88 keys and more
Composer-pianist Jim Brickman brings his “Comfort and Joy Holiday Tour” with special guests Kris Allen, Anne Cochran and Tracy Silverman to the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St., Batavia. $56-$75. (630) 937-8930 or bataviafineartscentre.org. 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2
Dancing Christmas
More than 120 performers appear in Schaumburg Dance Ensemble’s 22nd annual staging of Tchaikovsky’s classic Christmas ballet “The Nutcracker” starting this weekend at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $28; $18 students and seniors. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 and 9; 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3, 4 and 11; and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10
Relive the ’80s
Rock out to radio hits from the 1980s at the K HITS Winter Wonderland concert featuring Eddie Money, Wang Chung, Naked Eyes and Tommy Tutone at Joe’s Live at MB Financial Park, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $15-$100. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2
Rimes holiday times
Country star LeAnn Rimes offers up some down-home holiday cheer with her “Today is Christmas Tour 2016” featuring guests The Bundys at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $38-$58. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2
Laughs a lot
Get your fill of comic Kathleen Madigan this weekend with two routines promising “adult language and themes.” Madigan’s “The Mermaid Lady Tour” happens Friday at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $38.50-$48.50. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. She performs her “Bothering Jesus Tour” Saturday at College of DuPage’s McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $35-$44. (630) 942-4000 for atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, in Skokie and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in Glen Ellyn
Country ‘Idol’
Fans of the former reality TV singing competition “American Idol” won’t want to miss the country-inspired season 10 winner Scotty McCreery in concert at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$65. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3
Holidays on wheels
Santa’s Magical Trolley Express is a 90-minute polar adventure beginning with a trolley ride with Mrs. Claus, then a North Pole visit for a whimsical show, cookies, songs and a picture with Santa! Hop aboard at two locations: Little Beans Cafe, 430 Asbury Ave., Evanston, and also at DuPage Children’s Museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville. $55. santasmagicaltrolley.com. 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday through Dec. 21 in Evanston; 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday through Dec. 23 in Naperville
Zoo lights & more
New polar lights displays, a 41-foot Talking Tree, an interactive Tic-Tac Snow, a train display, carolers and ice carvers are all part of Holiday Magic 2016 starting this weekend at Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield. $17.85; $12.50 seniors and kids 3-11. (708) 688-8000 or czs.org. 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18; then daily Monday through Saturday, Dec. 26-31
