Holidays
A listing of holidays, along with some events and activities around Evanston for the whole family.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is on Thursday, November 22, 2012. No recycling collection will occur on Thursday, November 22 or Friday, November 23. Recycling collection for Thursday and Friday will occur on Saturday, November 24. Solid waste collection and yard waste will resume on Friday, November 23. The Evanston Public Libraries and the Robert Crown Center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. The Morton Civic Center, Levy Senior Center, Chandler-Newberger Center and Noyes Cultural Arts Center will be closed November 22 and 23. The Fleetwood-Jourdain Center will be closed on November 22 but will be open for evening programs on November 23. The Ecology Center will be closed from November 22 through November 24.
Events and Activities
Evanston Flying Turkey 5K Nov. 22
Evanston Flying Turkey 5K will be held at 9 a.m. along Evanston's beautiful lakefront newly paved path beginning at Sheridan Rd. and Church Street. Click here for more information.
Winter Events
Holiday C.A.R.E. Faire Nov. 24
Happy Howlidays and a Purry New Year! Come one, come all to C.A.R.E. for the Evanston Animal Shelter's Holiday C.A.R.E. Faire. Bring your pup or kit to have their picture taken with Santa. Stock up on home-baked cookies and more in our famous Cookie Walk. Buy gifts for your pet loving friends from our Silent Auction, crafters and vendors or buy Raffle tickets. Donations of canned food will be accepted for the dogs and cats at the Evanston Animal Shelter. More>>>
Evanston History Center Holiday Open House Dec. 2
The Annual Holiday Open House is Sunday, December 2, 2012 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.! Join us for an afternoon of holiday cheer at the Dawes House, decked out for the holidays. The event features house tours, crafts for kids, holiday treats, and live music in the Great Hall. This event is free and open to the public. The Evanston History Center is housed in the national landmark, Charles Gates Dawes House, located at 225 Greenwood Avenue in Evanston. More>>>
Homegrown Artists Holiday Bazaar on Dec. 7
Talented local artists are filling the Evanston Ecology Center with great gifts for the annual Homegrown Artists Holiday Bazaar, which will be held from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 7. There will be unique gifts for that "special someone" for the holidays or shoppers can plan ahead and purchase gifts for upcoming birthdays or anniversaries. The Ecology Center is located at 2024 McCormick Blvd., Evanston. Admission is free and parking is free in the lot across the street. More>>>
Giftable Crafts Dec. 15
If you like to give unique, handmade crafts for gifts, then this is the program for you. We’ll be making cards, no bake treats, homemade spa mixes and more that you can keep or give as a gift to your friends and family. So grab some friends and come on in for fun and gift-filled program at the Loft! Please register online at epl.org/teens, in person or by calling 847/448-8625. Saturday, December 15, 3-4 p.m., The Loft, Main Library, 1703 Orrington Ave.
The Ethnic Sound of Christmas & Chanukah: A World Music Holiday Concert Dec. 16
Take a holiday trip to Europe and other lands when the World Music band, Jutta & the Hi-Dukes , presents its very special ethnic repertoire of Christmas and Chanukah songs, performed on seven instruments (Mandolin, Violin, Greek Baglama, Guitar, Bulgarian Flute, Ocarina, and Percussion), with three voices singing in up to ten languages. You'll sing the chorus to a Bosnian Chanukah song in Sephardic Ladino, drum along to a medieval French "Noel" and do a Balkan boogie or two. This Evanston band's unique nature and their infectious, enthusiastic energy captivates audiences and gets folks dancing to fun yet simple traditional line and circle dances. The entire family, from toddlers to seniors, can join in! Sunday, December 16, 2 p.m., Community Meeting Room, Main Library, 1703 Orrington Ave. in Evanston.
Winter Break Camps
When school is out for the holidays, children can relax and learn a new skill by enrolling in a winter break camp offered by the Evanston Recreation Division. Speciality camps focus on the arts, chess, ecology, sports, field trips and building with LEGO, while general camps incorporate several activities. Click here for details. Register here.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah begins in the evening of Saturday, December 8, 2012 and ends in the evening of Sunday, December 16, 2012.
Events and Activities
Grand Chanukah Menorah Lighting at Fountain Square Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
The entire community is invited to come together from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, December 10 to light the 10' Menorah in Fountain Square. Mayor Elizabeth B. Tisdahl will offer greetings and help in the lighting of the Me-norah. The ceremony will celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and freedom of conscience over oppression. Musical entertainment will be provided and refreshments will be served. Fountain Square is lo-cated on Davis St. between Orrington and Sherman Avenues. Admission is free. For more information, please call 847/866-2914.
