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1. One last chance to see Santa remains Thursday evening at the Brink Street Market in Crystal Lake.
The Santa House will be open from 6 to 8 p.m., according to the Downtown Crystal Lake organization. Visits are free.
While in downtown Crystal Lake, families can check out Christmas Tree Lane in Depot Park, 90 E. Woodstock St., the second year the display is taking place. The display will remain up through Dec. 31.
Each of the 40 trees are decorated by a local organization or business. Downtown Crystal Lake and the City of Crystal Lake also decorated the gazebo and trees in the park.
For information, go to downtowncl.org.
2. A series of decked-out trees are on display at the Algonquin Area Public Library District through Dec. 27 as part of the library’s inaugural Merry & Bright: A Community Tree Trim event.
Visitors can vote for their favorite of the 15 trees, which were decorated by local organizations and are on display at the main library, located at 2600 Harnish Drive in Algonquin, according to a news release.
The top three organizations to receive the most votes will win a trophy.
The library is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday of next week. It is closed Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
For information, go to aapld.org.
3. The Woodstock Christmas Guitar Night returns to the Opera House this Thursday.
The performance, which features three internationally acclaimed musicians, will run from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 W. Van Buren St.
The performers include Adam Gardino, a fingerstyle guitarist, musician and songwriter; Sean McGowan, a fingerstyle jazz guitarist; and Tim Sparks, an acoustic guitarist who won the National Fingerpicking Championship in 1993 with an arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite.
For information, go to woodstockoperahouse.com.
4. The Clickmas in Crystal Lake holiday display and food drive continues through the holiday weekend, ending New Year’s Eve.
The display is available to view from 5 to 10 p.m. at 401 W. Woodstock St. in Crystal Lake.
The food drive, done in partnership with the nonprofit Fisher Outreach Group, benefits the Health Partnership Clinic in Crystal Lake.
The most-needed items include pasta sauce, tuna, cereal, soups with meat in them, granola bars, peanut butter, jelly, canned pasta like ravioli, crackers, rice, applesauce, canned ham, shelf-stable parmesan cheese, saltine crackers, vegetable oil, canned or dried pinto and black beans, canned peas or diced carrots and instant coffee.
For a complete list and information about the display, go to fisheroutreachgroup.com/our-programs.
5. Some local bars also are offering their own holiday festivities, including a pajama party at Mackey’s Hideout and a special Arctic Winter Bar at the Broken Oar.
The pajama party runs 8 p.m. Thursday to 2 a.m. Friday at Mackey’s Hideout, 2601 S. River Road, McHenry, according to the Facebook event. Attendees are encouraged to wear the “most comfiest thing” they can think of as they celebrate the arrival of Christmas Eve.
The Arctic Winter Bar at the Broken Oar, 614 Rawson Bridge Road, Port Barrington, features an enclosed and heated outdoor bar on the Fox River, according to the Facebook event. It is open 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
The bar also is serving up seasonal martinis, craft cocktails, iced shots and warmed drinks.
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