Chicago Cultural Alliance

Marche De Noel
2024-12-17 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-12-14 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-12-13 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-12-12 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-12-11 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-12-10 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-12-07 11:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Pioneer Court Equitable Building, 401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, 60611, United States
A Charming European Market Experience in the Heart of Chicago Immerse yourself in the magic of this European-style market on the Magnificent Mile™. Discover a delightful array of unique finds from local artisans and vendors. Stroll through charming stalls brimming with handcrafted treasures, delectable treats, and vintage delights. Savor the flavors of international holiday favorites at our food stalls and soak up the festive atmosphere.
Visit with Santa! 12/4 11AM-3PM 12/14 10AM-4PM 12/18 12PM-4PM

Support Valley Youth House this Holiday Season at the Museum of Illusions Chicago
2024-12-16 10:00 - 2024-12-31 20:00 | Museum of Illusions Chicago, 25 E Washington St, Chicago, IL, 60602
Now through December 31, 2024, visit the Museum of Illusions Chicago and make a difference this holiday season by rounding up your purchase to support Valley Youth House’s Holiday Gift Drive and essential youth programs. Your contribution will directly benefit local youth in need while you explore mind-bending exhibits like holograms, stereograms, and optical illusions. It’s a fun and impactful way to give back while shopping for unique stocking stuffers and escaping the winter chill.

7th Annual Hibernian Hooligan Ball
2024-12-15 16:00 - 20:00 | 10618 S. Western, Chicago, Barney Callaghan's Irish Pub, Chicago, United States
Hibernian Media presents the 7th Annual Hibernian Hooligan Ball!
It’s the only fundraiser of the year!
Sunday, December 15, 2024, 4 pm – 8 pm
Barney Callaghan’s Irish Pub • 10618 S. Western, Chicago • Cash Bar

Celebrating Music… Films… Culture…
Performing
Balladeer Liam Durkin
Irish Fiddler Lexi Kennedy
Irish Dancers
Pipes and Drums of the Emerald Society
and More Shenanigans!
Split the Pot • Free Craic • Fox’s Pizza
Houli – Houli – Houli
Suggested Donation $50
Or donate online at https://hibernianmedia.org/donate/
Hibernian Media NFP is a 501c3 public charity dedicated to Irish American culture,
and all contributions are tax deductable under Internal Revenue Code Section 170.

Building the Table (Pt. 4): Celebrating Culture in Policy, Advocacy, and Social Justice
2024-12-15 15:00 - 17:00 | Nobody’s Darling, 1744 West Balmoral Avenue, Chicago, I, 60640, United States
“Building the Table” is an in-person extension of ‘The Table On Air’ talk show, designed to culturally explore intersectional identities and highlight the dynamic lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ community members. This quarterly event series, in partnership with Nobody’s Darling Bar, features moderated discussions with creative entrepreneurs, grassroots organization members, and social impact leaders on diverse topics. The series acknowledges and celebrates the importance of the LGBTQIA+ community in society.
Quarterly Topics:

Q1: Health, Wellness, and Beauty
Q2: Arts, Entertainment, and Culture
Q3: Business, Entrepreneurship, and Education
Q4: Policy, Advocacy, and Social Justice

Event Format: Each event includes a panel discussion followed by a social mixer. The panel discussion is pre-recorded and later broadcast, featuring live audience interaction.
Event Details:
Location: Nobody’s Darling Bar, a James Beard Award nominee and Black-woman-owned bar in Chicago, is celebrated for centering queer women and femmes.
Experience an afternoon dedicated to fostering networking and connection for Black and Queer professionals across various industries. Engage with a diverse community of entrepreneurs, creatives, tech innovators, and more. Build meaningful relationships, navigate the evolving professional landscape, and uncover strategies for your continued success.
Event Schedule:

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Panel Discussion
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Social Mixer and Networking

Proposed Guests for Q4 (Policy, Advocacy, & Social Justice):

Payton Head – Equity Strategist, Change-Agent, Public Speaker at Keppler Speakers, and Government Consultant for Deloitte
Kim L. Hunt – Executive Director of Pride Action Tank (PAT), and Vice President of Special Projects at AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC)

