CHICAGO — Chicago’s holiday arts scene sparkles with reimagined classics and fresh traditions this season. Whether you’re looking for exuberant dance, inspiring seasonal music or holiday laughs to enjoy with family and friends, there’s a festive performance to kindle every holiday spirit.
Here are 30+ performances to check out in Chicago this December. Know of one we missed? Let us know at [email protected].
The Real Housewives of The North Pole
Join Mrs. Claus and the rest of the wives of some of the North Pole’s biggest power players at this parody of iconic reality T.V. Santa’s wife Ruth Claus gets drafted by Bravo to star in a reality series with fellow holiday divas Mrs. Samantha Frosty, Suzy Snowflake, Mrs. Gladys Dasher and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’s wife, Clarice. Learn more and get tickets starting at $36.25 here.
Through Jan. 4
Hell in a Handbag Productions, 4335 N. Western Ave.
It’s A Wonderful Life LIVE in Chicago!
This annual show takes the classic Frank Capra film and transforms it into a radio performance from the 1940s, right down to the commercials. It’s a fun reinterpretation of George Bailey’s familiar everyman story. Don’t miss the carol singalong session before the show. This holiday favorite is on sale starting at $34.50 here.
Through Dec. 28
American Blues Theater, 5627 N. Lincoln Ave.
Holidazed and Amused: Naughty, Nice, And Everything In-Between
For satirical, fast-paced comedy, come join The Second City with this roast-style comedy show. Learn more and get tickets starting at $39 here.
Through Dec. 31
Second City, 230 W. North Ave.
Rudolph Runs Wild!
“Rudolph Runs Wild” is a family-friendly holiday extravaganza with new and archival songs and sketches, plus ridiculous improv. It’s open to all ages. Tickets start at $29 here.
Through Dec. 31
Second City, 230 W. North Ave.
Who’s Holiday!
Theater Wit brings back its grown-up version of the iconic Cindy Lou Who as she reveals the true stories of her life after her encounter with The Grinch. Tickets start at $39 here.
Through Dec. 28
Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.
ELF The Musical
Broadway in Chicago is showcasing the hit classic “Elf The Musical,” inspired by the iconic Will Ferrell film. Learn more and get tickets starting at $55.35 here.
Dec. 2-14
Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive
Mrs. Claus! A Holiday Musical
Chicago Kids Company is showcasing the original musical about Mrs. Claus and the Elf Class of 2025 in its 26th year. Learn more and get tickets here.
Dec. 3-23 at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 11th St.
Dec. 11-23 at the Stahl Family Theatre, 5900 W. Belmont Ave.
Twas The Week Before Christmas In Chicago
Chicago-based musical group The Bach + Beethoven Experience presents a “not so classical” and “Chicago-themed version” of the iconic Christmas poem, “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” where the famed “’twas the night before Christmas” line comes from. Get tickets here for The Den Theatre and here for the Irish American Heritage Center.
7 p.m. Dec. 4 and 5
Dec. 4 at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Dec. 5 at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave.
That’s Weird, Grandma: Holiday Party!
PlayMakers Laboratory is bringing back this family-friendly original sketch show, which features adaptations of stories written by Chicago elementary school students performed by professional actors. Learn more and get tickets starting at $15 here.
Dec. 5-14
Neo Futurist Theatre, 5153 N. Ashland Ave.
Holidays A Capella
Chicago a capella is touring across the Chicago area singing holiday classics and modern favorites. Tickets are $45-$60 for general seating. Limited $10 student tickets are available. Learn more and get tickets here.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 5
Buchanan Chapel at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut St.
The Nutcracker
The Joffrey Ballet is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Christopher Wheeldon’s Chicago-focused “The Nutcracker” this holiday season. Learn more and get tickets starting at $64 here.
Dec. 5-28
Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive
Chicago Tap Allstars’ Winter Wonderland
Chicago Tap Allstairs presents a winter wonderland tap concert, featuring talent from some of Chicago’s premiere tap groups. Learn more and get tickets starting at $35 here.
Noon Dec. 6
Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. Martin Luther King Drive
The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party
Dec. 6-28
Chicago Children’s Theatre, Pritzker Family Studio Theatre, 100 S. Racine Ave.
Take your favorite young theatergoer out to this holiday favorite, complete with an interactive trunk and puppet show featuring the classic Beatrix Potter stories “The Tale of Tom Kitten,” “The Tailor of Gloucester,” “The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher” and “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” After the family-friendly show, enjoy a communal holiday party with the cast. Tickets start at $42.25 online.
Winter Glow! Concert
United Voices Chicago is hosting a festive winter concert filled with carol classics and seasonal music from around the globe. Tickets start at $30 or are pay-what-you-can. All tickets will go toward benefitting United Voices Chicago. Get tickets here.
10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m Dec. 6
Chicago Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.
The Let It Snow Show
Join a sing-along for kids with piano duos of holiday melodies. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $13 for members. Buy them here.