Christmas
Christmas Day is on Tuesday, December 25, 2012. No Recycling collection will occur on Monday, December 24 or Tuesday, December 25. Recycling collection will resume on Wednesday, December 26 and be one day later all week. No solid waste collection will occur on Tuesday, December 25; collections will resume on Wednesday, December 26 and be one day later for the week. The Morton Civic Center, Evanston Public Libraries and all of the city's community centers will be closed December 24 and 25. The 3-1-1 Call Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on December 24-25.
Events and Activities
Holiday Bash & Tree Lighting Nov. 16 at 4 p.m.
The Downtown Evanston Holiday Bash & Tree Lighting is downtown Evanston’s kick-off celebration to the holiday season! Get the family together and spend the evening in downtown Evanston for shopping, dinner or simply an evening out! Free Parking All Day in the three Downtown Parking Garages! Take advantage of special offers and events in shops, cafes and restaurants throughout downtown Evanston. Experience trolley rides around the downtown and live music in shops and restaurants. In addition to live music, strolling carolers will take to the streets! More>>>
Holiday Tree Lighting Nov. 16 at 5:30 p.m.
The annual Holiday Tree Lighting will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, November 16 at Fountain Square. Mayor Tisdahl will join Santa in the lighting of the 30-foot-tall decorated tree and entertainment will be provided by Music Institute of Chicago and representatives from Northwestern University’s Dance Marathon. Fountain Square is located on Davis St. between Orrington and Sherman Avenues in Evanston. Admission is free, as is parking all day in the three downtown Evanston parking garages. More>>>
“The Nutcracker on Ice” Dec. 7-9
The 38th annual production of “The Nutcracker on Ice” will take place the weekend of December 7-9. Competitive figure skaters and skating school students from Robert Crown Ice Complex will perform the enchanting, magical holiday tale on ice. Terrific skating, beautiful costumes and glorious holiday music make this a very special family outing! Shows are on Friday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 8 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, December 9 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $9.00 for general seats and $10.00, reserved seats. Group discounts are available. Tickets may be purchased in advance at 847/448-8258 or at the door. Robert Crown Community Center and Ice Complex is located at 1701 Main St., Evanston.
An Evanston Symphony Christmas Dec. 9
Make sure your holiday season starts with the best holiday event in Evanston! Don’t miss enjoying these favorite Yule festivities with your family and friends … and you can take advantage of our special rates for a package of 2 adult tickets and 3 children's tickets.Music Director Lawrence Eckerling leads the ESO, joined by the North Shore Choral Society, the Evanston Dance Ensemble, and the Evanston Children's Choir in seasonal favorites. It's Evanston's largest indoor concert of the year! 3 p.m., ETHS, 1600 Dodge Ave. More>>>
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa begins Wednesday, December 26, 2012 and ends Tuesday, January 1, 2013.
Events and Activities
A Community Celebration of Kwanzaa at Fountain Square Dec. 26 at 11 a.m.
You’re invited to join friends and neighbors as the first day of Kwanzaa is celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 26 at Fountain Square, right in the heart of downtown Evanston. The celebration will be hosted by Fleetwood-Jourdain Center and will feature music, songs and the traditional lighting of the Kinara and recitation of principles. Fountain Square is located on Davis St. between Orrington and Sherman Avenues. Admission is free. For more information, please call 847/448-8254.
“Merry Kwanzaa” Dec. 26 at 3 p.m.
Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre will present “Merry Kwanzaa” at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 26 at Fleetwood-Jourdain Center, 1655 Foster St., Evanston. “Merry Kwanzaa” illustrates four generations learning the meaning of love and unity and the power of faith. The play, which was written by awarding-winning playwright Gloria Bond Clunie, features a multi-generational and multi-racial cast of Evanston residents. Admission is free; seating is limited. For more information, call 847/448-8254.
New Year's
New Year's Day is Tuesday, January 1, 2013. No recycling collections will occur on Tuesday, January 1 and resume Wednesday, January 2. There will be no solid waste collections on Tuesday January 1 and will resume on Wednesday, January 2, one day later. The Evanston Public Libraries will close at 5 p.m. on December 31 and be closed on January 1. The Morton Civic Center will be closed January 1. The Levy Senior Center will be closed at 5 p.m. on December 31 (no evening programs) and closed on January 1. The Chandler-Newberger Center will be closed December 31 and January 1. The Robert Crown Center will close at 5 p.m. on December 31 and will be closed on January 1. Noyes Cultural Arts Center will close at 8 p.m. on December 31 and will be closed January 1. The Ecology Center will be closed January 1. The Fleetwood-Jourdain Center will be closed January 1. The 3-1-1 Call Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on December 31 and January 1.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Events
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is Monday, January 21. The Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, Noyes Cultural Arts Center and Ecology Center will be closed. No refuse/recycling collections will occur on Monday. All pickups are one day later this week. The Main Library and the North Branch will be open. The Chicago Ave./Main St. Branch will be closed. The 3-1-1 Call Center will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, January 19
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Day of Celebration Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre and Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center will celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through music, dance and excerpts from his speeches. The celebration will begin at noon on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St., Evanston. Admission is free and open to the public. More>>>
2 p.m.
African Heritage Film "Prince Among Slaves"
In 1788, a slave ship sailed from the Gambia River with hundreds of men, women and children bound in chains. Eight months later, a handful of 
survivors were sold in Natchez, Mississippi. One of them made an astonishing claim: he was a prince of an African kingdom larger and more developed than the newly formed United States.
The true story of an African prince who endured the humiliation of slavery without losing his dignity or hope of freedom. Narrated by Mos Def. Prince Among Slaves won the Best Documentary prize at the 2007 American Black Film Festival.2 p.m., Community Meeting Room, Main Library, 1703 Orrington Ave.
Sunday, January 20
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration concert at the Music Institute of Chicago, 1490 Chicago Avenue.
Monday, Jan. 21
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Diverse Evanston Walks United (DEWU) event at the Music Institute of Chicago, Nichols Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue.
2 p.m.
“Race” by David Mamet, a staged reading directed by Erin Murray, 2 p.m., Josephine Louis Theater, 20 Arts Circle Drive. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet’s critically acclaimed drama follows 
two lawyers -- one white and one black -- who are defending a wealthy white client accused of raping a black woman. When a new legal assistant is brought into the case, issues of race and gender politics that simmer under the surface of daily life explode into dangerous and complex truths. Presented by the Theatre and Interpretation Center at Northwestern University, this staged reading will be directed by third-year MFA student Erin Murray and will launch Northwestern’s weeklong Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration 2013 on the Evanston campus. General admission is free and open to the public. Advance reservations are recommended. To reserve tickets, visit here>>> or call the Theatre and Interpretation Center box office at (847) 491-7282.
Noon
Free Tutoring Day for Grades K-12
Aristotle Peers (formerly Peer2Peer Tutors) will offer free tutoring for students in grades K-12 from noon to 4 p.m. on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 21 at Creative Coworking, 922 Davis St. in downtown Evanston. Tutors will work with students on homework, study skills, test preparation and more! Parents are encouraged to stay for snacks and conversation. More>>>
4 p.m.
Northlight Theatre Discusses "The Whipping Man"
As part our "Northlight Presents" series, we will explore Matthew Lopez’s play, The Whipping Man, which earned the John Gassner Playwriting Award from the Outer Critics Circle. The Whipping Man makes its Chicago premiere at Northlight Theatre this month. Members of the creative team will talk about the production and answer questions from the audience. Also, within this conversation, Galter Health Sciences Library Special Collections Librarian Ronald Sims shares equipment, memorabilia, and the history of medicine during the Civil War.
Here's a brief glimpse of the storyline: When Caleb, a wounded Confederate soldier returns to his family’s home at the end of the Civil War, he finds it in ruins and abandoned by all but two former slaves. United by their Jewish faith, the three men celebrate a Seder while wrestling with a shared past they can’t escape—and secrets they can no longer hide. Monday, January 21, 4 pm, Community Meeting Room, Main Library.
7 p.m
Candlelight Vigil, hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alice Millar Chapel, 1870 Sheridan Road. The keynote speaker is Illinois State Senator Napoleon Harris from the 15th District.
Tuesday, Jan. 22
7 p.m.
Down With The King: Observing the Legacy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster Street
The Evanston Art Center in conjunction with Fleetwood-Jourdain Theater, and Insight Arts is pleased to host a presentation and discussion to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This important program seeks to situate the legacy of King through our current visual culture and political moment. Together we will watch The Mountaintop Speech, an interview excerpt from James Baldwin, and view a work by two contemporary artists. One of the most remarkable features of the 1960s and those struggling for liberation at the time is how they talked, what they talked about, and the images they used. By showing these forms, we hope to put questions to our audience and discuss the challenges we face. More information >
Saturday, Jan. 26
2 p.m.
“Sing Your Song” film screening of the documentary focusing on the life of singer, actor and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte, Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, 40 Arts Circle Drive.
A panel discussion moderated by Medill Professor Lawrence Stuelpnagel will follow the screening.
Monday, Jan. 28
6 p.m.
Harry Belafonte Highlights MLK Program
World-renowned actor, singer, civil rights activist and humanitarian Harry Belafonte, who made the songs “Jamaica Farewell” and “Banana Boat (Day-O)” hits on the Billboard charts, will deliver the keynote address commemorating Martin Luther King Jr., at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, at Northwestern University’s Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.
The Jan. 28 Evanston campus evening program will conclude Northwestern’s two-week celebration that includes discussions, lectures, film screenings, music, theater and service projects to inspire reflection on Dr. King’s life and legacy. The “King of Calypso” met a young Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in New York in the 1950s. They developed a long friendship that transformed Belafonte’s life. Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive. More>>>