Sounds by DJ PBNJEFFY

Last Chance Craft and Art Fair @ C.O.D.
2024-12-15 08:00 - 17:00, 2024-12-14 10:00 - 16:00 | College of DuPage PEC Arena, College Rd and Park Blvd, Glen Ellyn, 60137
Named as one of the Top 50 classic & contemporary craft shows in the US by Sunshine Artist Magazine!
Last Chance Craft and Art Fair @ COD
Saturday, December 14 10am-4pm Sunday, December 15 10am-4pm
Admission: $7.00 day of event, $5 Early Bird (through 12/13/24)
Youth under 16 get in free, accompanied by a paying adult.
There’s still time to shop handmade for the holidays! Artisans from across the Midwest are coming to Glen Ellyn with over 200 booths of thoughtful gifts, festive decor, jewelry, clothing, bath and body, kids’ items, and much more. Save $2 and skip the line when you buy your tickets online by December 13th!
Glen Ellyn, IL is located in the Western suburbs, 25 miles West of Chicago, IL with easy access from I-355. The College of DuPage Physical Education Center offers modern facilities with abundant free parking.
Accessibility: The College of DuPage PEC Arena has ADA compliant parking, restrooms, and doors.

Sistah Scrooge - Red Carpet Movie Premiere - a CoquieHughes film
2024-12-14 18:00 - 21:00 | Malcolm X College, 1900 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, 60612
🎄✨ Experience the Holiday Magic Like Never Before! ✨🎄
Join us for the highly-anticipated Chicago premiere of Sistah Scrooge, a bold and modern twist on the classic redemption tale of A Christmas Carol. Written, produced and directed by the visionary CoquieHughes and shot entirely on smartphones, this urban holiday film promises heart, humor, and inspiration.
💫 Event Schedule:
Doors Open: 6:00 PM
Pre-Screening Reception: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Sip on holiday-themed refreshments, mingle with cast and crew, and capture the moment in front of our festive Sistah Scrooge backdrop!
Film Screening: 7:15 PM – 8:30 PM
Dive into the story of Thomalisa White, a wealthy and unapologetic businesswoman whose icy heart is about to be thawed by three unforgettable spirits determined to show her the true meaning of love, community, and holiday spirit.
Post-Screening Q&A: 8:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Stick around for an engaging discussion with the director, cast, and crew! Get the behind-the-scenes scoop on how this holiday masterpiece came to life.
📸 Photo Opportunities
Throughout the evening, capture memories with our stunning movie-themed backdrop and meet the creative team behind the film.
🎥 Sistah Scrooge combines urban flair, soulful storytelling, and holiday cheer in a way you’ve never seen before. Whether you’re a fan of modern cinema or classic holiday tales, this event is a must-attend!
💌 Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of this magical evening—your holiday season won’t be complete without Sistah Scrooge!
🎟️ Get your tickets now! Limited seating available.

Constructing Jathi Choreography with Harini Nilakantan
2024-12-14 13:15 - 14:15, 2024-12-07 13:15 - 14:15 | Kalapriya Studio, 2101 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, United States
Weekly Saturdays
1:15 – 2:15 PM
Harini Nilakantan is a student of Aacharya Choodamani Guru Smt. Roja
Kannan, and has over two decades of experience in this art form. In this 90-minute class, dancers will learn new choreography – both how to piece together combinations and increase retention with her for advanced
rhythmic patterns or Jathis.
Class focus: execution, technique, creativity, retention

Weihnachtsmarkt Indoor Christmas Market
2024-12-14 11:00 - 17:00 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Come join us for a warm indoor Weihnachtsmarkt with German-inspired Christmas shopping, Glühwein, food, music and more!
Our Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) takes place on Saturday, December 14th, 2024 from 11:00am to 5:00pm. We will have German food and drink for sale as you stroll through rows of festive stands. This is a great holiday event for families and children of all ages. Our Haus will be decorated in beautiful holiday splendor, a perfect back drop for your own cherished memories.
Bring your youngest children for a special visit with Santa in our ballroom. Admission to the market will be a suggested $5 donation at the door. All proceeds from the event will support cultural and educational programming at the DANK Haus.
Doors Open – 11:00 AM with Shopping, Food & Drinks until 5:00 PM
Pictures with Santa: 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Interested in being a vendor? Submit the vendor application by following this link.
Visit the DANK Haus at 4740 N. Western Ave. Chicago IL, located just one block west of the Western Brown Line for all of your Christmas cheer!

FREE Guided Tours at the National Hellenic Museum
2024-12-14 11:00 - 15:00, 2024-12-07 11:00 - 15:00 | National Hellenic Museum, 333 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL, 60661, United States
Join us for our FREE, limited-time offer guided tours every Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. These one-hour tours offer a comprehensive journey through the museum’s rich exhibitions and artifacts.

