10 things to do in Naperville and Fox Valley this holiday season

The Second City invites people to laugh during the holidays.

“I saw mom kiss the second city” from November 25 to December 25. 23 at the Copley Theater in Aurora. It’s a show dedicated to gently poke fun at the holidays and all their trappings, traditions and aggravations.

Actor Cassidy Russell has been with Second City for over a year and will be seen performing in Aurora. She thinks the audience will love the show.

“There are songs, skits, improv and it’s all holiday-themed or vaguely holiday-themed,” she said. “We’re not stuffing Santa Claus down anyone’s throat. It’s a mix of material, but when our director gave us the run order for the show, everyone was really excited. There’s a mix of really fun stuff (sketches), really heartfelt stuff and song and dance.

You’ll see improv, a few new sketches written specifically for this show, and previously written material that’s never been done in Aurora before, she said. Audiences will see themselves in skits as they deal with family and try to create new traditions.

“We have a skit that I think is really fun about dealing with the TSA over the holidays,” she said. “We approach vacations from many different angles. For example, what do you do with a white elephant gift you don’t want? Everyone has experienced this moment. »

If nothing else, the night will give people a chance to relax and laugh at themselves and their own seasonal circumstances.

“Holidays are weird and I feel like this show does a really good job of looking at the joy of the holidays and also the parts that aren’t quite as joyful and figuring out where there’s light in the dark. “, she said.

Here are 10 things you should put on your holiday checklist this season.

1. An almost wintry day: 2-5 p.m. Nov. 19 at South Elgin Business Association Park, 151 Water Street, South Elgin. Tickets: free. 847-742-5780; southelgin.com/residents/special_events.

Residents can make s’mores, decorate cookies, do a craft, watch an ice sculptor, partake in asphalt curling, enjoy a bonfire and witness a giant slingshot in action. Father Christmas will be present until 4:45 p.m. for photos. At 5 p.m., the festivities move to Panton Mill Park across the street for the village tree lighting. The event ends with the fireworks postponed from the End of Summer Music Festival.

2. Illumination: Tree Lights at Morton Arboretum: 4:30-8 p.m. (last ticket entry) Nov-Jan 19 7, 2023, at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. Tickets: $14 to $27. 630-968-0074; mortonarb.org.

At the 10th annual Illumination: Tree Lights at Morton’s Arboretum, guests can explore 50 acres of color, light and sound with six new presentations plus returning favorites.

A new display in the new Grand Garden of the Arboretum leads to a laser light finale.

Also new this year is Electric Illumination, where adults 18 and older can watch illuminated displays synced to a curated mix of trance and progressive house music. The limited run is from 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on December 16, 23 and 30.

3. Bret Michaels — Vacation Home: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Arcada Theater, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Tickets: $79 to $109. 630-962-7000; arcadalive.com.

Award-winning singer-songwriter Bret Michaels performs his holiday show at the Arcada Theater.

4.NaperLights: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily from November 24 to January 1, 2023, on Water Street, Foyo Plaza, Jaycees Park and Riverwalk in Naperville. Tickets: free. naperlights.com.

Naperville Sunrise Rotary’s NaperLights Holiday Display returns, featuring 150,000 lights and giant illuminated holiday characters including skating polar bears, penguins, skaters, snowmen, carolers, gifts and dancing trees. Families can visit Santa Claus near the Big Tree on Friday and Saturday evenings starting December 2. The interactive light-up, sound-responsive Honey Locust Tree returns to Jaycees Park. Musicians from Bach to Rock will perform on December 17 and 18.

The holographic glasses will be available on weekends while supplies last.

5. “Miracle on 34th Street” Live Radio Show: 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays Nov.-Dec. 25 18 at the Steel Beam Theater, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. Tickets: $22 to $28. 630-587-8521; steelbeamtheatre.com.

This heartwarming holiday classic about a department store Santa who thinks he’s the real deal plays out like a 1940s-era live radio show, complete with holiday songs and commercial jingles.

6. “I saw mom kiss the second city:” 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. most Sundays 25 Nov-Dec 23 at the Copley Theater, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Tickets: $38. 630-896-6666; paramountaurora.com.

Second City’s famous brand of seasonal hilarity comes to Aurora for the holidays with its annual Holiday Revue. This production is intended for an audience of 18 years and over.

7. Christmas walk in Geneva: 6:02 Dec., from 113 S. Third St. in downtown Geneva. Tickets: free. 630-232-6060; genevachamber.com.

The festivities begin with Bob’s Candy Cane Parade, the first candy cane of the season from Graham’s Chocolates and the arrival of Santa Lucia, the Swedish symbol of the season. The town tree is lit and Santa Claus and the Grinch are about to arrive. All Chocolate Kitchen will recreate their record-breaking candy cane. There will also be singing singers and freshly roasted chestnuts.

Additionally, the vacation home tour runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on December 2 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on December 3. Tickets are $38. Five Geneva houses will be decorated for the holidays by local designers and open to visitors for self-guided tours. Tickets include a traditional holiday tea and a gift from Scentcerely Yours.

8. “Let it be Christmas:” 7:30 p.m. December 8-10, 3-5 and 3 p.m. December 10 and 17 at Community Christian Church, 1635 Emerson Lane, Naperville. Tickets, $10 to $37. 630-388-5000; communitychristian.org.

“Let It Be Christmas (The Gospel According to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, George, and Ringo)” is Epic Theater Company’s rock-opera version of the nativity story set to music by The Beatles and performed by one band and full set.

9. Swingin’ into Christmas with the Pete Ellman Big Band: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and 3 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Tickets: $20 to $25. 630-637-7469; finearts.northcentralcollege.edu/.

This concert, featuring jazz and traditional arrangements of holiday favorites and a sing-along audience, will mark the sixth collaboration between the 120-member Naperville Chorus and the Pete Ellman Big Band. It is also the last performance of Naperville Chorus Music Director Jeordano Martinez, who will be retiring after 35 years.

10. Jingle Bell Ruckus from Second City: 5 and 8 p.m. Dec. 10 at the McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Tickets: $30 to $48. 630-942-4000; atthemac.org.

Second City’s “Jingle Bell Ruckus” offers seasonal satire and belly laughs while poking fun at all the usual holiday trappings.

Annie Alleman is a freelance writer for the Naperville Sun.