CHICAGO — If you’re still shopping around for the perfect Christmas gifts, there are plenty of holiday markets this weekend.
There’s also a Logan Square Cocoa Crawl, the Hyde Park School of Dance’s take on “The Nutcracker,” artist talks and workshops at the South Asia Institute, an evening of jazz at The Whistler, a live comedy album recording at Cole’s Bar and a winter family fest hosted by Imagine Englewood If.
Here’s a roundup of 21 things to do in Chicago this weekend:
All Weekend
Haricot Vert Chicago Pop-Up
Noon-7 p.m. Thursday-Sunday
Festive Collective, 2643 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Brooklyn-based, whimsical jewelry brand Haricot Vert is coming to Chicago this weekend (and bringing limited edition Chicago pico-charms). People can shop jewelry, charms, trinkets, matcha and more ahead of the holidays.
No RSVP is required, but you can help give organizers a headcount by registering here.
Books on display at Third Season, an apothecary, design studio and retail store in West Loop. Credit: Provided
Holiday Haul: Vintage Book Pop-Up
8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday
Third Season, 1516 W. Carroll Ave., Justine entrance
This vintage book pop-up with Maxwells Trading and Third Season features “unusual and rare titles, records and paper ephemera” from Perpetual Books and Carpetbagger Books. People can shop art books, 20th-century history and literature, magazines, movie posters and more.
Dovetail Holiday Market
4-8 p.m. Friday, noon-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Dovetail Brewery, 1800 W. Belle Plaine Ave.
Enjoy beer, food, live holiday music and hot beer poking while shopping local from nearly 80 artists and makers. There may even be a visit from Krampus.
This market runs each weekend leading up to Christmas. Learn more here.
‘The Nutcracker’ with Hyde Park School of Dance
7 p.m. Friday, 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday
University of Chicago’s Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th St.
The Hyde Park School of Dance will perform its take on a holiday classic, “The Nutcracker,” blending the school’s various dance offerings, from ballet to hip-hop to Chinese classical.
Learn more and get tickets for $8.10-$48.10 here.
NaviArts Holiday Market
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday
The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, 3015 W. Division St.
For more than 15 years, this free community festival has showcased local artisans and celebrated Puerto Rican culture. This weekend, people can shop handmade gifts, enjoy food, coquito and sweets, make a free keepsake ornament, sip on free hot chocolate, groove to live parranda music and more. There will also be a children’s bilingual story time. More information is here.
Randolph Street Holiday Market
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Plumbers Hall, 1341 W. Randolph St.
Randolph Street Market’s indoor holiday market is back this weekend with vintage and modern decorative objects, furniture, jewelry, fashion, art and more from 125 vendors. There will also be a DJ, bars and food from local eateries.
Tickets are $12 online or $15 at the door. Admission is $5 for students, teachers, first responders, military and seniors. Kids younger than 12 get in free. Learn more and get tickets here.
Chicago Art Girls Holiday Pop-Up Shop
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Alexander Graham Bell Elementary School, 3700 N. Oakley Ave.
This 14th annual event features more than 45 women artists selling handmade holiday gifts. It will also accept donations to support Common Pantry, including foods like cereal, cooking oil, soup and ground coffee and personal care items like toothpaste, deodorant and baby wipes.
Learn more here.
Friends of the Logan Square Library Book Sale
1-4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Logan Square Library, 3030 W. Fullerton Ave.
Shop books of all genres — including fiction, non-fiction, young adult and children’s — at this library book sale. Venmo and cash are accepted, and all proceeds go toward the library’s community programs.
Learn more here.
Saturday
Craft Pop-Up for Gaza Mutual Aid
10 a.m.-noon Saturday
Nabala Cafe, 4660 N. Broadway
Nonprofit Beit Nabala is hosting a pop-up market this weekend, featuring handmade crafts by local artists and tatreez purses by Palestinian embroiderer Nareman Obeid, who is currently in Egypt separated from her family in Gaza. Proceeds and donations will benefit Obeid and her family.
Learn more here.
Logan Square Cocoa Crawl
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
Various Logan Square businesses
Hosted by Lost Girls Vintage, this cocoa crawl is back for its fifth annual edition with more than 25 participating local businesses, including Adornment and Theory, Charm Bar Chicago, Dill Pickle Food Co-op, Gem: A Vintage Collective, Kone Ranger Clothing, Logan Square Pilates + Core, Magnifico Coffee Roasters, Pinot’s Palette, Terracotto Plants and more.
The event is free and open to all ages. Learn more and find a map here.
