• ZooLights
Dates: Open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Dec. 23
Open nightly from Dec. 26 to Jan. 6
Time: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park, IL
Activities: The Lincoln Park Zoo is lit up with 2 million lights and is full of decorated exhibits, holiday crafts, and ice carvers. Visitors can see Santa Claus in the Kovler Lion House and a choreographed light and music show.
• Husky Heroes
Dates: Jan. 26 to 27
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Morton Arboretum Visitor Center Area, Lisle, IL
Activities: At this event, seven to eight Siberian husky teams demonstrate speed sled pulling. Visitors can interact and take pictures with the dogs and watch “The Last Great Race,” a film about huskies in Alaska.
• Christkindlmarket
Date: Open daily until Dec. 24
Time: Sunday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday to Saturday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: Daley Plaza between Dearborn, Washington and Clark Street in Chicago
Activities: This cultural German Christmas market has live brass bands and school choirs, and vendors selling food and trinkets. On Dec. 16 a live radio broadcast will be there to cover Alain Roby, a two time Guinness World Record chef, making sugar art.