December's near, which means there are loads of holiday sights and sounds to enjoy. Here's a list of local performances and events to help you plan.
Friday, Nov. 29
• "The Grinch" movie: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. in DeKalb; egyptiantheatre.org.
Saturday, Nov. 30
• Decorated Mansion Tours: 1, 2 and 3 p.m. at the Ellwood House Museum, 509 N. First St. in DeKalb; ellwoodhouse.org.
• North Grove School's Old Fashioned Christmas Open House: 1 to 4 p.m. at North Grove School, 26745 Brickville Road, Sycamore; northgroveschool.org.
• Holiday Lights Train: 4:30 to 9 p.m. at Lions Community Park, 435 S. Birch St. in Waterman; 630-360-6523.
Sunday, Dec. 1
• Decorated Mansion Tours: 1, 2 and 3 p.m. at the Ellwood House Museum, 509 N. First St. in DeKalb; ellwoodhouse.org.
• The 50th Annual Country Music Toy Drive: 1 to 5 p.m. at the Taylor Street High Rise Community Room, 507 E. Taylor St. in DeKalb; 815-762-5589.
• "It's A Wonderful Life" movie: 2 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. in DeKalb; egyptiantheatre.org.
• “Swingin’ In the Holidays” NIU School of Music Concert: 3 p.m. in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall in the NIU Music Building, 400 Lucinda Ave. in DeKalb; niu.edu/music.
• Holiday Lights Train: 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Lions Community Park, 435 S. Birch St. in Waterman; 630-360-6523.
Tuesday, Dec. 3
• Decorated Mansion Tours: 1 and 3 p.m. at the Ellwood House Museum, 509 N. First St. in DeKalb; ellwoodhouse.org.
Wednesday, Dec. 4
• Decorated Mansion Tours: 1 and 3 p.m. at the Ellwood House Museum, 509 N. First St. in DeKalb; ellwoodhouse.org.
Thursday, Dec. 5
• Decorated Mansion Tours: 1 and 3 p.m. at the Ellwood House Museum, 509 N. First St. in DeKalb; ellwoodhouse.org.
• Winter Chocolate Walk: 3 to 8 p.m. at Sycamore businesses, starting at Blumen Gardens, 403 Edward St.; discoversycamore.com.
• Goodfellows Annual Christmas Party: 5 p.m. to midnight at PJ's Courthouse Tavern, 202 W. State St. in Sycamore; goodfellowscharity.org.
• Santa Comes to Town: Cookies, cocoa and caroling at 5:30 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. in DeKalb; Santa arrives at 7 p.m; dekalb.org.
• Stage Coach Players’ “It's a Wonderful Life”: 7:30 p.m. at Stage Coach Theatre, 126 S. Fifth St. in DeKalb; stagecoachers.com.
• Sycamore High School Madrigals: 7:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Memorial Hall, 322 Waterman St. in Sycamore; sycamoretickets.org.
Friday, Dec. 6
• YMCA Christmas Family Extravaganza: 5 to 8 p.m. at the Kishwaukee Family YMCA, 2500 W. Bethany Road in Sycamore; https://kishymca.org.
• Holiday Lights Train: 5 to 9 p.m. at Lions Community Park, 435 S. Birch St. in Waterman; 630-360-6523.
• Walk with Santa and Courthouse Tree lighting: Santa arrives at 6 p.m. at Sycamore State Street Theatre, walk continues to the DeKalb County Courthouse, corner of State and Main streets in Sycamore, for tree lighting; discoversycamore.com.
• Celebrate the Season: 6 to 8 p.m. in downtown Genoa. Santa will arrive in the Jingle Bell Parade and light the community tree before visiting with children at his house; genoaareachamber.com.
• Holiday Open House: 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Ellwood House Museum, 509 N. First St. in DeKalb; ellwoodhouse.org.
• DAWC Holiday Shopping Fair: 6 to 9 p.m. at DeKalb Area Women's Center, 1021 State St. in DeKalb. Features original art, handmade crafts, food and live music; 815-758-1351.
• Beth Fowler Dance Company’s “The Nutcracker”: 7 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. in DeKalb; egyptiantheatre.org.
• Celebration Chorale Christmas Cantata: 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 321 Oak St. in DeKalb; 815-756-6301.
• Stage Coach Players’ “It's a Wonderful Life”: 7:30 p.m. at Stage Coach Theatre, 126 S. Fifth St. in DeKalb; stagecoachers.com.
• Indian Valley Theatre's "A Twisted Christmas Carol": 7:30 p.m. at Sandwich Opera House, 140 E. Railroad St., Sandwich; indianvalleytheatre.com.
Saturday, Dec. 7
• Breakfast with Santa: 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the River Heights Golf Course Clubhouse, 1020 Sharon Drive in DeKalb; dekalbparkdistrict.com.
• Breakfast with Santa: 9 a.m. to noon at Hinckley-Big Rock High School, 700 E. Lincoln Highway, Hinckley; hinckleyil.com.
• Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus: 9 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 3 p.m. at Genoa Guest House, 231 S. Sycamore St. in Genoa. Advance purchase tickets only; genoaguesthouse.com.
• DAWC Holiday Shopping Fair: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at DeKalb Area Women's Center, 1021 State St. in DeKalb. Features original art, handmade crafts, food and live music; 815-758-1351.
• Santa House: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the corner of West Main and Monroe streets in Genoa.
• Festival of Trees and Holiday Lane Craft and Home Business Market: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Redberri Convention Center, 3300 Drew St. in Sandwich; sandwichparkdistrict.org.
• Santa House: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the lawn of the DeKalb County Courthouse, at the corner of State and Main streets in Sycamore.
• Visits with Santa and carriage rides: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Van Buer Plaza, North Second and Locust streets, DeKalb; dekalb.org.
• Holiday Open House: 1 to 3 p.m. at DeKalb County History Center, 1730 N. Main St. in Sycamore; dekalbcountyhistory.org.
• Holiday Open House: 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Ellwood House Museum, 509 N. First St. in DeKalb; ellwoodhouse.org.
• Holiday Festival of Lights: 3 to 7 p.m. at Water Tower Park, North Illini Street and Navaho Avenue, Shabbona; shabbona-il.com.
• A Sandwich Christmas: 4:30 to 8 p.m. in downtown Sandwich. Visit with Santa and activities for children. Tree-lighting at Veterans Park will be at 4:30 p.m.; sandwichparkdistrict.org.
• Holiday Lights Train: 4:30 to 9 p.m. at Lions Community Park, 435 S. Birch St. in Waterman; 630-360-6523.
• Christmas Cantata: 5 p.m. at Sycamore United Methodist Church, 160 Johnson Ave. in Sycamore; 815-895-9113.
• Living Nativity: 5:30 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 2465 W. Sandwich Road, Sandwich. There will be a petting zoo at 3:30 p.m.; www.our-saviors.com.
• Arcomusical – "Carol of the (Berim) Baus": 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St. in DeKalb. dkpl.org
• Beth Fowler Dance Company’s “The Nutcracker”: 7 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. in DeKalb; egyptiantheatre.org.
• Celebration Chorale Christmas Cantata: 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 321 Oak St. in DeKalb; 815-756-6301.
• Stage Coach Players’ “It's a Wonderful Life”: 7:30 p.m. at Stage Coach Theatre, 126 S. Fifth St. in DeKalb; stagecoachers.com.
• Indian Valley Theatre's "A Twisted Christmas Carol": 7:30 p.m. at Sandwich Opera House, 140 E. Railroad St., Sandwich; indianvalleytheatre.com.
Sunday, Dec. 8
• Festival of Trees and Holiday Lane Craft and Home Business Market: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Redberri Convention Center, 3300 Drew St. in Sandwich; sandwichparkdistrict.org.
• Santa House: Noon to 2 p.m. on the lawn of the DeKalb County Courthouse, at the corner of State and Main streets in Sycamore.
• Holiday Open House: 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Ellwood House Museum, 509 N. First St. in DeKalb; ellwoodhouse.org.
• 25th annual Christmas Tree Walk and Open House: 1 to 4:30 p.m. at Oak Crest DeKalb Area Retirement Center, 2944 Greenwood Acres Drive, DeKalb; 815-756-8461.
• Beth Fowler Dance Company’s “The Nutcracker”: 2 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. in DeKalb; egyptiantheatre.org.
• Celebration Chorale Christmas Cantata: 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 321 Oak St. in DeKalb; 815-756-6301.
• Stage Coach Players’ “It's a Wonderful Life”: 2 p.m. at Stage Coach Theatre, 126 S. Fifth St. in DeKalb; stagecoachers.com.
• Indian Valley Theatre's "A Twisted Christmas Carol": 2 p.m. at Sandwich Opera House, 140 E. Railroad St., Sandwich; indianvalleytheatre.com.
• Christmas Open House: 2 to 4 p.m. at Kishwaukee Valley Heritage Museum, 622 Park Ave. in Genoa; sites.google.com/site/kvhsgenoail
• NIU Choral Holiday Concert: 3 p.m. in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall in the NIU Music Building, 400 Lucinda Ave. in DeKalb; niu.edu/music.
• Gurler Heritage Holiday Sing: 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Gurler House, 205 Pine St., DeKalb; 815-793-5725.
• Living Nativity: 4:30 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 2465 W. Sandwich Road, Sandwich. There will be a petting zoo at 3:30 p.m.; www.our-saviors.com.
• Holiday Lights Train: 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Lions Community Park, 435 S. Birch St. in Waterman; 630-360-6523.
• Christmas Cantata: 5 p.m. at Sycamore United Methodist Church, 160 Johnson Ave. in Sycamore; 815-895-9113.
Tuesday, Dec. 10
• Decorated Mansion Tours: 1 and 3 p.m. at the Ellwood House Museum, 509 N. First St. in DeKalb; ellwoodhouse.org.
• Holiday Open House: 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Sycamore Public Library, 103 E. State St., Sycamore. Features live music, crafts and visits with Santa; sycamorelibrary.org.
Wednesday, Dec. 11
• Decorated Mansion Tours: 1 and 3 p.m. at the Ellwood House Museum, 509 N. First St. in DeKalb; ellwoodhouse.org.
Thursday, Dec. 12
• Decorated Mansion Tours: 1 and 3 p.m. at the Ellwood House Museum, 509 N. First St. in DeKalb; ellwoodhouse.org.
Friday, Dec. 13
• Decorated Mansion Tours: 1 and 3 p.m. at the Ellwood House Museum, 509 N. First St. in DeKalb; ellwoodhouse.org.
• Cookies with Santa: 3:30 to 7 p.m. at Sycamore Park District Community Center, 480 Airport Road in Sycamore; sycamoreparkdistrict.com.
• Santa House: 5 to 7 p.m. on the lawn of the DeKalb County Courthouse, at the corner of State and Main streets in Sycamore.
• Holiday Lights Train: 5 to 9 p.m. at Lions Community Park, 435 S. Birch St. in Waterman; 630-360-6523.
• DeKalb High School Madrigals dinner: 6:30 p.m. at NIU's Altgeld Hall in DeKalb; 815-754-2120.
• Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Pops Concert: 7 p.m. at Boutell Memorial Concert Hall at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb; kishorchestra.org
• Sandwich High School Madrigal Dinner: 7 p.m. at Sandwich High School, 515 Lyons Road in Sandwich; 815-786-2157.
• Stage Coach Players’ “It's a Wonderful Life”: 7:30 p.m. at Stage Coach Theatre, 126 S. Fifth St. in DeKalb; stagecoachers.com.
• "A Charlie Brown Christmas" Live on Stage: 7:30 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. in DeKalb; egyptiantheatre.org.
Saturday, Dec. 14
• Cookies with Santa: 9:30 a.m. to noon at Sycamore Park District Community Center, 480 Airport Road in Sycamore; sycamoreparkdistrict.com.
• Santa House: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the corner of West Main and Monroe streets in Genoa.
• Santa House: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the lawn of the DeKalb County Courthouse, at the corner of State and Main streets in Sycamore.
• Visits with Santa: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Van Buer Plaza, North Second and Locust streets, DeKalb; dekalb.org.
• Christmas in Kirkland: 2 to 6 p.m. in downtown Kirkland. Featuring Santa visits, craft fair, music, refreshments and tree-lighting; villageofkirkland.com.
• Sycamore/Rochelle Performing Arts Academy's "Stories at Christmas": 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. in DeKalb; egyptiantheatre.org.
• Kishwaukee Concert Band Holiday Concert: 3 p.m. at Boutell Memorial Concert Hall in the NIU Music Building, 400 Lucinda Ave. in DeKalb; kishconcertband.org.
