Friday
Naperville Garden Club hosts Cup of Cheer & Holiday Market / noon – 6PM / From noon to 6PM, select beautiful gifts and decorations at the Holiday Market, many of which are original designs by Club members. The Market is located on the 2nd floor of the White Activities Center at North Central College, 325 E. Benton Ave. The Market is open to the general public for shopping. For more information, visit www.napervillegardenclub.org.
Riverwalk Santa House / 4 – 8PM / The Santa House, located at the corner of Jackson Avenue and Webster Street on the Naperville Riverwalk, will welcome visitors on certain dates between Dec. 6 and Dec. 22 Santa House hours of operations are: 4-8PM Friday, Dec. 6 and 13; 12-Noon-6PM Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 7-8, 14-15, and 21-22; 4-8PM Mon., Dec. 16-20.
WVHS Planetarium Family Nights / 7-8PM / The WVHS Planetarium, 2590 Ogden Ave. in Aurora, welcomes the public to Family Nights on the first Friday of the month now through April 2014 at 7PM. Programs are 50 to 60 minutes long and admission is $2 per seat on a first-come/first-served basis. For more information, visit planetarium.ipsd.org.
Naper Lights in Central Park / Dusk until 9PM, Thursdays thru Sundays / Enjoy colorful the inaugural light display hosted by the Rotary Club of Naperville/Sunrise, the beginning of a light show that will grow year after year. Free admission with good will offerings. Hot chocolate available in the gazebo.
Saturday
Gingerbread Junction Craft Fair at Hill Middle School / 9AM – 3PM / Hill Middle School, located at1836 Brookdale Rd., will hold its annual Gingerbread Junction Craft Fair with over 50 artisans displaying hand crafted jewelry, pottery, wood art, knits, fabric & quilts, holiday decor, candles, handmade soaps and more. Seasonal designer confections perfect for gift giving. Musical entertainment throughout the day provided by the talented students of District 204. Adult is admission is $3, kids free.
Holiday Cookie Walk hosted by Guild at St. Patrick’s Residence / 9-11AM / The Guild of St. Patrick’s Residence, located at 1400 Brookdale Rd., will host its annual Holiday Cookie Walk and Christmas Boutique from 9-11AM Sat., Dec. 7. Cookies will be sold by the pound, pre-packaged or by strolling among the tables of a vast assortment and choose your favorites. Back by popular demand will be the ever-favorite English toffee made by the Carmelite Sisters of St. Patrick’s.
Jaycees ‘Santa Pet Pictures’ to Benefit Food-Giving Program / 9AM – noon / The Naperville Jaycees are hosting “Santa Pet Pictures,” a fund raising event to support the Holiday Food Giving Program benefiting the Northern Illinois Food Bank’s mission to feed hungry people in DuPage County. Santa will be available for photos with pets and their families at VCA Bolingbrook #252, 570 Concord Lane, Bolingbrook. Nonperishable food items only. $5/photo or $3/photo/food donation.
Prairie Business Boutique / 9AM – 4PM / Prairie Elementary in Naperville is encouraging our community to shop locally this holiday season! They’re putting on the first-ever Prairie Business Boutique, a one-day holiday gift sale featuring 20+ parent-owned and locally-owned businesses, on Saturday, December 7, from 9AM to 4PM. It’s more than a craft fair – from original art to handmade breads to beautiful jewelry, the Prairie Business Boutique has something for everyone on your holiday list. Free admission. Prairie Elementary is located 500 S. Charles Avenue in Naperville. It’s south of the intersection of Chicago and Charles Avenues. Contact Cynthia at PrairieBusinessBoutique@gmail.com for info or check out http://goo.gl/JrzSQV.
Wikimedia Commons Photo
Holiday Mansion Tours / Starting at 11AM / The beautifully decorated Martin Mitchell Mansion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a showpiece of Naper Settlement at 523 S. Webster St., especially decked out in full Victorian splendor during the holiday season during two weekends: Sat. and Sun., Dec. 7-8 and Dec. 14-15. Take a guided tour of the two-story Mansion and Carriage House. Saturday tours are at 11AM, noon, 1PM and 2PM; Sunday tours at 1PM, 2PM, and 3PM. Tickets are $7 per person; $5 for sustaining members.
The Naperville Men’s Glee Club celebrates with ‘Christmas Presence 1 & 2′ / 7:30PM / The sounds of the season come alive at “Christmas Presence I,” the first of two holiday concerts by The Naperville Men’s Glee Club and their special guests. “Christmas Presence I” features Advent and seasonal music uniquely arranged for male chorus and performed in a concert setting. The event begins at 7:30PM on Sat., Dec. 7 at St. Margaret Mary Church, 1450 Green Trails Dr.
On the lighter side, “Christmas Presence II” is a family-friendly concert event of familiar carols and holiday favorites. Children in the audience are invited to the stage to accompany the Glee Club using handheld percussion instruments. The concert begins at 3PM on Sun., Dec. 8, at Knox Presbyterian Church, 1105 Catalpa Lane.
Tickets may be purchased from any Glee Club member, online at www.nmgc.org or by calling (630) 448-0518. Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students. Tickets also will be available at the door prior to the concert (cash or check). For more info, visit www.nmgc.org or call Tom Harle, NMGC Marketing Director, at (630) 448-0518.
Discover many holiday productions & concerts staged throughout December…
Sunday
Breakfast and pictures with Santa at Quigley’s / 10AM – noon / Santa will be visiting Quigley’s Irish Pub in downtown Naperville, 43 E. Jefferson Ave. for breakfast and pictures. Kids will have the opportunity to tell Santa how good they have been while having their picture taken. For more info, visit www.quigleysirishpub.com.
Stories Behind Our Most Loved Christmas Hymns and Carols / 4PM / Have you ever wondered how your favorite holiday hymn or song came into origin, or what events inspired its lyrics to be written? Author Rochelle Pennington’s narrative will offer factual perspective, behind-the-scenes trivia, and little-known insights into well-known carols from 4-5PM Sun., Dec. 8 at Naper Settlement’s Century Memorial Chapel, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Advance tickets are $6 adult, $5 student, youth and sustaining members. On the day of the presentation, tickets are $7 adult, $6 student, youth and sustaining members. Reservations are recommended. For more info, visit www.napersettlement.com or call (630) 420-6010.
For additional events this month, visit PN’s December Calendar of Events.
