of redemption!
Once again, the magical production of the Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker returns to the Lyric Opera House (20 N. Wacker Dr.) in the Loop now through December 27th. This classic Christmas ballet is set in Chicago against the backdrop of its 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and features music performed by the Lyric Opera Orchestra along with the choreography of Christopher Wheeldon, a Tony Award®-winning choreographer. Can you hear it? It’s the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy!
This weekend also celebrates Chicago’s lively holiday nightlife scene with the following events:
Rock your ugliest holiday threads (sweaters, onesies, or Santa, Grinch, Elf on the Shelf costumes) for the 2023 Official Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl this Saturday (3 p.m.-10 p.m.) in the River North neighborhood. This ultimate bar event has you crawling to the best bars and nightclubs as you indulge in holiday-themed drink deals. In addition, your ticket includes up to 50% off well drinks, shots, and beers; up to 20% off select food items; participation in welcome, halftime, and after parties; DJs at select bars; an Ugliest Sweater contest; and much more. Don’t miss out on the most festive party of the year!
Howl at the Moon (26 W. Hubbard St.) on the Near North Side will be hosting its Ugly Sweater Party this Saturday (6 p.m.-3 a.m.) and requests you to strut your most tacky, outrageous, and downright ugly holiday sweater for a chance to win some cash in their Ugly Sweater Contest. Plus, guests can enjoy live music from their talented live band, indulge in specially crafted holiday cocktails, take a picture with Santa, and so much more!
Lastly, you can celebrate the holidays with your pooch at Cody’s Ugly Dog Sweater Party this Saturday (1 p.m.-4 p.m.). Cody’s Public House is located at 1658 West Barry Avenue in the Lakeview neighborhood. There will be prizes for the best dressed dogs and their humans along with a complimentary Tito’s custom dog tag station and a pup cup station. Plus, $1 from every sale of a cocktail on the Santa-Paws Sippers menu will be donated to Second City Canine Rescue! Woof!!
Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago
