Holiday Ceramics Sale at the Y
For 19 years, the artists at the Holiday Pottery Sale have donated 20 percent of sales to the Youth Scholarship Program at the YMCA. Hours are 5-9 p.m. on Dec. 3 (opening reception); 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Dec. 4 and noon-5 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the McGaw YMCA, 1000 Grove St.
Home-Grown Artists Holiday Bazaar
The first Shop Evanston Home-Grown Artists Holiday Bazaar will take place 3-8 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd. The bazaar will feature beautiful and unique items to give or to keep: jewelry, ceramics, paintings, knitwear and more. Admission is free. More information: 847-448-8138.
‘A Christmas Carol’ at the Knot
At 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 5 the Celtic Knot, 626 Church St. will sponsor a benefit for Connections for the Homeless with a reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Afternoon tea will be served at intermission. Tickets are $20/person, with half of the ticket price donated to Connections for the Homeless. Reservations: 847- 864-1679.
St. Nick’s Craft Fair and Christmas Tree Sale
Christmas trees and handmade crafts will be for sale at the annual St. Nicholas Parish Holiday Festival on Dec. 4 and 5 at the church, 806 Ridge Ave.
Among the items for sale will be furniture, journals, purses, soaps, jewelry, doll clothes, wreaths, poinsettias and holiday decorations. Santa has promised to be at the festival to pose for pictures with children of all ages. Hours: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Dec. 5.
Central Street Business Association Holiday Open House
The Central Street Business Association’s Holiday Open House will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Dec. 5 on Central Street east and west of the Metra tracks. Central Street incorporates more than 50 merchants and businesses. The event will provide shoppers with the gift of specials, sales and surprises for the entire family.
The Lakeside Singers Present ‘Bright the Holly Berries’ Concert
The Lakeside Singers’ winter concert, “Bright the Holly Berries,” will be held at 8 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave. The classical first half of the program spans 500 years and nine different countries with music. The second half features music from many genres of American popular music. A band and 25 professional singers will launch the holidays. Tickets, at $30/adults; $20 seniors/students and $10/children under 12, may be purchased by calling 847-382-5085 or visiting www.lakesidesingers.com.
ESO Celebrates Christmas 2010
The Evanston community is invited to start the holiday season with its annual Christmas concert, “An Evanston Symphony Christmas,” at 3 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the Evanston Township High School auditorium, 1600 Dodge Ave.
Sponsored by the Evanston investment firm Romano Brothers & Co., the concert features music for the whole family performed by 90 musicians, the 100-voice Evanston Symphony Festival Chorus, 45 dancers, and 50 children from the Evanston Children’s Choir.
The audience is invited join in for holiday carols. The tap-dancing reindeer will be on hand, performed by members of the Evanston Dance Ensemble.
Tickets: $25 for adults and $10 for children, with a special discounted family package available. Information: 847-864-8804; www.evanstonsymphony.org.
Fleetwood-Jourdain Holiday Bazaar
The second annual Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center Holiday Bazaar will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 11 at the center, 1655 Foster St. The community is invited to pick up unique gifts such as books, clothes, purses, fragrances and jewelry for the upcoming holidays and birthdays.
Holiday Open House at EHC
The Evanston History Center’s Holiday Open House will be held 1 to 4 p.m. on Dec. 12 at the Charles Gates Dawes House, 225 Greenwood St. There will be live classical music, kids’ crafts, a performance by musicians Marian McNair and Jim Kendros, light refreshments in the Dawes House dressed up for the holidays. The event is free and open to the public.
From Dec. 9 to Dec. 12, the History Center will accept donations of non-perishable, nutritious food in non-glass containers for the fifth annual food drive. All donations benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository and local area residents.
Coriolis Concert
The a cappella chamber choir Coriolis will present familiar carols in the English choral tradition by Willcocks, Vaughan Williams, Holst and others; more contemporary arrangements by Walker, Whitbourn and Young; several “Christmas cards” by Alfred Burt and “Three Pieces for Chanukah” by
Bob Applebaum. The concert will take place
on Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Parish Church of St. Luke, 939 Hinman Ave. Tickets: $20 at the door.