Get Out: Flutopia, Farmers Market, Holiday Chorus

Get out this weekend and take in one of these great events:

Grayslake

The Nutcracker by the Civic Ballet of Chicago

• Where/When: College of Lake County, James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 17) and 3 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 18).
• Why Go: Toys come to life and children believe in the magic of Christmas in this enchanting holiday ballet classic. Originally presented in the Arie Crown Theatre until 1997, this performance by the Civic Ballet of Chicago, recreates Ruth Page’s beloved original full-length staging of The Nutcracker, featuring choreography inspired by the experience of Delores Lipinski and the late Larry Long.
• Pricing: Pricing for adults ranges from $22-$30; Seniors, Staff and Alumni, $22-$30; CLC Students/Teens, $15, Children under 12, $12.

Mitch's Grill Toys-for-Tots Fundraiser

• Where/When: , 116 S. Route 83, Grayslake, IL, all day starting with breakfast at 7 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 through Sunday, Dec. 18.
• Why Go: Mitch's is hosting a two-day toy drive and fundraiser for Toys-for-Tots.  Bring in a new unwrapped gift to donate, or donate at least $5 and we will give you 5 percent off your total purchase (excluding alcohol) and donate 10 percent of your purchase to Toys-for-Tots (or if you prefer, we will donate the entire 15 percent to Toys-for-Tots). There will also be a vendor each day offering some great holiday gifts. On Saturday, "Sew Nidia" will be there selling unique handmade items, like cute handmade hats. On Sunday, we will have a Pampered Chef consultant here with some great holiday gift ideas for the special chef in your life. Join us one of these two days for breakfast, lunch or dinner to help support a very worthy cause (and even get a little holiday shopping done).
• Pricing: Free.

• Where/When: Center Street in downtown Grayslake, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays (Dec. 17).
• Why Go: The market offers wine, fresh baked goods, appetizers, gourmet cheeses, organic meats, floral arrangements and even homemade candles in addition to local produce. A Farmers Market Cookbook, which provides local recipes and is an ideal gift for food lovers is also available for purchase.
• Pricing: free.

Libertyville

• Where/When: , 219 W. Maple Ave., Libertyville, 3 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 18).
• Why Go: Flutopia, an award-winning flute choir, will perform their annual Christmas Concert. The full choir includes piccolo, C-flute, alto flute and bass flute. Directed by Laurel Ann Kaiser, Flutopia rehearses weekly and has performed throughout the suburbs. Kaiser is the Orchestra director at  in Lake Forest and arranges music for a wide variety of instrumental and vocal groups. The free concert, A Festive Flutopia, will perform both sacred and secular carols from around the world.
• Pricing: free

• Where/When: , 29700 N. Saint Marys Road, Libertyville, 7:30 p.m. Friday (Dec. 16).
• Why Go: The Green Oaks Holiday Chorus will present its 22nd annual Christmas concert. The chorus will perform seasonal choral selections, popular Christmas songs and carols. This concert has just the right dose of Christmas cheer to get you and your family infused with Christmas spirit. Donations to Lake County PADS are appreciated.
• Pricing: free

• Where/When: David Adler Music and Arts Center, 1700 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday (Dec. 16) and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 17).
• Why Go: The Adler Exhibition Series, featuring Chicago artist Robert Klunk, whose original works can be seen in the historic Adler Ballroom with items available for purchase through the Adler Center main office.
• Pricing: free

Lake Forest 

• Where/When: , 701 N. McKinley Road, Lake Forest, 7 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 17).
• Why Go: Dust off the running shoes and escape the winter blahs with Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA). Join us for free at our first long run! Runners may choose from a six, eight or 10 mile route. When you return, enjoy complimentary coffee and bagels to celebrate the first long run of the season. Switch up your training and run through beautiful estates, through rolling hills and on paved paths with CARA's north suburban group. Training will prepare runners for a number of spring marathons including the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon, Green Bay Marathon, the Wisconsin Marathon, Boston and more. For more information,visit www.cararuns.org.
• Pricing: free

GrandCru Wine Merchants Wine Tasting

• Where/When: Grand Cru Wine Merchants, 840 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, 1-4 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 17).
• Why Go: Grand Cru Wine Merchants recently announced the move from Arlington Heights to Lake Forest. The shop specializes in selling affordable boutique wine, spirits, and beer from around the world. In order to properly celebrate the grand opening, Grand Cru will be holding wine tastings for a month!
• Pricing: free.

A Christmas Carol

• Where/When: Citadel Theater, 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, runs Thursdays through Sundays until Dec. 30. Evening performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., 3 p.m. on Sundays. Special matinee at 1 p.m. Dec. 15.
• Why Go: Citadel Theatre proudly presents Charles Dickens’ classic tale, A Christmas Carol, adapted by Peter DeLaurier and starring Frank Farrell as Scrooge. Faithful to Dickens' beautiful language, this flexible adaptation of the beloved Christmas classic tells the heartwarming story of miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge who is always cold-hearted, and Christmas is no exception - that is, until the ghost of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley, comes to warn him about the consequences of living a life of greed and materialism. Over the next three nights, Scrooge is visited by three other spirits who try to convince him that his selfishness will be his downfall. Is this enough to make the selfish old miser change his ways?  Directed by Pat Murphy.
• Pricing: $37 per person.

• Where/When: Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Dr, Lincolnshire, 7 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 17).
• Why Go: Head East is currently a five5-piece band consisting of Roger Boyd (keyboards and vocals), Greg Manahan (bass, lead guitar and vocals), Glen Bridger (lead guitar and vocals), Eddy Jones (drums and vocals), and Darren Walker (lead vocals & bass). The group performs some classic Head East songs along with new material and a few new covers of classic rock favorites. M&R Rush had its beginnings in the early 1970's, when a group of five high school friends from Chicago's Roseland neighborhood had a dream of making it in the music business. M&R Rush was signed by the same Chicago based management company who was guiding another local Chicago group called Styx.
• Pricing: $2-$35 per person.