Puerto Rican Arts Alliance: Studio Arts Program
2024-12-14 10:30 - 14:30, 2024-12-07 10:30 - 14:30 | IL
El Rinconcito is a free open art space for creative expression for people ages 12-25. You can meet people like you who are interested in arts, painting, drawing, printmaking, and others. El Riconcito provides a safe and welcoming studio for art making. An artist and a counselor in the studio can guide you in creative experiences, but you can opt to do your own artwork.
Join us! We provide the art supplies, and you bring your creativity.

Kino, Kaffee und Kuchen
2024-12-14 10:30, 2024-12-07 10:30 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Date:
Start
Saturday, January 06, 2024
Time:
Location:
Location
DANK Haus Room 206, 2nd Floor

KINO, KAFFEE UND KUCHEN
Saturdays at the DANK Haus in Room 206
10:30 – 11:00 AM | Kaffee und Kuchen
11:00 – 12:00 PM | Vorfilm
12:00 PM | Feature Film Begins

Join us each Saturday at the DANK Haus in Fall, Winter, and Spring for Kaffee, Kuchen, und Kino. Each week guests will choose the film they want to watch
DANK Members: $5 | Non-Members: $7

Neighborhood Nights
2024-12-12 19:00 - 23:00 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Date:
Start
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Time:
Location:
Location
DANK Haus, 6th Floor Skyline Lounge

enjoy a beverage with a spectacular EXPERIENCE in our haus
A perfect place to meet your neighbors and socialize! All proceeds support the DANK Haus Museum
WHEN
Each 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month from 7-11 PM.
Location
Winter months – Brauhaus Room (2nd floor)
Summer/Fall months – Skyline Lounge/Terrace (6th floor)
Subject to change. Be sure to check elevator signs when arriving!

Terroir and Territory: ART WORKS Project Year-End Event
2024-12-12 18:00 - 21:00 | 625 North Kingsbury Street Chicago, IL 60654, 625 North Kingsbury Street, Chicago, IL, 60654, United States
ART WORKS Projects is delighted to invite you to a special celebration as we prepare for the 10th anniversary of the Emerging Lens Fellowship Program in 2025. To commemorate this milestone, we are hosting an evening of wine tasting and an exhibition that celebrates a decade of transformative storytelling through photography and visual art.
The event will feature the work of 2023-24 Fellows Astrig Agopian and Natalia Favre, whose projects illuminate the enduring connection between land, identity, and resilience. The concept of terroir finds unique resonance in their work, where natural elements like soil and climate shape and preserve cultural heritage. In terroir studies, soil is not merely a physical medium but a vessel for memory, carrying layers of meaning that reflect the past and inform the present. This connection becomes the foundation of both artists’ narratives, as their projects remind us that land is more than terrain—it is a living repository of memory and cultural identity.
In Like There’s No Tomorrow, Astrig Agopian explores how soil and landscape serve as anchors of cultural identity for displaced Armenians, using land to preserve memory and foster resilience. Similarly, Maloneras, Seeds of Resistance by Natalia Favre sheds light on the struggle of Indigenous women in northern Argentina to protect their ancestral land from the environmental and social consequences of lithium mining. Both projects demonstrate how land, like terroir in winemaking, shapes unique and enduring narratives, becoming symbols of resistance, identity, and heritage.
Join us for this memorable celebration where we will explore the powerful stories behind these works while enjoying a curated wine tasting experience that embodies the rich symbolism of land and place. Together, we will reflect on a decade of impactful storytelling through the Emerging Lens Fellowship and toast to a future of continued creative exploration and cultural preservation.
We hope you will join us for this sensory evening dedicated to the resilience and beauty of land, culture, and community!
EVENT TICKET INCLUDES:
Three wine-tasting stations featuring 3-5 wines from select regions including:

Jujuy/Andean Region of Argentina and Chile
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia
Syria and Lebanon

There will also be heavy appetizers, additional beverages including non-alcoholic refreshments, and desserts.

