CHICAGO – Celebrate Thanksgiving weekend, Black Friday and the holiday season with events across the city.
There's ice skating in Millennium Park, Saturday small business markets and celebrations, a holiday market at the National Museum of Mexican Art, performances of “The Wizard of Oz” by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, an American-Irish Christmas Bazaar and more.
There is also a book launch event at the Ukrainian National Museum, an Albanian Independence Day car parade and many other events you can see this weekend.
Here's a roundup of 15 things to do in Chicago this weekend:
Every weekend
Millennium Park Ice Skating
11am – 10:30pm daily (until February 2)
Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St
Skate between the city's skyscrapers at McCormick-Tribune Ice Rink, which returned to Millennium Park earlier this month. Ski rentals start at $16; Ski aids, ski sharpening, and locker rentals are available for an additional fee of $2-$10. Free ski lessons are offered from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Book tickets and learn more here.
Mercado Navedinho
10am – 4pm Friday – Sunday
National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 West 19th Street.
The annual Mexican Holiday Market features handcrafted memorabilia from Mexico, including unique Christmas ornaments, nativity scenes, clothing, and jewelry. Learn more here.
The Wizard of Oz in concert
7:30pm Friday and Saturday, 3pm Sunday
Chicago Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.
From “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” to “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will perform Herbert Stothart's “The Wizard of Oz” while the color classic is projected onto the big screen.
Tickets start at $45. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Friday
Black Friday Food and Market
11am – 4pm Friday
Space Share Lab, 4445 S. King Drive, 2nd floor (side entrance)
Celebrate Thanksgiving and Black Friday weekend at this community event with food, vendors and music. There will be artisans selling handmade jewelry from Maasililand, Kenya and beyond.
This event is free to attend. Learn more and RSVP here.
Friday after Thanksgiving in Begyle
11am – 10pm Friday
Begyle Brewing, 1800 W. Cuyler Ave.
To celebrate Thanksgiving weekend and the spirit of Black Friday, Begyle Brewing is opening its doors an hour early and serving $6 pints of Christmas Ale all day long. There will also be a Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders at 2pm, El Zorro Tacos from 3-8pm and Happy Hour from 3-6pm.
Learn more here.
Tony Levin meet and greet
4 pm Friday
Reckless Wicker Park Records, 1379 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Acclaimed guitarist Tony Levin, known for his work with King Crimson and Peter Gabriel, will be on hand at Reckless Records to sign copies of his latest album, “Bringing It Down to the Bass,” including exclusive double espresso-colored vinyl. Learn more here.
Book launch at the Ukrainian National Museum
7 pm Friday
Ukrainian National Museum, 2249 W. Superior St.
The Ukrainian National Museum is celebrating Thanksgiving weekend with a book launch. Daniel Hryhorczuk will be at the museum to introduce his new novel, Dark Night of the Soul and share the stories behind his works. Attendees can also purchase a copy and have it signed by the author.
Admission is $10.
Saturday
Bronzeville Small Business Saturday
8am – 5pm on Saturday
Anything at All Basic Gift Shop, 3521 S. King Drive
Chicagoans can support small businesses while enjoying the start of the holiday season on the South Side at the Small Business Saturday event, featuring more than 20 vendors, service providers and small business owners. There will also be a tree lighting in the evening.
Admission is free. There will also be breakfast for an additional $20 and an assorted soap box for $15 with an online RSVP. Learn more and register online.
Ravenswood Holly Jolly Truly
11am – 5pm Saturday
Various Ravenswood works
In honor of Small Business Saturday, the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce is bringing back a local tradition: the Holly Jolly Tolly, which takes people through the neighborhood and stops at local stores and artisans to encourage neighbors to shop small.
Trolley stops include Hazel Gift Store, Bad Coffee, Chicago Artisan Market, Urban Pooch, Is/Was Brewing, Salsa's Family Market, and Amy's Candy Bar. Learn more here.
Logan Square Makers Market and Hop Bar
1-6pm on Saturday
Various locations in Logan Square
The Logan Square Makers Market and Bar Hop Small Business Market returns Saturday with 35 vendors selling handcrafted goods such as candles, jewelry, bath products, artwork, knitwear, prints and more. The market doubles as a bar hotspot across three locations: Revolution Brewing, 2323 N. Milwaukee Ave.; Navigator Taproom, 2211 N. Milwaukee Ave. #100; and Pilot Project Brewing, 2140 N. Milwaukee Ave.
This event is free to attend. Learn more here.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Southernmost Market
3-7pm on Saturday
Far South CDC Market, 837 W. 115th Street.
Chicagoans can shop from nine black-owned businesses on the South Side at the West Pullman Small Business Market on Saturday. Along with local vendors selling everything from clothing to natural hair care to handcrafted wood carvings, there will also be free holiday photos, donuts, hot chocolate, crafts, raffles and more.
Participating businesses include Be Original Clothing, Bomb Beauty Boutique, Cherish a Peace of Nature, Cosmic Creole, Javez Java Coffee Roastery, Kraft It Up, Max Candle Co, Naturals by Nette and Vessels of the Paut Neteru.
Register for free here.
Sunday
Irish American Christmas Bazaar
9am – 7pm on Sunday
Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Street.
The Irish American Heritage Center's Christmas Bazaar returns with more than 100 vendors selling food, crafts, jewelry and more. There will also be live Irish music and dancing, children's games, stories and crafts, a visit from Santa, Irish sweets, and a free gift-wrapping station.
The event will begin with a Sunday Mass followed by a traditional Irish breakfast, live music and dancing. Tickets for the breakfast range from $10 to $20 online. Learn more here.
Edison Park Kringle Crawl
11am – 3pm on Sunday
Various locations in Edison Park
Edison Park neighbors can explore their neighborhood with this free, family-friendly holiday event. Starting at Rebel Barbershop, 6700 N. Northwest Highway, “krawlers” will pick up a card and add stickers to it as they visit 17 other participating stores in Edison Park, such as A+ Italian Steak House, 6674 Apothecary, Tony's Italian Deli & Subs and more. .
Once completed, participants can drop off their ticket at the Edison Park Inn, 6715 N. Olmsted Ave., for a pizza party and a chance to win $500. Learn more here.
Car parade on Albanian Independence Day
Sunday afternoon
900 S Columbus Drive
The fifth annual car show, organized by the Albanian community in Illinois, returns this weekend to celebrate Albanian Independence Day. The show starts at 900 S. Columbus Drive.
Find more information and the full route here.
Edgebrook Tree Lighting
2-5 pm Sunday
Bird & Warner, 5430 W. Devon Ave., and other locations
Edgebrook neighbors can visit and write letters to Santa at Baird & Warner, enjoy holiday crafts at Creativo, 6324 N. Central Ave., and end the day with a tree lighting at 4:45 p.m. in Edgebrook Triangle.
There will also be a cookie drive through the neighborhood hosted by Everyday Edgebrook. Learn more and find a list of participating companies here.
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