These 131 activities are worth leaving the house for.
Ask me what you're after.
November 12 at 10am +3
Redfield Estate · Glenview • $5
Handmade jewelry, home decor, and personalized ornaments fill the Redfield Estate as over twenty artisans gather for the annual Holiday Market, featuring outdoor light displays, children's activities, and visits with Santa by the fireplace.
November 13 at 5pm
Douglass (Anna and Frederick) Park · Marshall Square • Free
Buy a handmade ceramic bowl, fill it with soup from local chefs, and help fight food insecurity in Pilsen and Lawndale. A feel-good evening where dinner doubles as a donation.
November 15 at 11am (Next weekend)
a. favorite design · East Albany Park • Free
A delightfully low-tech rebellion: ANALOG MARKET packs a sunlit second-floor loft with vintage postage, tin type portraits, beverage syrups, and handcrafted goods from local makers. Come browse the pre-internet treasures.
November 20 at 12pm +24
Evanston Made · Evanston • Free
Skip the mall: this pop-up market packs original art, ceramics, jewelry, and Evanston-pride prints from dozens of local makers into one free-to-browse shop. Chat with the artists while you hunt for gifts nobody else will give.
November 28 at 11am
FITZGERALDS · Berwyn • Free
Sandhill Christmas Trees supplies the pines while Fitzgeralds transforms its patio into a holiday market featuring raclette BBQ baguettes, ornament decorating, an indoor bouncy house, and Isaac's mulled wine.
November 28 at 10am
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum · Lincoln Park • $10-$17
Holiday shopping with a conscience: local makers fill the Nature Museum with gifts crafted from recycled, upcycled, and natural materials. Admission covers the whole museum, butterflies included.
Browse Chicago neighborhood by neighborhood, get ideas just for you, or ask me anything.
131 activities · Page 1 / 3
Tue, Nov 3 · 7:00 AM
The Lincoln Park Farmers Market · Lincoln Park
Tue, Nov 3 · 10:00 AM
Chicago Cultural Center · Chicago Loop
Free
Tue, Nov 3 · 8:00 AM
Shedd Aquarium · Near South Side
Wed, Nov 4 · 2:30 PM
Sunnyside Mall · Sheridan Park
Thu, Nov 5 · 5:30 PM
The Wayfair Store · Wilmette
free
Sat, Nov 7 · 8:00 AM
Lincoln Park · Lincoln Park
Sat, Nov 7 · 8:00 AM
Arlington Hts Farmers Market · Arlington Heights
Sat, Nov 7 · 7:30 AM
Evanston Farmers' Market · Evanston
Sat, Nov 7 · 7:00 AM
Oak Park
Sat, Nov 7 · 9:00 AM
Centennial Activity Center · Park Ridge
$2
Sat, Nov 14 · 10:00 AM
Central Street · Evanston
Free
Sun, Nov 15 · 11:00 AM
Rhone · Lincoln Park
Fri, Nov 20 · 5:30 PM
Woman’s Club of Evanston · Evanston
Free
Sat, Nov 21 · 7:30 AM
Northwestern University · Evanston
Free
Sat, Nov 21 · 11:00 AM
Palatine Township Center · Palatine
Free
Sat, Dec 5 · 8:00 AM
Immanuel Lutheran Church · Evanston
Free
Thu, Dec 10 · 4:00 PM
Downtown Evanston · Evanston
Free
Sat, Dec 12 · 11:00 AM
PALMHOUSE · Evanston
Free
Wed, Dec 16 · 5:00 PM
Evanston Made · Evanston
Free
Daley Plaza · Chicago Loop
The CoCo Shop Chicago · West Town
Wicker Park · Wicker Park
Hoste · Lower West Side
Lincoln Square Farmers Market · Lincoln Square
Steelcase Chicago · Fulton Market District
The Main-Dempster Mile, an Evanston Community Organization · Evanston
Gallagher Way · Lake View East
Randolph Street Market · Fulton Market District
Three Avenues Bookshop · Lake View
Three Avenues Bookshop · Lake View
Plumbers Hall · Fulton Market District
Little Village
Lincoln Park
Arlington Heights
Lake View
Little Italy
Lemont
West Town
Near North Side
Evanston
Lincoln Square
River North
Streeterville
AMERICAN GIRL STORE · Streeterville
Logan Square
River North
Back of the Yards
Lower West Side
West Town
Chicago Loop
River North
Lutsen
West Town
Rogers Park
Check what’s playing at Steppenwolf Theatre Company for theatre, or Sleeping Village for live music. Read about the actual production or listen to the artist before choosing. You don’t need to recognise a name for it to be your kind of evening.
Choose the show first, then make plans nearby. Leave enough room between dinner and curtain time to enjoy both. Tell me where you’re staying and whether you’re taking transit, and I can help narrow the search to an evening that fits together.
Tell me when you’re free, where you’ll be, and what sounds appealing. “Live music near me, somewhere I can sit, under $30” gives me more to work with than “something fun.” You can keep narrowing it down with me.
You can browse these pages without an account. Sign in to save activities and help me learn your taste, so future suggestions have a better starting point.
Outgoing is free to use. Events have their own admission prices, including some that are free. Check the listing for prices and booking details before making plans.