10:30 a.m. Dec. 6
Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chris White Trio’s Tribute To ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
Swing and tap your toes to the Chris White Jazz Trio’s take on Vince Guaraldi’s 1965 classic soundtrack to “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at two locations at the Lincoln Park Zoo. This performance is open to all ages. Tickets for non-zoo members start at $36.60 online. Buy them here.
3, 6 and 7 p.m. Dec. 7
Matinee performance at the Pepper Family Wildlife Center at the Lincoln Park Zoo, 2101 N. Lincoln Park Way
Evening performances at Café Brauer at Lincoln Park Zoo, 2021 N. Stockton Drive
Chicagoland Toy Drive
Join ChiGivesBack for an evening of live performances, auctions and raffles and a selection of premium spirits. Learn more and get tickets here.
6-9 p.m. Dec. 7
350 W. Wolf Point Plaza
The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show
Famed drag performers BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon, “The Queens of Christmas” according to Entertainment Weekly, are coming to Chicago and bringing their acclaimed holiday show with them. It will have whip-smart comedy, songs and more. Tickets start at $52.95 online. Get them here.
8 p.m. Dec. 8
Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive
A Chanticleer Christmas
The acclaimed men’s ensemble Chanticleer brings its treasured holiday program to Symphony Center, featuring a mix of chants, carols and seasonal classics. Tickets start at $39 online. Buy them here.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 9
Chicago Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.
Holiday Choir Performance By The British International School Of Chicago Choir
Join the British International School of Chicago for a night of holiday cheer filled with a holiday choir performance, cookie decorating, photo ops, a food truck, hot chocolate and more. Admission is free. Learn more here.
4-7 p.m. Dec. 11
150 W. Roosevelt Road
Cirque Du Soleil: ‘Twas The Night Before …
Cirque Du Soleil’s first Christmas show, “‘Twas The Night Before …,” is about a father and a daughter reclaiming the holiday spirit with a Cirque Du Soleil twist. Get tickets starting at $60 here.
Dec. 11-28
The Chicago Theatre, 175 North State St.
Citywide Symphony’s Holiday Concert
Join the Park District for a family-friendly holiday concert. This year’s concert features holiday classics and American compositions. Kids 12 and younger can attend for free. Learn more and get tickets here.
7 p.m. Dec. 13
Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave.
A Soulful Motown Christmas Concert
Come see a nostalgic yet high-energy concert that includes Motown hits from The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke and more. Learn more and buy tickets starting at $48.90 here.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 13
The Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St.
Carol Sing-Along With Chicago Chorale
Join Chicago Chorale for a festive evening of community caroling led by Artistic Director Bruce Tammen, with refreshments to follow. Admission is free; $10 donations are welcome to support Ray Elemetnary School’s music prgoram. RSVP online here.
2 p.m. Dec. 14
Hyde Park Union Church, 5600 S. Woodlawn Ave.
The Moody Church’s Christmas In Chicago Concert
The Moody Church’s 53rd annual Christmas concert returns this month with Christmas classics and chorals performed by a full orchestra and choir. Admission is free but online RSVPs are required. Click here to RSVP.
2:30 and 6 p.m. Dec. 14
1635 N. La Salle Drive
A Christmas With C.S. Lewis
This musical focuses on the tales of iconic writer C.S. Lewis and his encounters with Christmas and the stories behind the holiday. Learn more and get tickets starting at $55 here.
Dec. 16-21
Broadway Playhouse, 175 E. Chestnut St.
Mariachi Herencia De Mexico
A two-time Latin Grammy-nominated ensemble of young virtuosos, Mariachi Herencia de Mexico brings its special holiday concert, La Nueva Generación, to Chicago, blending beloved Christmas classics with vibrant mariachi traditions for an unforgettable cultural celebration. Tickets are $40 for the general public and $38 for members at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Buy them and learn more here.
Dec. 19-20
Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.
Merry, Merry Chicago!
Join the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Chorus as they perform holiday classics, carols and other festive arrangements. Tickets start at $49.
Dec. 19-23
Symphony Center Orchestra Hall, 220 S. Michigan Ave.
The Nut Tapper
Experience the 26th anniversary of “The Nut Tapper,” where Reggio “The Hoofer” McLaughlin reimagines Tchaikovsky’s beloved Nutcracker through a fusion of tap, flamenco and zapateado rhythms. Tickets are $26 for the general public and $24 for members online. Buy them here.
4:30 p.m. Dec. 21
Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.
Jack Frost Roasting On An Open Fire
This interactive comedy revue is fast-pacced with seasonal songs, sketches and improv comedy. Tickets start at $50.24 here.
Through Dec. 27
The Second City — UP Comedy Club, 1616 N. Wells St.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
The perennial holiday favorite at the Goodman Theatre lets you follow the classic Christmas tale as it takes you through the saga of Ebenezer Scrooge. Although this performance is family-friendly, children younger than 5 are not allowed in the theater. Learn more and get tickets starting at $39 here.
Through Dec. 31
Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.
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