24 Monday
1. FIESTA!
The Latino Music Festival ends today with a free tribute performance at 7 p.m. to Chilean folklorist Violeta Parra. The tribute will feature Guillermo Gregorio on saxophone and clarinet, Tito Carrillo on trumpet, Jim Baker on keyboards, Joshua Ramos on bass, and guitarists Gustavo Leone and Elbio Barilari. The Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater, 77 E. Randolph St. 312-744-6630.
25 Tuesday
2. SPECIAL ‘DREAM’
Holiday-themed shows aren’t the only productions getting tweaked: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater (Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave.) features a South Asian cast of acrobats, dancers, martial artists and musicians who incorporate their native languages — Hindi, Sanskrit and Tamil, among them — into Shakespeare’s prose. Buzz is high for this international touring show, which opens at 7:30 p.m.; $60 to $75. 312-595-5600.
26 Wednesday
3. A ROSIE IS A ROSIE
Can we call it a comeback? Former talk show host Rosie O’Donnell attempts to bring back the good old days of the variety show with “Rosie’s Variety Show” (7 p.m., WMAQ-Ch. 5). She’ll do an opening monologue, perform in sketches, introduce musical acts and give out prizes to members of the studio audience; viewers at home also have the chance to win goodies.
27 Thursday
4. BUNDLE UP
Before the football and turkey, there’s the 75th annual McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade featuring flame-twirling barefoot Hawaiians, circus acts, the Jesse White Tumblers and the Chicago casts of “Jersey Boys” and “Dirty Dancing.” There are also marching bands, floats, giant helium balloons, horses and more. The three-hour parade steps off at 8 a.m. at State Street and Congress Parkway, and travels north along State to Randolph Street. Free; chicagofestivals.org. Couch-potato version on WGN-Ch. 9 ( 8 to 11 a.m.).
5. MMMM … BRATWURST
A free open-air German-style market called Christkindlmarket will feature sausage, schnitzel and strudel along with other foods as well as handmade ornaments, accessories, clothing and gifts from more than 50 vendors. The market takes over much of Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (continues through Dec. 24); christkindlmarket.com.
28 Friday
6. WINTER BLOOMS
Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., celebrates its last centennial year event of the year with a special show that uses traditional poinsettias (mainly reds) that were popular at the turn of the century, accompanied by flowering plant material in reds, oranges and whites. The show, called “Holiday Traditions,” continues through Jan. 11. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; free. 312-746-5100; garfieldconservatory.org.
7. GOING, GOING …
The heated Atrium Building at the Will County Fairgrounds in Peotone will be the site of an auction beginning at 6 p.m. conducted by Jerry Rossen Auction Service. Preview any time after noon. Antiques and collectibles mixed with antique and used furniture, along with household items and tools. Buyers should be ready to pay with cash or check and to remove items the evening of the sale; delivery available. 708-997-0245. Location: one-fourth mile west of Illinois Highway 50 on Peotone-Wilmington Road, one mile east of Interstate Highway 57 (Exit 327 to Peotone-Wilmington Road).
8. SNOWY WORLD
The Morton Arboretum unveils its redesigned Enchanted Railroad display, featuring a life-size Snow Queen overseeing a crystalline landscape of frosted trees, glistening snow and sparkling snowflakes designed by landscape architect Jerry Milewski. The display includes a multilevel G-gauge indoor railroad that twists and turns through the Snow Queen’s forest; special attractions include Santa’s handcar and a “snowball mine” (a retrofitted coal dock and coal cars). 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Get free timed entry tickets at the Visitor Center; admission to the arboretum, Illinois Highway 53 and the East-West Tollway, Lisle, is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for children. 630-968-0074; mortonarb.org.
9. CAROLING AT ‘CLOUD GATE’
Beginning Friday and continuing Friday evenings through Dec. 19, some of Chicago’s favorite choral groups will gather at 6 p.m. for holiday singalongs at “Cloud Gate” — a.k.a. The Bean sculpture. Tonight it’s the 150-voice Apollo Chorus of Chicago, founded in 1872 after the Great Chicago Fire and well known for its performance of Handel’s “Messiah.” Free. millenniumpark.org or call 312-742-1168.
30 Sunday
10. LAST DANCE
Today at 3 and 7 p.m., Chicago Dance 2008 has its grand send-off at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., featuring the best of ballet, tap, jazz, Irish, urban and contemporary dance. 773-935-6860. $25; ticketmaster.com and dancechicago.com.
