Joffrey Ballet Nutcracker and High Tea at the Drake

Experience the elegant High Tea at the Drake Hotel in festive downtown Chicago as you enjoy live holiday musical entertainment, finger sandwiches, pastries and an assortment of very fine teas.  Following High Tea, you will have time to shop on the Magnificent Mile. Continue the holiday festivities at the ballet where you will be mesmerized by the boldly reimagined “Nutcracker” with Tchaikovsky’s glorious score played live by the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra and performed by the Joffrey Ballet Company.

$143 – $148

Dinner with Santa

Every little one wants the chance to tell Santa their Christmas wishes before the big day arrives. Come to the Park District and enjoy a catered dinner and a personal visit with everyone’s favorite jolly old elf, Santa. Pre-registration is required. This is a very popular event, so please register early!

$10 – $12

Drury Lane: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Based on the beloved Academy Award-winning Disney film, this nine-time Tony nominated musical continues to win the hearts of people all over the globe. Trapped in her provincial life, a young and intelligent beauty risks everything to become the heroine of her own story and break a wicked spell imprisoning a castle of enchanted misfits and a terrifying beast.

$80 – $85

Root Beer Bubbly Bash!

Kids will ring in the New Year by brewing homemade root beer at the ultimate bubbly bash! Party attendees will cast their vote for BEST 2019 ROOT BEER as they taste-test a flight of 5 different unidentified sumptuous foamy brands. Next, kids will complete their experience by preparing their own customized “black cow” (root beer float) with loads of festive fixings. Then, meet a real furry bunny rabbit mascot, named Root Beer…. of course! Lastly, the party culminates with kids making root beer SLIME to take home. This is a child’s dream New Year’s Eve Week event!

$40 – $50

Wine & Chocolate

BPD - Langendorf Park 235 Lions Drive, Barrington, IL, United States

If you love wine and chocolate, then come sample some of the best wines in the area along with great chocolate! At this event Vintages Wine & Spirits will teach you what wines pair well with a particular chocolate. While wining and sampling great chocolate, meet and mingle with new friends in town.

$36 – $41

Wild Rose Casino

Wild Rose Casino 777 Wild Rose Drive, Clinton, IA, United States

Join us as we head East and over the boarder to Clinton, Iowa for some gaming at Wild Rose Casino. Located on the Mississippi, Wild Rose Casino dates back to the earliest days of riverboat gaming in Iowa.

$25 – $30

The Producers at the Paramount

Paramount 23 E Galena Blvd., Aurora, IL, United States

The Producers is an uproariously funny musical with hilarious songs that will have you grinning from ear to ear. Nobody does comedy like Mel Brooks and nobody does shows like the Paramount in Aurora. Under the right circumstances, a producer could make more money with a flop than he could with a hit. And so begins one of the most hilarious cons in musical theatre history.

$80 – $85

Chicago Multi-Cultural Food Tour

Chicago 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, United States

The ever popular food tour is back for new neighborhoods and new food! The day starts with a trip to Chicago’s vibrant Mexican neighborhood, Pilsen, for the cultural experience and a traditional breakfast sampling. Next, we head to Greektown to get some of the most requested appetizers and shouting out “OPA”! From there we turn our eyes to the Emerald Isle, as we sample traditional Irish pub fare. The day concludes with a treat at an authentic German bakery. Don’t miss this great trip where you will be getting a great history lesson of the different neighborhoods while filling your belly with the great foods from the culture.

$125 – $130

Beer & Cider Tasting

BPD - Langendorf Park 235 Lions Drive, Barrington, IL, United States

If your pallet is looking for new brews to taste, then this is the event for you. We will be experiencing beer and cider from some of our local pubs. Garfield’s Beverage Warehouse will be doing the tasting. Bring an appetite too because we will also have food samples from some of our local restaurants.

$25 – $30

Kenosha Museums, Streetcar & Lunch

Kenosha Civil War Museum 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, United States

First stop on the trip will be an authentic German lunch at the House of Gerhard followed by an afternoon at Civil War Museum which includes a 30-45 minute theater performance. Who better to tell the stories of the people who were touched by the Civil War or slavery than the individuals themselves? The Civil War Museum focuses on the contributions of the Upper Middle West – Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, and Michigan. Before heading back to Illinois, trip goers will also have some time to explore on their own and hop aboard an authentic streetcar for a 2-mile scenic tour of the Lake Michigan shoreline, Harbor Park, two historic districts and the downtown business district.

$54 – $59