Today

• In celebration of the Christmas season, “A Dickens of a Christmas” will be presented at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, at Greenfields of Geneva, 0N801 Friendship Way. Dr. Elliott Engel will entertain the audience with a literary discussion about the world famous author, Charles Dickens. This performance, given in period costume, will engage the audience with wit and insight into Dickens.

• Stop by for the final weekend of the “Holiday Express” at Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road in Aurora. Hours will be 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, and 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17-18. Take a magical ride on the Holiday Express train. Back in the village, enjoy storytelling of the classics, festive decorations, reindeer food bar, hayrides and a visit with Santa. Admission is $5 per person. Tasty concessions with seasonal favorites and drinks (nonalcoholic) available for purchase. Visit www.foxvalleypark district.org.

• Playhouse 38 presents “Elf Jr. The Musical” at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at the theater, 321 Stevens St., Suite P in Geneva. Tickets are $10 each and will be available at Sunset Community Center, 710 Western Ave. Visit genevaparks.org.

• Santa Claus will make his final visit to the Mooseheart Holiday Lights show Friday through Sunday, Dec. 16-18. He will sit for free photos in the Mooseheart field house, off Route 31. The price of admission to the Holiday Lights show includes the chance to see Santa, who sits for photos from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Photos are free, but visitors must bring their own cameras. The show is open from 5 to 9 p.m. every night through New Year’s Eve. The cost is $10 per car. Visit www.mooseheart.org.

• Vero Voce presents “The Christmas Schooner” at 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 18, at the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage Theater, 4051 E. Main St. in St. Charles. Tickets are $20 or $15 for students/seniors. Tickets may be purchased online at www.verovoce.com or by calling (630) 584-6342.

• Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St. in St. Charles, presents “The Ultimate Christmas Carol by E. Scrooge, Esq. As Told to C. Dickens,” through Dec. 30. This hilarious, screwball musical sendup of the holiday favorite combines the heartwarming original, some modern time bends, and very original holiday songs. Add audience participation, singalong ghostly visits and more. Tickets are $23 to $28. Visit www.steelbeamtheatre.com.

• The 1857 Tanner House Museum will be open for its 12th annual Holiday Showcase, offering free self-guided tours. The house, 304 Oak Ave., will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays and Wednesdays, through Dec. 28, except Christmas Day, and 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays, Dec. 16-30. The home of the prominent William and Anna Tanner family is decorated for the holidays each year by volunteer decorators and designers. You can even join the fun by voting for your favorite room. Admission is free but donations are appreciated. For details, visit aurorahistory.net or call (630) 906-0650.

• The annual Indoor St. Charles Farmers Market will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Fridays in Baker Hall at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave.

Saturday 17

• Stop by The Holmstad’s eighth annual Christmas Open House from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, featuring ice sculpture carving, a petting zoo, caricature artists and face painting, Mr. and Mrs. Claus with their favorite elf, and trolley rides to view the life-size holiday yard art created by resident artists and woodworkers. There will be face painting, and raffle prizes. Music venues throughout the community will host holiday musical performers. Refreshments include ham and roast turkey from the meat carving station, a mashed potato bar, passed appetizers, and dessert from the fruit pie bar. It is free and reservations are not required. For details, call (877) 226-7310 or visit www. theholmstad.org.

• Join Fox Country Players’ community choir will perform “Tis the Season” concerts featuring sacred, secular, serious, comedic, traditional, and modern music, as well as a singalong portion. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Toys For Tots. A collection box will be located in the lobby. Performances will be 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, in the Waubonsee Community College auditorium, Route 47 and Waubonsee Drive in Sugar Grove. Tickets are $10, $5 for students or seniors, 65 or older. Tickets may be purchased online at www.waubonseetickets.com or at the door. Visit www.foxcountry players.org.

• St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church invites the community to its annual Christmas Cookie Sale from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, or until sold out, at St. Mary’s Novak Center, 123 S. County Line Road in Maple Park. Choose your own homemade cookies for $7 per pound. For details, call Rita at (815) 827-3320. Visit www.stmary maplepark.org.

• Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St. in St. Charles, will show a “Holiday Movie Medley” at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. Admission is $6 or free for kids, age 12 and younger. It will start with the 25-minute cartoon “Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965), followed by the 50-minute “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964) at 10:45 a.m., the 30-minute “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (1966) at noon; and the 25-minute “Frosty The Snowman” (1969) at 12:45 p.m. Visit www.arcadalive.com.

• The Geneva Green Market, a winter farmers market, continues Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Geneva, 327 Hamilton St. Visit www.geneva-green-market.org.

Sunday 18

• The Illinois Brass Band with music director Stephen Squires will present “Holiday Classics” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave. in St. Charles. Tickets are available in advance at illinoisbrass band.org or at the door.

The sanctuary will come alive as 30 of the area’s finest brass players offer a cheerful mix of traditional carols, holiday classics, and jazzy updates of Christmas favorites. Tickets are $12 or $6 for youth, age 18 or younger. Family ticket for two adults and up to four youth is $30.

• The Geneva Park District’s Sunset Dance Academy will perform “The Nutcracker” at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, in the Geneva High School auditorium, 416 McKinley Ave. Tickets are $9. Tickets are available at the Sunset Community Center or by calling (630) 232-4542. Visit genevaparks.org.

• Waterline Writers will feature storyteller Kimberly Gotches and showcase many of the writers in the Teen Writers and Artists Project, plus director Diana Zwinak and teaching artists Adam Gottlieb, Corey Dillard and Shayne Morgan Phillips, at the next event at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at Water Street Studios, 160 S. Water St., Batavia. Admission is $5 or $3 for students. There will be no open mic Dec. 18. Visit waterlinewriters.org. They will be offering craft beer from Solemn Oath Breweries for $5, wine from Bright Angel Wines for $5 and food from Gaetano’s Market.

• The 2016-17 “Music in the Gallery” season will open with a festive “Home for the Holidays” concert performed by two of St. Charles’ own “rising star” talents — Taylor Sherry and Tom Bravos, 2013 graduates of St. Charles North High School. The concert will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at the Norris Cultural Arts Center, 1040 Dunham Road in St. Charles. Tickets are $15 or $10 for seniors and children younger than 12. Tickets are available at (630) 584-7200 or www.NorrisCulturalArts.com.