Artecito Virtual
2024-12-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Online Event
Artecito es un proyecto criado por OPEN Center for the Arts y Lincoln Park Zoo para explorar diferentes temas de la naturaleza y conservación del medio ambiente a través de las artes

Photographing the Salt Shed: The Intersection of Art and Labor
2024-12-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
Originally constructed in 1929, the Morton Salt Company Warehouse Complex is a familiar and beloved Chicago Landmark along Elston Avenue near Goose Island. For decades, its enormous hand-painted sign has captivated people traveling along Interstate I-90. As times changed, the property was no longer used for salt storage and processing. Sandra Steinbrecher’s new photography book, The Salt Shed, chronicles the building’s remarkable transformation into a stunning music venue.
Join the CAC for an enlightening panel discussion on the Salt Shed’s redevelopment, history and working-class roots. Joining Sandra are Daniel John Majerowicz, the plumbing foreman for the project, and Paul Durica, Director of Exhibitions at the Chicago History Museum and author of the book’s history essay. The conversation is moderated by Heidi Stevens, a Chicago writer, speaker and nationally syndicated columnist, who wrote the book’s foreword.
Copies of The Salt Shed will be on sale at the CAC Design Store before and after the program and there will be a short book signing following the panel discussion.

Studio Deals Midwest
2024-12-07 12:00 - 17:00 | IL
ArtClvb’s upcoming Studio Deals Midwest – Chicago
Saturday, December 7th, from 12-5 PM.
1 Day, 7 Cities, 200+ Artists
Akron/ Ann Arbor/ Cleveland/ Chicago/ Detroit/ Toledo/ Ypsilanti
RSVP to attend in your City: here

Here’s what you need to know about the Studio Deals event:

Event Date and Time: December 7th, 12-5 PM
Format: A one-day open studio event for art buyers to visit artists and purchase art directly through the ArtClvb App.
Map & Promotion: ArtClvb will provide an interactive map to guide registered art buyers to participating artist studios

Petrykivka workshop by Kateryna Kryvolap
2024-12-07 11:00 - 13:00 | 2249 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60612, 2249 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
We are excited to invite you all to a special workshop on December 7. Together we’ll create a beautiful painting and share memorable artistic experiences.
Petrykivka painting, originating in the village of Petrykivka, embodies a unique blend of historical significance and artistic skill, dating back to the 17th century. Traditionally, it was used to adorn homes and household items with fantastical flora and fauna, often including symbolic motifs like the phoenix, representing harmony and happiness. These designs, rich in symbolic protection, are crafted with single, sweeping brushstrokes, creating a two-dimensional effect that invites viewers into a world of vibrant simplicity.

The Annual Holiday Native Art Market
2024-12-07 10:00 - 16:00 | 3401 West Ainslie Street, 3401 W. Ainslie Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
This holiday season, discover one-of-a-kind gifts that reflect the beauty and spirit of Native culture! The Annual Holiday Native Art Market brings together talented Native artisans who will showcase everything from intricate beadwork and stunning paintings to handcrafted jewelry, textiles, and unique artwork. Whether you’re shopping for loved ones or treating yourself, each item offers a special story and a connection to Indigenous heritage.
When: Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Where: American Indian CenterDance Exhibitions: Noon and 2:30 p.m.Indian Tacos: Available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $10
Why You Should Join UsThis isn’t just a market—it’s an experience where art, culture, and community come together.
Find Meaningful Gifts: Skip the crowded malls and discover authentic, handcrafted items that stand out. Every piece, from intricate beadwork to original artwork, is crafted with care and tradition, making them unforgettable gifts that reflect Native culture.
See Powerful Performances: Enjoy live dance exhibitions at noon and 2:30 p.m., each bringing Native traditions to life through movement, song, and colorful regalia that tell powerful stories.
Taste a Community Favorite: Grab an Indian taco between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for $10—a favorite that adds a delicious touch to your day with us!
Join in the Festivities: Take part in our community raffles for a chance to win special prizes. It’s the perfect way to add some extra excitement and maybe even take home something unique.
Admission is free, and all ages are welcome, so bring family and friends for a day filled with art, culture, and holiday spirit. Join us in supporting Native artisans and finding unique, heartfelt gifts that celebrate the artistry and beauty of Native traditions.

Holiday Greetings Watercolor Workshop
2024-12-07 10:00 - 11:30 | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
Celebrate the season with the CAC. Join us for a special watercolor workshop where we will combine Chicago’s unique architecture with holiday trimmings.
While Chicago looks great any time of the year, it looks spectacular around the holidays. Wreaths, garlands, and festive décor can be found all around the city from the Magnificent Mile to Wrigley Field and beyond. Join us for a very special watercolor workshop where we celebrate the season that combines Chicago’s unique architecture accentuated with holiday trimmings. Participants will create their own holiday greeting card and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate. All necessary supplies will be provided.
