December Events

10am during December: Pottery Barn Story Time. FREE. 2111 North Clybourn, Chicago 60614. Phone 773-525-8349.

Lincoln Park Conservatory Flower & Train Show runs thru Jan. 4. FREE.
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/news.detail/object_id/58f36e80-b66a-43c3-9b54-444fb4af95b1.cfm

12/27-30, Art Institute of Chicago: Nurture your budding artist at the holiday family event, Holly Days — Around the World. Start painting the town red (and green) after you visit the recently returned Impressionist art collection. Get your Monet’s worth with free guided tours at noon and 2 p.m. to learn the inside dish on the artists and their works. There’s story time at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for tykes ages 3 to 5, and the museum’s mascot, Artie the Lion, will be on hand December 27 for holiday photo ops. Finally, channel your inspiration at a free art-making workshop where you and the kids can create colorful pastel scenes of your very own.

12/4-18 Thursdays, 11am and 3pm, "Eco Gingerbread House Workshop" - design and build your own green gingerbread house. All materials provided. $35/house.

12/6-7, Sat 10-noon(reindeer) , Sun 1-3pm (no reindeer). SANTA & REINDEER visit the Notebaert, www.naturemuseum.com. Decorate cookies and make an ornament to add to the museum tree.

12/6-21 Sat-Sun 11am-3pm, "Gifting Green Workshops" - make paper, envelopes, coasters, bird house, mosaic pots, paper mache bowls, ornaments, gift boxes etc. Various material fees between $5-15. Notebaert, www.naturemuseum.com

12/6 - 1/4 Winter Flower and Train Show at the Lincoln Park Conservatory. FREE.

12/13, Sat, 4:45pm - Andersonville - St. Lucia Festival of Lights. FREE. The festival of St. Lucia is a Sicilian tradition adopted by the Swedes, a celebration of lights prevailing over the darkest time of the year. Each year the specially chosen Lucia girls lead a torch-lit carol-filled procession down Clark Street, with the Museum hosting caroling and refreshments after, followed by a special 7pm Lucia service down the street at Ebenezer Lutheran Church. Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark. Museum admission is $1 or a can of food to benefit the homeless. http://www.andersonville.org/

12/13, 1/17 and 2/21 - Polar Adventure Days from 12-4 p.m. at Northerly Island, 1400 S. Lynn White Dr. Families can see Siberian huskies and other live animals, engage in winter activities, watch ice sculpture carvings, and create nature-inspired crafts. The first 500 people will also receive a free Polar Adventure Day mug filled with hot cocoa. FREE.

12/15 and 12/19 - Lincoln Park Cultural Center - Family Craft time from 11am to 12ish.
The cost is $5 for both days. There will be many little gifts to make for family members this day. You can call the Cultural Center to register 312-742-7726.

12/17, Wed at 5pm - Lincoln Park Cultural Center - Family Gingerbread House decorating event. There will be snacks and cocoa. Each family will receive an assembled gingerbread house and there will be icing and many candies for decorating and eating. The cost is $20. Call the Cultural Center to register 312-742-7726

12/27 - 29, Sat through Mon, 10am - 4pm, McCormick Place, Halls A & B (2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive): Mayor Daley's Holiday Sports Festival. FREE. Admission to the biggest indoor gym and interactive zones is FREE. Discounted parking in Lot A -$9. Interactive zones include trampolines, golf, climbing walls, football, chess, obstacle course, tot's zone, bowling, table tennis, inflatable tumbling, tennis, badminton, boxing, a pitching zone, fishing ponds, footbag, giant slide, 40-Yard dash, skateboarding area, wrestling, and open courts for volleyball and basketball. Other areas of fun include performances from Radio Disney, a variety of entertainers on the Halftime Stage, an area devoted to the 2016 Olympics and Paralympic Games, the Chicago Sky, The Harlem Globetrotters and a basketball and chess tournament featuring Chicago Public School children. There are fitness areas and the brand new Chill Out Zone with games, reading and block building for a little quiet time.

12/31 - Lincoln Park Cultural Center -two family Rockin' New Years Eve Parties. Call the Cultural Center to register and check availability 312-742-7726

12/26-31, 1/2-4, 11am - 3pm, Trash to Treasure - turn your holiday wrapping trash into fun stuff! Notebaert, www.naturemuseum.com