• Allegro Ballet of Oswego's "A Nutcracker Fantasy": 3 p.m. at the Sandwich Opera House, 140 E. Railroad St., Sandwich. www.sandwichoperahouse.org
• Waterman Tree Lighting: 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Muingan Park, Garfield Street in Waterman.
• Holiday Lights Train: 4:30 to 9 p.m. at Lions Community Park, 435 S. Birch St. in Waterman; 630-360-6523.
• Malta Lions Christmas Tree Lighting: 5:30 p.m. at Malta Lions Park, Fourth and Jackson streets in Malta.
• DeKalb High School Madrigals dinner: 6:30 p.m. at NIU's Altgeld Hall in DeKalb; 815-754-2120.
• Sandwich High School Madrigal Dinner: 7 p.m. at Sandwich High School, 515 Lyons Road in Sandwich; 815-786-2157.
• Stage Coach Players’ “It's a Wonderful Life”: 7:30 p.m. at Stage Coach Theatre, 126 S. Fifth St. in DeKalb; stagecoachers.com.
Sunday, Dec. 15
• Santa House: Noon to 2 p.m. on the lawn of the DeKalb County Courthouse, at the corner of State and Main streets in Sycamore.
• Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Pops Concert: 2 p.m. at Boutell Memorial Concert Hall at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb; kishorchestra.org.
• Stage Coach Players’ “It's a Wonderful Life”: 2 p.m. at Stage Coach Theatre, 126 S. Fifth St. in DeKalb; stagecoachers.com.
• Holiday Lights Train: 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Lions Community Park, 435 S. Birch St. in Waterman; 630-360-6523.
• Carols and Candles: 7 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 615 N. First St., DeKalb; 815-758-0691.
• "The Prophecy Show: The Music of Trans-Siberian Orchestra": 7 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. in DeKalb; egyptiantheatre.org.
Tuesday, Dec. 17
• Visit with Santa: 10 to 11:30 a.m. at DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St. in DeKalb; dkpl.org.
Wednesday, Dec. 18
• Visit with Santa: 10 to 11:30 a.m. at DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St. in DeKalb; dkpl.org.
• Holiday Lights Train: 5 to 9 p.m. at Lions Community Park, 435 S. Birch St. in Waterman; 630-360-6523.
• Performing Arts Academy's "Fly into the Holidays": 6:30 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. in DeKalb; egyptiantheatre.org.
Thursday, Dec. 19
• Holiday Lights Train: 5 to 9 p.m. at Lions Community Park, 435 S. Birch St. in Waterman; 630-360-6523.
Friday, Dec. 20
• Santa House: 5 to 7 p.m. on the lawn of the DeKalb County Courthouse, at the corner of State and Main streets in Sycamore.
• Holiday Lights Train: 5 to 9 p.m. at Lions Community Park, 435 S. Birch St. in Waterman; 630-360-6523.
• DeKalb High School Madrigals dinner: 6:30 p.m. at DeKalb High School, 501 Dresser Road in DeKalb; 815-754-2120.
• "Elf" movie: 7 p.m. at the Sandwich Opera House, 140 E. Railroad St. in Sandwich; sandwichparkdistrict.org.
• Diamond Rio – Holiday & Hits: 8 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. in DeKalb; egyptiantheatre.org.
Saturday, Dec. 21
• Visit with Santa: 10 to 11:30 a.m. at DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St. in DeKalb; dkpl.org.
• Santa House: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the corner of West Main and Monroe streets in Genoa.
• Santa House: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the lawn of the DeKalb County Courthouse, at the corner of State and Main streets in Sycamore.
• Visits with Santa: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Van Buer Plaza, North Second and Locust streets, DeKalb; dekalb.org.
• Holiday Lights Train: 5 to 9 p.m. at Lions Community Park, 435 S. Birch St. in Waterman; 630-360-6523.
Sunday, Dec. 22
• Santa House: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the corner of West Main and Monroe streets in Genoa.
• Santa House: Noon to 2 p.m. on the lawn of the DeKalb County Courthouse, at the corner of State and Main streets in Sycamore.
• Holiday Lights Train: 5 to 9 p.m. at Lions Community Park, 435 S. Birch St. in Waterman; 630-360-6523.
Monday, Dec. 23
• Holiday Lights Train: 5 to 9 p.m. at Lions Community Park, 435 S. Birch St. in Waterman; 630-360-6523.
