Out&about
Through Jan. 5
Holiday Show
At The Next Picture Show, 113 W. First St., Dixon. For more information, visit www.thenextpictureshow.org on the Web.
Through Jan. 9
The White House Garden Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays at The Dixon Historic Center. Free admission. For more information, visit www.dixonhistoriccenter.org/ on the Web.
Through Jan. 31
Artist exhibit: CCAQ No. 6: HER WORLD
Paintings by Judy Dixon at The Crystal Cork Wine Shoppe, 219 W. First St., Dixon. For more information, visit www.distinctivegardensinc.com/ccaq.html or call 815-285-3496.
Dec. 18
Sterling Park District’s Christmas Family Fun Night
7-9 p.m. at the Duis Recreation Center. Open gym, open swim and Christmas crafts. Admission is $3.50, $1.75 for ages 5 and younger. For more information, call 815-622-6200 or visit www.sterlingparkdistrict.org.
Dec. 19
Night of the Luminaria
6-9 p.m. The streets, steps, and sidewalks of Galena will be lined with nearly 5,000 candle-lit luminaries. Some locations include: Old Train Depot, along the riverbanks, Park Avenue, Grant Park, Bouthillier Street, footbridge, Post Office, Old Market House, and steps between Main and Prospect streets. For more information, visit www.galenachamber.com or call 815-777-9050.
Dec. 31
Countdown to fun
Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. Crafts, games, music and art come together as we to count down to midnight – somewhere in the world. Ring in the New Year with music from Kantorei, the singing boys of Rockford. Rockford Art Museum joins in the fun with party hats, confetti, and favors. Due to the holiday falling on a Thursday, regular admission will be charged: $6 adults; $5 children; members and children younger than 2 get in free. For more information, visit www.discoverycentermuseum.org or call 815-968-0164.
Jan. 4 - Feb. 26
Snow sculpture contest
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Create a snow sculpture, then call the Coloma Park District Office and someone will take a picture of your creation. Prizes awarded. Free. For more information, visit www.colomatownshipparkdistrict.com or call 815-625-0272.
Jan. 6-7
Northern Illinois Farm Show
At the NIU Convocation Center, DeKalb. Created to provide a forum for farmers to gather and share information. More than 380 exhibits. For more information, visit www.farmshows.com or call 815-752-6800.
Jan. 9
Silver Skates Ice Skating Derby and Snowball Archery
1:30-3 p.m. at the Centennial Park Lagoon, Rock Falls. Skaters to compete in races based on age. Archery contestants to show ability to hit targets with snowballs. Boys and girls to compete separately. For ages 6-15. Awards. Free. For more information, visit www.colomatownshipparkdistrict.com or call 815-625-0272.
Jan. 9
Event: 26th Annual Bald Eagle Watch
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eagle Watching at Lock & Dam #13, Fulton. Naturalists and volunteers will be on hand with scopes to share knowledge of the birds. Programs will feature lectures, videos, songs, stories, and live birds of prey. The Exhibit Hall from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Clinton Community College, 1000 Lincoln Boulevard, will feature wildlife exhibits, food, drinks and door prizes. For more information, visit www.eicc.edu/business/events/eagle/index.html on the Web.
Jan. 9
Kids concert - Parrot show
Meet exotic parrots and learn what makes them special at the Jarrett Prairie Center in the Byron Forest Preserve. For all ages. Free. For more information, call 815-234-8535, ext. 200.
Jan. 10
Sterling Rock Falls Historical Society meeting/program
2 p.m. by Clark Kelly, on gangster Leo Mongovan, at CGH Medical Center’s Ryberg Auditorium. For information, call 815-622-6215.
Jan. 15
Gallery of Gallactic Oddities
Learn about pulsars, quasars, and black holes at the Weiskopf Observatory in Byron Forest Preserve. Register by noon on Jan. 14. All ages show. Free. For more information, call 815-234-8535 ext. 200.
Festivals
Through Dec. 24
Kristkindlmarket
Daley Plaza, Washington and Dearborn, downtown Chicago. Celebrate the holiday season.
Through Dec. 31
Holiday festivities
Long Grove Historic Village, 307 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. Shop till you drop, enjoy an old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage ride and share a delicious holiday meal at one of Long Grove’s signature restaurants.
Through Jan. 3
Winter Wonderfest
Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Navy Pier turns itself into a “Winter Wonderfest” featuring several attractions, rides, and ice skating. Phone 312-595-7437.
Stage events
Through Dec. 20
A Christmas Carol
8 p.m. Friday/Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday at the Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. Musical version of Charles Dickens’ classic story of Scrooge and Tiny Tim, originally presented by Radio City Entertainment at Madison Square Garden. Phone 630-587-8521.
Through Dec. 30
‘A Christmas Carol, The Musical:
Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Set to breathtaking music, this new score soars with inspirational lyrics. Ebenezer Scrooge is held accountable for his dastardly ways by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Phone 847-634-0200.
Through Feb. 14
‘My Fair Lady’
Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. A timeless classic and only one word describes this endearing and enchanting Lerner and Loewe musical romance. Phone 847-634-0100.
Dec. 18
Blues and Bluegrass
7 p.m. at the H.I. Lincoln Building, 136 N. Elm St., Franklin Grove. Open stage acoustic music. Gospel, folk, country, blues and bluegrass. Free admission – donations accepted. For more information, call 815-456-3030.
Dec. 19
Rockford Symphony Orchestra, Pops Series - Holiday Pops
At the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford. For more information, phone 815-965-0049 or visit www.coronadopac.org on the Web.
Dec. 22
Music at the Whiteside County Senior Center
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the center in Sterling. Enjoy Christmas music from Strings Aplenty while you eat lunch. They will be playing accordion, harp, violin, mandolin, dulcimer and autoharp.
Jan. 9
Sterling Municipal Band: “Evening At The Pops”
6 p.m. at the Coliseum, Sterling. Reservations are $25 a person. Doors open at 5 p.m., Hors d’oeuvres buffet at 5:30 p.m. Free seating available in the balcony if you just want to attend the concert. For more information, call Jon or Cathy James at 815-622-1681.
Jan. 23
Clarinet Cornucopia
Festival focusing on modern Finnish clarinet music at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. For more information and a registration form, see www.niu.edu/extprograms or call Renee Page at 815-753-1450.
Jan. 22
Bob & Tom Comedy Allstars Tour
7:30 p.m. at the Coronado Theater, Rockford. Starring: Greg Hahn, Greg Warren and Donnie Baker, the Pork Pistols and emcee Kristi Lee. Mature content. Visit bobandtom.com for more information.
Feb. 20
Water and Youth
Clinton Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. in Centennial Auditorium at Sterling High School. Mendelssohn’s Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage and Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet, “Swan Lake,” along with the “Young Artist” performer to be chosen in January. For more information, visit www.clintonsymphony.org on the Web.
March 11
Storytime Live!
7 p.m. at the iWireless Center, Moline. Tickets: $15-$35. Leap into fairy tale land with “Dora the Explorer,” journey through Filthingham with “The Backyardigans,” hop into Wonderland with “Wonder Pets!,” and join the Monkey King’s celebration with “Ni Hao, Kai-lan.” For more information, visit www.iwirelesscenter.com on the Web.
April 10
Carrie Underwood
At the MetroCentre, Rockford. Tickets available at www.metrocentre.com or 815-968-5222.
