Get Out: Santa Appearances, Fashion Show And Holiday Huddle At Halas Hall

We've got the best bets for your done-with-work-outta-here time. Check out our picks for the activities to hit and new places to explore this weekend.

Grayslake

• Where/When: Prairieview School, 101 E. Belvidere Road, 8:30-10:45 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 10).

• Why Go?: Every little one wants the chance to tell Santa their Christmas wishes before the big day arrives.  Join the Grayslake Park District and Santa for breakfast!  We'll be serving pancakes, fruit, juice and coffee.  Not only will the kids get to tell Santa their wish list, but they will receive a favor as a remembrance of this special day.  We will have special entertainment, games, holiday songs and lots of fun for the family! Pre-registration is required and no registration will be accepted at the door.  Parents must accompany their children. For more information or to register, call the Grayslake Park District at (847) 223-7529.

• Pricing: Parents are free, children are $15 for a resident and $18 for a nonresident. 

• Where/When: Station Square at Prairie Crossing, 970 Harris Road, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 10).

• Why Go?: Gingi's is a new retail venture featuring unique art, decor, cards and gifts. We are currently exploring the possibility of opening our shop at Station Square in Grayslake, and have an opportunity to do additional market research during the holiday season. Enjoy festive refreshments while sampling a "taste" of the unique product lines and art we will be featuring in our new business endeavor. All items will be available for purchase with a portion of the profits being donated to the Grayslake Cooperative Nursery School and The Oasis Grayslake Youth Center.

• Pricing: free. 

• Where/When: The Vine, 101 Center St., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 10).

• Why Go?: Join us for our annual pictures with Santa.

• Pricing: Kids eat free with paying adult. 

• Where/When: College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St. Runs through Sunday (Dec. 11). Gallery Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

• Why Go?: Six Chicago area artists explore different applications of collage. Featuring works by: Kathryn Kucera, Jacqueline Moses, Alice Shaddle, Patricia K. Swanson, Doug Stapleton, Joseph Clayton Mills.

• Pricing: free. 

• Where/When: Center Street in downtown Grayslake, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays (Dec. 10 and 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. 

• Where/When: College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., 7 p.m. Friday (Dec. 9).

• Why Go: The movie is Still Walking (Japan, 2008). This event is for adults only as the films are not suitable for children. Contact Dr. Chris Cooling, CLC Film Instructor, at (847) 543-2623 for more information.

• Pricing: free. 

Libertyville

• Where/When: , 413 N. Milwaukee Ave., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 10).

• Why Go?: The kids know they have visited the real Santa and Mrs. Claus when he is outside in a snow-covered sleigh in Cook Park. Visit from 10 a.m. to Noon or from 1-3 p.m.  The Children’s Holiday Shoppe is at Petranek's Pharmacy this year in their Community Room. Kids can shop for their family at the Holiday Shoppe with the help of Santa's Elves. Prices for gifts go up to $5.  There also will be a tour of the Cook Mansion.

• Pricing: free

• Where/When: Libertyville High School, 708 W. Park Ave. Ave., 4-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 10-11).

• Why Go?: Enjoy this classic holiday tale brought to life! Santa, elves, dancing toys, a mystical fog, and the reindeer use well known Christmas songs to tell the story of Rudolph. The one-hour performance is perfect for families and young audiences. Everyone is welcome to stay and take pictures with the dancers for no extra charge.

• Pricing: $15 per person

• Where/When: Full DisClothesure, 330 N. Milwaukee Ave., 5-9 p.m. Friday (Dec. 9).

• Where/When: Libertyville High School, 708 W. Park Ave. Ave., 7:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 11).

• Why Go?: All you can eat breakfast with a variety of items.  Children under age 6 eat free with a paid adult.   Santa will be there and taking requests. Photos will be made onsite for a nominal fee (as well as sending it to your home email address for free.) Proceeds benefit the community by providing eyeglasses and hearing aids for the needy and many more humanitarian causes. 

• Where/When: Improv Playhouse, 735 N. Milwaukee Ave., 7:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 10).

• Why Go?: This is a family friendly sketch and games based show in the style of "Whose Line..." and Chicago Improv featuring the hilarious Improv Comedy Troupe "Lost Not Stolen".

•  Pricing: $7 per person

• Where/When: David Adler Music & Arts Center, 1700 N. Milwaukee Ave., 7 p.m. Friday (Dec. 9).

Lake Forest

• Where/When: Chicago Bears Football Club, 1000 Football Drive, 6-8:30 p.m. Friday (Dec. 9).

• Why Go: The Chicago Bears open their doors for a rare glimpse inside their headquarters at Halas Hall. Proceeds benefit the Gridiron Alliance, which assists former high school athletes who were catastrophically injured while playing school sports. The event includes a guided tour of the Bears training facility by Bears staff and Gridiron Alliance personnel. Current and former Chicago Bears players will be in attendance. There will be a memorabilia auction including tickets to the Bears-Seattle Seahawks game. For information and tickets, visit the Gridiron Alliance website.

• Pricing: $125 per person. 

   

Kiwanis Pancake  Breakfastwith Santa

• Where/When: Grace Methodist Church, 244 E. Center Ave., Lake Bluff, 8-11 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 10).

• Why Go: The Lake Bluff/Lake Forest Kiwanis Club, in conjunction with the Lake Bluff Park District, will hold its annual Breakfast with Santa Pancake Breakfast.  Proceeds will go to local charities in keeping with Kiwanis International's mission to "Serve the Children of the World" through both global and local initiatives.

• Pricing: Tickets, which are available at the door, are free for children age 2 and under, $5 for children ages 3-12 and $10 for ages 13 and over. 

Lake Forest Dance Academy's Holiday Extrava-Dance-A

• Where/When: Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Center, 400 Hasting Road, 4-5:30 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 10).

• Why Go: Lake Forest Dance Academy's Performance Companies will be staging their annual Holiday Extrava-Dance-A. Members of the Prelude Dance Theater, Euphony Tap Ensemble. Hip Hop Evolution and Spotlight Theater will perform choreographed holiday dances.  Also, as in years past, the Lake Forest Dance Academy's Performing Companies will share their talents and spread good cheer throughout the community by performing at various area nursing homes, home health care facilities, and other area organizations.

• Pricing: Tickets are available for $5 at the door.  Lake Forest Dance Academy students may enter for free with a paid adult. 

• Where/When: Citadel Theater, 300 S. Waukegan Road, 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.

Christmas at Gorton's - Santa's Workshop

• Where/When: Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest,  2-5 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 11).

• Why Go: Visit Santa's workshop at Gorton Center from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Kids visit with Santa and holiday characters. Loads of fun activities: balloon artist, crafts to take home, sing-a-long, music and magic show!

• Pricing: $10 per child, ages 2 and under are free.

• Where/When: Lake Forest High School, 1285 N. McKinley Road, 3-8 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 11).

• Why Go: Lake Forest High School presents its 2011 Holiday Concerts and Spaghetti Dinner. The event starts with the band and orchestra concerts at 3 p.m. in the Raymond Moore Auditorium, followed by the spaghetti dinner from 4:45-6:45 p.m., and the choral concert at 7 p.m.

• Pricing:  $4 per person. Tickets can be purchased online at www.lfhsapplause.org.