See what’s happening this weekend and plan your upcoming week. Email nweditor@buglenewspapers.com to submit your event.
DECEMBER 11
Gingerbread House Decorating. 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Maine Park Leisure Center, 2701 W. Sibley St., Park Ridge. Ages 4-12. $27 for residents, $30 for non-residents. Decorate your very own gingerbread house. All the cookies, candy, and frosting is provided. Just bring your imagination! Registration required. Register online now at www.prparks.org.
DECEMBER 12
Breakfast With Santa. 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Howard Leisure Center, 6676 Howard St., Niles. Join Santa for his annual breakfast buffet with Niles Park District. Every year, Santa makes a stop at the Howard Leisure Center, to enjoy breakfast, visit, and of course pictures with the children. It’s a jolly time. All adults and children in attendance must register for this event. Res $10, Non-Res $12. For more information, visit www.niles-parks.org.
Santa’s Holiday Express. 10:50 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ages 2 and up. R/NR: $21/$31. Join Santa and his holiday crew as they sing songs, talk with Santa, play games and enjoy face painting. Please bring a nut-free sack lunch to enjoy as Santa reads us a story. Ride on Santa’s Holiday Express train all the way to Santa’s barn (Harvard) where it turns around and heads back home to Park Ridge (Dee Road) station. Please arrive 10 minutes early to check in at the Dee Rd. Station.
Winter Card Making. 10 a.m. at Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave. Age 13 and up. Using laying techniques, stamps, paper punches, and other fun embellishments to create fun and unique greeting cards! Material will be provided. Registration is required.
Meet Local Mystery Authors!: Mystery Author Panel and Book Signing. 1 p.m. at Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave. Join for a discussion with three award-winning writers from the Chicagoland area – Lori Rader-Day (Little Pretty Things), Susanna Calkins (The Masque of a Murder), and Lynne Raimondo (Dante’s Dilemma) – and learn about their newest books and their writing process.
Teen Gingerbread Houses. 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Niles Public Library, 6960 W. Oakton St. Teens design gingerbread houses using graham crackers for the holiday season. For more information visit www.nileslibrary.org/events.
Second Saturday Bingo Breakfast. 9:30-10:15 a.m. at Niles Public Library, 6960 W. Oakton St. Kids and families are welcome to enjoy some breakfast treats as we play Bingo. Enjoy a kick start to your weekend with a morning of family fun at the library.
DECEMBER 13
Trinity Lutheran Church Fine Arts Series 2015. 3 to 4 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 675 E. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines. The New Tradition Chorus. Each of the many colors in a stained glass window represent a unique point of reference that together create composition that presents a complete image. So it is with the church. Come to experience and participate in the great song of the church.
Bel Sonore Holiday Concert. 2 p.m. at Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave. The Bel Sonore Chamber Ensemble of flute, oboe, and bassoon with soprano voice will perform a repertoire ranging from early Baroque to Jazz Standards.
Holiday Exhibition. 4:40 to 8 p.m. at the Oakton Ice Arena, 2800 Oakton St., Park Ridge. All ages. Don’t miss this special exhibition featuring participants from Oakton Ice Arena’s Competitive Edge and Learn-to-Skate programs skating to Holiday themed music.
Skate with Santa. 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Oakton Ice Arena, 2800 Oakton St., Park Ridge. All ages. Join at Oakton Ice Arena to skate with Santa and his elves. Complimentary candy canes for all kids who attend. All skaters will be entered into a drawing to win two tickets to a Chicago Wolves hockey game.
Grinch’s Candy Cane Hunt. 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Maine Park Leisure Center, 2701 W. Sibley St., Park Ridge. Ages: 3-10. Cost: $7. The Grinch discovered that Santa’s elves have hidden candy canes at one of their favorite places – Maine Park! The Grinch is planning to find all of Santa’s candy canes and turn them green. Event begins with the story “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” inside the Maine Park gym. Then head outside to find all the candy canes hidden in the park. Don’t forget to dress warm. Registration deadline: Dec. 1. Visit www.prparks.org.
Maine East Winter Concert. 2 p.m. at the Maine East High School Auditorium, 2601 Dempster St., Park Ridge. For more information, visit, http://east.maine207.org/events.
Second Sunday Family Program: Dance Around the World! 2-2:45 p.m. at Niles Public Library, 6960 W. Oakton St. Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to move with Chicago’s Dancing with Class, joining us for an interactive performance of dances from around the globe. Pick up free tickets in KidSpace 30 minutes ahead of time. Seating is limited.
DECEMBER 15
Santa’s Holiday Express. 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Ages: 2 and up. R/NR: $21/$31. Join Santa and his holiday crew as they sing songs, talk with Santa, play games, and enjoy face painting. Please bring a nut-free sack lunch to enjoy as Santa reads us a story. We stay on Santa’s Holiday Express train all the way to Santa’s barn (Harvard) where it turns around and heads back home to Park Ridge (Dee Road) station. Please arrive 10 minutes early to check in at the Dee Rd. Station. Register online now at www.prparks.org.
DECEMBER 17
White Christmas: A Holiday Songbook with Dr. Fischman. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Niles Public Library, 6960 W. Oakton St. Join for Senior Coffee Hour. Silver Bells, Let It Snow and The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting). Remember these tunes? Dr. Fischman ignites the Holiday Spirit as he sets down the snowy road of American Christmas music in this engaging seasonal (singalong) program.
DECEMBER 18
SCRAM-Holiday Burglary Prevention. 10 to 11 a.m. at the Niles Senior Center, 999 Civic Center Drive.
Winter Break Reading Club Kickoff. 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave. Kick off your winter break the right way by heading to the library! There will be bingo games and prizes, cool crafts, and button making. Sign up for the Winter Break Reading Club during the kickoff with Youth Services at 847-929-5201.
DECEMBER 20
Santa Skate. 2:30 to 4 p.m. at IceLand, 8435 Ballard, Niles. Come to IceLand and skate with Santa and his elves to holiday songs! For kids and adults, families. Fee: $5, skate rental $3.
Holiday Skating Recital. 4:20 to 6:15 p.m. at IceLand, 8435 Ballard. Watch skaters from Skate School perform to favorite holiday songs. All are welcome to attend and watch. FREE with a food, toy or monetary donation to Niles Family Services.