What's On Tap in Chicago This Weekend: December 11-13, 2020
Welcome to the inaugural edition of What's On Tap in Chicago This Weekend. This article series aims to bring you the best of Chicago entertainment on a weekly basis. For further background on the inspiration behind this endeavor, check out the introduction at the link below.
https://ontapsportsnet.com/2020/12/11/introducing-whats-on-tap-in-chicago-this-weekend/
All caught up? Good. Let's dive right into everything that's going on in the Chicagoland area for the weekend of December 11-13, 2020.
Events
Lincoln Park Zoo Lights by ComEd and Invesco
The zoo is currently hosting its annual light festival. The pandemic has caused the event to be held at reduced capacity and entry is timed this year, but it is just as merry and bright as years past. While the event is mostly sold out, there is one remaining day with tickets available for $5 — Thursday, December 17th. Get them while you can.
- Location: 2200 N. Cannon Drive Chicago, IL 60614
https://www.lpzoo.org/event/zoolights-presented-by-comed-and-invesco-qqq/
Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum
The Morton Arboretum is putting on a drive-in light show full of lights, music, and other forms of Christmas fun. It lasts about 20 to 30 minutes in duration. While the event is currently sold out, their website says they release extra tickets weekly on Mondays.
- Location: 4100 IL-53, Lisle, IL 60532
- Details
Other Light Shows That Are NOT Sold Out
Lake County Fairgrounds Lights
- Location:1060 E. Peterson Rd. Grayslake, IL
- Details
Six Flags Lights
- Location: 1 Great America Park Way Gurnee, IL
- Details
Brookfield Zoo
- Location: 8400 W. 31st, Brookfield, IL
- Details
Aurora Festival of Lights
- Location: 1000 Ray Moses Drive Aurora, IL
- Details
Cosley Zoo Festival of Lights
- Location: 1356 N. Gary Ave.
- Details
Lightscape Botanic Gardens
- Location: 1000 Lake Cook Road Glencoe, IL 60022
- Details
Let It Shine Drive Thru
- Location: 1515 Lake Cook Rd. Northbrook, IL
- Details
Ice Skating at Maggie Daley Park
While the ice skating at the “Bean” is closed the skating ribbon at Maggie Daley is open. It does require a no transferable reservation. Skate rental is $16 and using your own skates is $5.
- Location: 337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
- Details and Reservations
Ice Skating at Rosemont
Skating at the Chicago Wolves Ice Rink at Parkway Bank Park is also happening this year. Admission to the rink is FREE, however, a credit card is required to hold a reservation. Guests who fail to appear for their skate time will be charged $8 per person. Skate rental is $8.
- Location: 5501 Park Pl, Rosemont, IL 60018
- Details
CTA Holiday Train and Bus
Make sure you catch a glimpse of the CTA Holiday Train and Bus this weekend. Riders won’t be allowed, but these both are hard to miss with how much they light up the city.
- Various locations in Chicago
The Train:
- Red Line: December 8th, 10th, and 12th
- Purple Line: December 9th, 11th and 12th
The Bus:
- December 11-12: #12 Roosevelt
Follow the CTA app to get exact times and locations during the day. Click here for details.
Museum of Science and Industry: Christmas Around the World (Online)
Typically this is a must-see Christmas event in the city, but MSI has turned it into an online event due to current COVID-19 restrictions. The tour scheduled for December 11th has been canceled but the next one is Friday, December 18 at 3:30 PM.
City of Chicago Christmas Tree
- Location: Millennium Park
- Details
Santa’s Garage and Drive-in
The Waldron Deck and the South Lot at Soldier Field have been converted into a drive full of lights, displays, and Santa and his helpers. The drive will lead you to a screening of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
- Location: Soldier Field
- Details and Tickets
Jack Frost Winter Village
Jack’s takes up ten acres of Goose Island and is a winter walk and tree farm. It is a great place to show how strong your Instagram game is. Order tickets here. https://welcometojacks.com/
- Location: 1265 W. LeMoyne Street, Chicago, IL
- Details and Tickets
Recommended Articles
Walnut Room
Get a look at the Macy’s Christmas tree while you grab some take-out from the Walnut Room.
