Your Chicago Curated Weekend: 11/20 and Beyond

The holiday season is in full effect as even more winter festivities are making their way onto the calendar! Ice skating, holiday lights, and winter markets filled with gift ideas are waiting for you so get ready for the most wonderful time of the year!

Let's get on with your curated weekend!

ART GALLERIES & SPECIAL EVENTS

• All Star Press is constantly putting up new prints for you to decorate your space with! RIGHT NOW they are showing Dead Presidents! Plus you can check out some of their prints from their Vertical Gallery collab, which you can purchase here!! There is also a virtual gallery featuring all the works!
• Chicago Gamespace is the perfect spot to check out the hairy present and future of the gaming realm!
• Rotofugi is the perfect nexus of art and toys! Head over to see what new pieces of art they have in stock and on display in their gallery space! Right Now they're showing Mystic Creepers New Works by Cherry Moth Cake & Monster Bloodbath
• WNDR Museum is an ever-evolving immersive art and technology experience designed to ignite your curiosity! See exhibits like the Light Floor, Try to Get Higher, and the Digital Gallery.
• Garfield Park Conservatory is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautiful gardens! See what current exhibits are on display now.
• Lincoln Park Conservatory is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautiful gardens
• Wonderverse takes popular franchises like Ghostbusters, Bad Boys, and more and puts them together in this immersive venue! Enjoy tons of activities including escape rooms, virtual reality games, racing simulators, and more! Plus there are plenty of themed food and drinks for you to try.

FRIDAY - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21 - 23 (& BEYOND)

Christkindlmarket @ Daley Plaza (50 W Washington St) & RiverEdge Park—360 N. Broadway, Aurora), Various Times, All Ages
WHAT: The Chicago Christmas time tradition is back in person!
SO WHAT: Christkindlmarket is back with all the familiar foods, music, and ornaments you expect! Head over to their website for info on special events, hours, and more!
NOW WHAT: It’s free! But if you want to skip the lines and take home one of those souvenir mugs, you can buy an advance fast pass for $25

Holiday Magic @ Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St (1st Avenue and 31st Street), Brookfield, 3:00pm – 9:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: Add some holiday cheer to your zoo visit!
SO WHAT: Celebrate the holiday season as over two million lights wrap around Brookfield Zoo! Holiday Magic lets attendees explore the zoo as the synchronized lights dance to the music. You’ll have fun discovering all the new immersive displays, Elf Power: Virtual reality experiences, riding on the Carousel and Ferris Wheel, taking some special holiday photos, and so much more!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $29.95 for adults 12- 64, $20.95 for children ages 3 – 11,  $24.95 for Seniors. Parking is $15.18

The Neo-Futurists’ The Infinite Wrench @ The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N Ashland, Friday and Saturday 10:30pm, Sunday 7pm, 16+
WHAT: Quick plays live and online!
SO WHAT: The Neo-Futurists' Infinite Wrench is an ongoing, ever-changing attempt to perform 30 plays in 60 minutes for a live audience.
NOW WHAT: Join the Neo-Futurists this weekend for $15-20!  The Infinite Wrench and more is also available over at their Patreon!]

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22

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Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival @ Magnificent Mile, 401 N Michigan Ave, 11:00am -7:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: A grand display of holiday cheer!
SO WHAT: This wonderful Lights Festival starts early in the day with a Lights Festival Lane of booths and family activities, including photos with Santa Claus! There will be plenty of performances throughout the day including Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players kinking things off at 11am, Plain White T’s at 1pm, Leo High School Choir at 2pm, Voices of Liberty from EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort 3pm, and ‘Twas the Night Before…Cirque du Soleil from The Chicago Theatre at 12:30pm/1:45pm/2:45pm! Then at 5:30pm the tree lighting parade commences with Grand Marshals Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in attendance along with a parade featuring over an hour of fabulous floats, giant helium balloons, exciting marching bands, celebrities, musical performances, Santa Claus, fireworks and more! Check out their printable guide here!
NOW WHAT: It’s free! If you’re not feeling up to being there in person, ABC will be broadcasting the event on Sunday Novemebr 23 from 6-7 with addition airings on December 7 and 14 and with on-demand access throughout the holidays at online!

THE WHOLE CURATED WEEKEND & BEYOND

Chicago Humanities: New Talks and Video Archives @ Various Locations & Chicago Humanities Festival YouTube channel, your favorite browser or YouTube app, any time you want some inspiration, All Ages
WHAT: Interesting conversations with interesting people!
SO WHAT: Chicago Humanities Festival always brings some of the best ideas to the surface with entertaining programming that captures your imagination. There's tons of talks going on this season, so head over to their website, which is constantly updated with new talks. And be sure to check out their podcast Chicago Humanities Tapes, which features conversations with some of their best presenters and other great humanities-minded minds! Check out their talk "Edward Burns Shares a Pint with Chicago" below!
NOW WHAT: Head over to take a look at their past events here! You should also sign up for their email list to get updates on upcoming talks in 2025

Movies on the Big Screen and Home @ Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave, various times
WHAT: A great way to support a great local movie theater
SO WHAT: The Music Box Theatre recently underwent some great renovations, and it's ready for all your movie needs with some excellent films like Sentimental Value, Jay Kelly, Él, Blade Of Fury, Zodiac Killer Project (Featuring a post-film Q&A with Director Charlie Shackleton), midnight screenings of Fong Sai Yuk and The Room, and so much more!
NOW WHAT: Sit back and enjoy a new film at one of our favorite movie theaters in the city!

ChiTown Movies @ Pilsen Neighborhood, 2343 S. Throop St, Various Times, All Ages
WHAT: An old school experience for the modern age
SO WHAT: Take a trip back in time and head out to a drive-in movie with ChiTown Movies. Ever since the pandemic started and shut down traditional movie screening, a few pop-up drive-ins have arrived and ChiTown Movies has persevered, offering up modern movies in this retro setting. Check out their lineup at their website for showings this weekend and in the future!

• 11/20 Home Alone 7pm
• 11/20 Nightmare on Elm Street 9pm
• 11/22 Home Alone 6:30pm
• 11/22 Elf 8:30pm
• 11/23 Sinners 7pm
• 11/23 Nightmare on Elm Street 9:30pm

NOW WHAT:Tickets are $35 per car for these movies, so bring the family for a safe movie watching experience! Double Features are $45 and triple features are $50

University of Chicago Folk Festival @ Your favorite spot in your home, All Ages
WHAT: A fantastic folk festival
SO WHAT: University of Chicago Folk Festival might have come and gone but their digital presence is still around, making sure the wonderful music reaches as many people as possible! You can check out the past few years of performances on their Facebook page and their YouTube channel any time you want! This past year's performers included bohola – Jimmy Keane and Pat Broaders; Rhys Jones, Joseph Decosimo & Nokosee Fields; The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee; Nathan Gourley, Laura Feddersen, and Brian Miller; T'Monde; Izaki Metropoulos, Sophia Metropoulos Laouto & Geroge Lawler; Gabe Carter, and many more!
NOW WHAT: Head over to their Facebook page and their YouTube channel and enjoy the show! We highly encourage you to donate to help support this fantastic folk festival!