Happy Holidays from us here at Visit Lake County! Our best wishes to you and yours this week and all throughout the New Year. While all of your family and friends have arrived for the weekend, why not show off this great county of ours?
For a complete guide to the holidays, click here and for a full list of all activities happening around Lake County, click here.
Late on gift ideas? Continue here to see all the gifts you can get if you're shopping on a budget. Looking to wet your whistle during the holiday season? Learn more about the holiday spirits you can consume from the Lake County Libation Trail.
As all of your holiday treats are cooling on the counter, let's explore the top things to do this weekend December 21-23 in Lake County.
“He’s finishing his list and before he checks it twice,” your children have one final weekend to plead their case on why they don’t deserve coal in their stocking. Mr. Claus will be keeping his reindeer busy traveling to many Lake County locations this weekend including Bass Pro Shops, Gurnee Mills, Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Great America and Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge all in Gurnee, Santa’s Frozen Village in Antioch, Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills, Historic Downtown Long Grove and more. Pack your camera as Kris Kringle will be available to take photos with your children for a holiday memory. See visitlakecounty.org/visit-santa for a full list of meet and greets.
Friday-Sunday, December 21-23; various times, admissions and locations throughout Lake County.
“Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.” The PM&L Theatre presents “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” adapted by Joe Landry this weekend. The Antioch performance center’s holiday tradition stages their rendition of the Frank Capra holiday classic. The play, performed in the fashion of a 1940s radio show features the tale of George Bailey. The show’s protagonist puts his big dreams on hold to take over his father’s business who abruptly passes away. Bailey faces many adversities during his endeavors that essentially saves the town of Bedford Falls during the Great Depression. With Bailey down on his luck, frustrated with life and questioning his own existence a guardian angel named Clarence tries to steer him away from suicide.
Friday-Sunday, December 21-23; Fri.: 8 p.m. Sat.: 2:30 and 8 p.m. Sun.: 2:30 p.m. Admission: $15-$18. PM&L Theatre, 877 Main St., Antioch.
“Spruce” up your living room this year with a self-cut tree, if you haven’t done so already. This weekend is your final opportunity to make the Griswold’s proud with the “perfect tree” from Richardson Tree Farm. The expansive acreage boasts over 50,000 arbors ready to be brought home. Leave your axe at in the car? The Spring Grove homestead will provide attendees with handsaws, free wagon rides to the trees, free hot chocolate or coffee and various other treats. Maybe real trees aren’t your forte. Treetime Christmas Creations in Lake Barrington is throwing a procrastinator’s sale of up to 60 percent off. The “Winter Wonderland” showroom features a plethora of yuletide decorations, Christmas Trees, garlands, lights, wreaths, unique gifts and more.
Richardson Christmas Tree Farm: Friday-Sunday, December 21-23; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Free admission. All cut your own trees: $73. Precut trees start at $29. Richardson Christmas Tree Farm, 9407 Richardson Rd., Spring Grove. Treetime Christmas Creations: Friday-Sunday, December 21-23; Fri: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. and Sun.: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Treetime Christmas Creations, 22N102 Pepper Rd., Lake Barrington.
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Stun everyone on your shopping list this year with a decorative glass ornament that you made yourself. Peter Patterson Glassworks hosts their final glass ornament/icicle making event this weekend, just in time for the holidays. Attendees will learn the techniques of glass creating, blowing and decorating from an experienced artist at the Mundelein studio’s open house. Choose from flat or twisted ornament styles or a window sparkler and also your choice of colors.
Friday-Sunday, December 21-23; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Each art piece: $35. Peter Patterson Glassworks, 888 Tower Rd. Unit E, Mundelein.
Tighthead Brewing Company is turning another year wiser this weekend and you’re invited to help blow out the candles. The Mundelein brewery’s seventh-anniversary party will provide attendees with a day full of music, eats and of course, brews. The Tap Room All-Stars will fill the air with melodies beginning at 3 p.m., followed by the Bellwether Blues at 7 p.m. Pair your award-winning beer with food from local restaurants, Milwalky Taco and Oscar Lee’s Barbecue both of Libertyville for a match made in heaven. The tap house will be giving away a handful of prizes throughout the day, so be sure to stick around for a while.
Sunday, December 23; Noon-11 p.m. Free admission. Tighthead Brewing Company, 161 N. Archer Ave., Mundelein.
Strap on your ski boots and hit the slopes with the world’s jolliest gift-giver. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will take to the slopes of Wilmot Mountain this Friday, preparing for the copious amount of cookies Santa will devour on Christmas Eve. A handful of Kris Kringle’s helpers will accompany him on the hill so be sure to bring your camera to snap some photos with each of the North Pole residents. Attendees are invited to join the Claus couple for dinner at Walt’s Tavern at 5:30 and 7 p.m. Complimentary cookies and a photo with Santa will be provided with the meal. Reservations are preferred.
Friday, December 21; 3-8 p.m. Various admissions. Wilmot Mountain, 11931 Fox River Rd., Wilmot, WI.
For more things to do this weekend December 21-23, continue here.
