Friday

Students from Orange Bowl-bound NIU will stop in downtown Naperville to hand out oranges, spread holiday cheer / 2:30-3PM / NIU students are thrilled with the team’s Orange Bowl berth and will be stopping in downtown Naperville. This group of students and the Victor E. Huskie mascot are planning a trip to Chicago and its suburbs to promote the Orange Bowl and Northern Illinois University, providing holiday cheer and handing out oranges to area fans. Students will spend the morning in Chicago and eat lunch on the bus as they venture to the suburbs, with 30-minute stops in Glen Ellyn at 1:30PM , Naperville at 2:30PM and Geneva at 3:30PM before returning to DeKalb at 4:30PM.

Note: The Orange Bowl is no longer held at the Orange Bowl, but at Sun Life Stadium in Miami (where the Dolphins Play). The last Orange Bowl to played at the Orange Bowl was in 1999 and the Florida Gators defeated the Syracuse Orangemen 31-10.

“LET IT BE CHRISTMAS: The Gospel According to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, George and Ringo” / Epic Theatre Company presents “LET IT BE CHRISTMAS,” The Original Beatles Rock-Opera Nativity Story! Community Christian Church, Yellow Box, 1635 Emerson Lane, Naperville. Dec. 13-15 and 20-22, 7:30PM with an additional 4PM show on Dec. 22. Visit www.epictheatrecompany.org to order tickets.

“Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol,” by Organic Theater Company / Five performances will be staged at 7:30PM Fri., Sat., and Sun. and at 2PM Sat., and Sun. in the College’s theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville. Tickets are $30/adults, $20/students and senior citizens; call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.

DanceWest Ballet presents its 21st production of “The Nutcracker” / DanceWest Ballet will present “The Nutcracker” on Dec. 14, 15, 16 at Pfeiffer Hall on the campus of North Central College. Come see DanceWest Ballet students, company, and guest artists perform this endearing and beautiful ballet! To purchase tickets, contact Pfeiffer Hall at http://tickets.noctrl.edu or 630-637-SHOW (7469). Questions: please contact DanceWest Ballet at 630-778-1303 or visit its website at www.dancewestballet.com.

Live Music at CityGate Grille: The Rhythm Rockets / 8:30-11:30PM / Liven up your holiday dinner with live music every Friday and Saturday night in December at CityGate Grille located in the Calamos Investments Building at CityGate Centre, Rt. 59 & I88. The Rhythm Rockets to play jump, swing, rhythm & blues. Reservations for CityGate Grille may be made by calling (630) 718-1010.

Saturday

BELIEVE! Breakfast with Santa at Hotel Arista / 9AM-noon / Mail a letter to the North Pole, enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride, and take a picture with Santa. Breakfast buffet and holiday entertainment in the Hotel Arista Grand Ballroom. Cost: Children, $11.95; Adults, $21.95; and Children under 5, FREE RSVP via e-mail at SANTA@HOTELARISTA.com. Hotel Arista is located in CityGate Centre at Rt. 59 and I-88, just off Ferry Road in northwest Naperville.

Breakfast with Santa and his Reindogs at A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter / 9-11AM / Families can enjoy a memorable Saturday morning with Santa and his Reindogs. Festivities include breakfast, photos with Santa and his Reindogs, games, holiday shopping, face painting by Puzzletoe the Clown and refreshments for parents. All proceeds help the homeless cats and dogs at A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter, Naperville. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit adoptpetshelter.org, call A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter at 847-458-6366 or email sandy@adoptpetshelter.org.

Holiday Mansion Tours at Naper Settlement / 11AM-3PM / Take a guided tour of Naper Settlement’s beautifully decorated two-story Martin Mitchell Mansion at 11AM, noon, 1PM and 2PM Saturday, Dec. 15 and at 1, 2 and 3PM Sunday, Dec. 16. Tickets are $7 per person; $5 for Naperville Heritage Society Sustaining Members. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door of the Mansion. For more info visit www.napersettlement.org.

The Lakeside Singers “‘Tis the Season” Christmas concert / 8PM / North Central College’s Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. For tickets call 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.

Sunday

The DuPage Symphony Orchestra presents “A Ralph Covert Holiday” /2 & 4PM / North Central College’s Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Covert, lead singer of the children’s music group Ralph’s World, will entertain in his first-ever collaboration with a full symphony orchestra. Tickets are $10/adults, $8/children (under 12); call 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visitnorthcentralcollege.edu/showtix.