- Location: 111 N. State Street Chicago, IL
- Details and Ordering
Shows
Music Box Drive-In
This drive-in screens It’s a Wonderful Life and White Christmas.
- Location: 2343 S Throop St, Chicago, IL 60608
- Screening and Ticketing Information
Holly Jolly Drive-In
This is another drive-in movie experience during the holiday season. It is presented by by Replay.
- Location: 2833 N Sheffield Ave. Chicago 60657
- Screening and Ticketing Information
Miracle on West Madison
This is another drive-in presented by Replay.
- Location: 645 W. Madison St. Chicago, IL 60661
- Screening and Ticketing Information
A Christmas Carol (Online)
The Goodman Theatre is usually packed nightly this time of year, but COVID-19 has hindered that in 2020. To make sure the story is still told, the Goodman Theatre has a free audio streaming version on their website.
Concerts
Andrew Bird (Online)
While Andrew Bird typically performs his Holiday show “Gezelligheid” at the Fourth Presbyterian Church here in Chicago, he will be doing an online show on Sunday, December 13th.
Sporting Events
Here are all the sporting events going on with Chicago-affiliated teams this weekend. There will be no fans in attendance at any games in the state, so please enjoy them from your couch. Additionally, if you are gambling, be sure to check back frequently for gambling articles and follow us on Twitter for even more #OnTapBets.
NBA
Bulls vs. Rockets
- Friday 12/11 at 7:00 PM
- Sunday 12/13 at 7:00 PM
The Bulls open their preseason schedule this weekend with two games at home vs. the Rockets. This will be the first time we see the Bulls under new management. Check out the preseason preview episode of the Bulls On Tap podcast to get ready for the games.
https://radiopublic.com/bulls-on-tap-WY5gOr
Check out the Bulls tab here at On Tap Sports Net for further analysis ahead of the NBA season.
NCAA Men’s Basketball
Northwestern vs. SIU Edwardsville
- Sunday 12/13 at 3:00 PM
6 Illinois at Missouri
- Saturday 12/12 at 7:00 PM
Illini basketball is coming of a big win at Duke in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. They'll visit the Missouri Tigers for the latest installment of their annual Braggin' Rights series on Saturday night. Tune in to a recent episode of The Sky Is Falling Podcast for further Illinois basketball commentary.
https://radiopublic.com/the-sky-is-falling-a-chicago-spor-Wax3jM/s1!d4fad
Notre Dame at Kentucky
- Saturday 12/12 at 11:00 am
Loyola at UIC
- Sunday 12/13 at 1:00PM
Chicago State - OFF
- Next game: at Illinois State, Tuesday 12/15
DePaul - OFF
- Next game: 12/18 vs. Xavier
NCAA Football
Notre Dame Football - OFF
- Next game: Saturday 12/19 vs. Clemson
Check out the latest episode of Irish On Tap with special guest Nick Shepkowski of 670 The Score and USA Today's Fighting Irish Wire for commentary on Notre Dame's season to date.
https://radiopublic.com/irish-on-tap-8XP025/s1!7711f
Illinois (2-4) at 14 Northwestern (5-1)
- Saturday 12/12 at 11 AM
The two Big Ten schools that call Illinois home will battle for the Land Of Lincoln Trophy.
NFL
Chicago Bears (5-7) vs. Houston Texans (4-8)
- Sunday 12/13 at 12:00 PM
No fans we will be allowed at the game, so we are going to have to all suffer together through hearing about how the Bears should have drafted Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson over Mitchell Trubisky. Tune in to the Bears On Tap podcast for storylines, analysis, and commentary surrounding the matchup.
https://radiopublic.com/bears-on-tap-WYYooO
Fantasy Football Playoffs
For most people, this is the first week of fantasy football playoffs. Make sure you set those lineups properly by checking out Pat Boadway's Week 14 starts and sits. For further fantasy football advice, check out the Fantasy Hour On Tap podcast.
https://radiopublic.com/fantasy-hour-on-tap-WzM2d4
That will wrap things up for the first edition of What's On Tap in Chicago This Weekend. As you can see, there's plenty to do in and around Chicago, so don't let the ongoing pandemic get you down! Be sure to check back weekly for future events.