PullmanArts Holiday Market
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
Block House Gallery, 11137 S. Langley Ave.
Shop for the holidays at this beloved local market featuring affordable and original arts and crafts made by Chicago artists. Items include neighborhood-themed candles, handmade hats and gloves, Chicago architecture prints, jewelry, hoodies and T-shirts.
Learn more here.
Krampus Fest
Noon Saturday
Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln Ave.
This 13th fest features local artists, makers and bakers for all your holiday shopping needs. There will also be live music; a Krampus Cafe with German-style street food, including sausages from Paulina Meat Market, potato pancakes and gluhwein; a Krampus pageant and costume contest.
This event is free to attend and open to all ages. Learn more here.
Between Worlds: The Art of Becoming Artist Workshop
1-3 p.m. Saturday
South Asia Institute, 1925 S. Michigan Ave.
In this Immigrant Creatives Workshop at the South Asia Institute, artist and curator Faisal Anwar will share and reflect on his artistic journey as an immigrant creative. This event is part of a series of workshops that aims to provide professional development and mentorship for immigrant and South Asian American artists. The talk takes place as Anwar’s exhibit, “CommonSky,” closes this weekend.
Learn more and RSVP for free here.
Share the Love Winterfest
1-4 p.m. Saturday
William Rainey Harper High School, 6520 S. Wood St.
Hosted by Imagine Englewood If, this annual family fest in West Englewood will have kids activities, hot cocoa, food, a photo booth, warm winter gear, toy gifts and more. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own bags.
This event is free and open to the public. While the Eventbrite listing says the event has sold out, it is still open, organizers said. Learn more and RSVP here.
Eris Cocoa Fest
1-5 p.m. Saturday
Eris Brewery and Cider House, 4240 W. Irving Park Road
This second family-friendly festival will have a hot chocolate-tasting competition, a makers market, outdoor heaters and a s’mores station, community resources, an auction and raffle benefitting Nature’s Grace and Sarah’s Inn and more.
Learn more here.
Ravenswood Makers Market
1-6 p.m. Saturday
Koval Distillery, 4241 N. Ravenswood Ave.
Shop handmade and vintage goods from 25 local makers at this pop-up market. There will be original art, home decor, clothing, jewelry, soap, candles and more.
This family-friendly event is free to attend. Learn more here.
AI and Art: Friends or Foes?
4-6 p.m. Saturday
South Asia Institute, 1925 S. Michigan Ave.
In this artist talk, scientist and technologist Kunal Sen and artist and curator Faisal Anwar will “discuss the ethics, possibilities and future of art shaped by emerging technologies.” They’ll explore questions like, “How do we harness the powers of algorithms and generative technology for creativity? What are the challenges artists face when working with technology? Where do we draw the line between human-made and machine-made art?” The talk takes place as Anwar’s exhibit, “CommonSky,” closes this weekend.
Learn more and get tickets for $7.18 here.
Sunday
Schubas Winter Market
Noon-4 p.m. Sunday
Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave.
This fourth market features Chicago vintage dealers, artisans and merch. There will also be Chirp Vinyl DJs and food and drink specials. Vendors include Athenaeum Studios, Chicago Wick Stop, Paper Jackal, stephXstitch, Sometimes Christmas, Orange Tent Project, Ecclection, Meg Makes Stained Glass, 1740 Confection Lab and Falastiniyat Cooperative.
This market is free to attend. Learn more and RSVP here.
Guitar for Guaraldi: ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ Tribute
3 p.m. Sunday
Montrose Saloon, 2933 W. Montrose Ave.
The Mich Shirey Trio will perform guitar arrangements of Vince Guaraldi’s Charlie Brown Christmas catalog, adapting the sound and swing of 88-note keyboard jazz to strings.
There is a $10 cover. Anyone underage must be accompanied by their parents. Learn more here.
Live Comedy Album Recording with Jonah Eggleston
7 and 9 p.m. Sunday
Cole’s Bar, 2338 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago comic Jonah Eggleston will record a live stand-up comedy album at Cole’s Bar, a Logan Square venue that hosts the nation’s longest-running comedy open mic. Eggleston will be the first to record a standup special at the bar.
Learn more and get tickets for $13 here.
Jazz Under the Mistletoe: Lily Finnegan Trio
8 p.m. Sunday
The Whistler, 2421 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Each Sunday leading up to Christmas, you can enjoy candlelit evenings, cocktails and jazzy holiday tunes played by local musicians at The Whistler. This weekend features Lilly Finnegan, a Chicago-born drummer, composer, improviser and organizer.
Learn more here.
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