Things To Do This Weekend November 13-15, 2026

By: Stephanie Wylie 11/12/2026

Holiday season is arriving early in Lake County this weekend, Nov. 13-15, with a lineup that ranges from song-and-dance numbers to handmade gifts and fireworks. Deerfield Theater opens “White Christmas: The Musical,” Gurnee Mills hosts a winter craft fair, and Santa arrives by fire truck at Deer Park Town Center. For those who prefer art or a good treasure hunt, a mother-and-son exhibition opens in Highland Park, and an antique market sets up in Grayslake.

Check out all the things to do this weekend in Lake County, November 14-16.

1. Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas: The Musical” in Deerfield

Some holiday traditions arrive on schedule. This one arrives with tap shoes. Deerfield Theater presents Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas: The Musical” at the Caruso Theater, directed by Ken Preuss. Based on the classic film, the musical follows two song-and-dance men who team up with a sister act and follow them to a Vermont inn owned by their former Army general. It is a story of romance, showmanship and second chances, set to the kind of songs that tend to get stuck in your head from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. Tickets are available at deerfieldparks.org.

Friday-Sunday, Nov. 13-15; Fri.: 7:30 p.m., Sat.: 1 and 7:30 p.m. and Sun.: 1 p.m. Tickets start at $30.20. Caruso Theater, 1801 Montgomery Road, Deerfield.

2. Winter Craft Fair and Vendor Market at Gurnee Mills

The holiday shopping season has a manner of sneaking up on people. Gurnee Mills is offering an early head start with the personal touch of something handmade. The Winter Craft Fair takes over Gurnee Mills’ common areas Friday, Nov. 13, through Sunday, Nov. 15. Up to 40 vendors will set up throughout the mall, showcasing handmade wares that range from the practical to the one of a kind. For shoppers who want a gift that doesn’t come off a national chain’s shelf, the fair offers a chance to meet the people who made it. Details are at simon.com.

Friday-Sunday, Nov. 13-15; during mall hours. Free admission. Gurnee Mills, 6170 W. Grand Ave., Gurnee.

3. Unfamiliar Patterns at The Art Center Highland Park

A mother paints storybook scenes in gouache. Her son carves massive wooden faces covered in cascading patterns. Together, their work asks what we inherit from the people who made us. “Unfamiliar Patterns” is an exhibition by painter Eleanor Spiess-Ferris and her son, New York City-based sculptor Michael Ferris. Spiess-Ferris is known for painting storybook-like scenes with delicate charm and enigmatic references. For this show, she brings her distinctive treatment of paint to a new series of gouache works, a rare collection from an artist whose pieces are held in museums and institutions across the country. Ferris brings large-scale sculptures to the gallery: massive wooden busts depicting people he knows, each covered in patterns cut into the wood grain through a technique called wood intarsia. Displayed alongside his mother’s paintings, the sculptures respond with a collective history and draw on his Lebanese heritage. Together, the two bodies of work examine identity and cultural tapestry, as well as how inheritance and the artist’s imprint are passed down through relationships, time and the act of creation. More information is available at theartcenterhp.org.

Friday-Saturday, Nov. 13-14; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission. The Art Center Highland Park, 1957 Sheridan Road, Highland Park.

4. Santa’s Arrival and Fireworks at Deer Park Town Center

Santa does not take a sleigh to Deer Park. He brings a fire truck and fireworks. Deer Park Town Center welcomes the holiday season Saturday, Nov. 14, with Santa’s arrival, a tree lighting, entertainment and a fireworks show. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. with a performance by Those Funny Little People and visits from holiday characters. Santa then arrives on a fire truck to lead the countdown to the tree lighting. Fireworks begin around 6:30 p.m. and close with a finale honoring military veterans. Families can take one free photo with Santa near the tree. Children will receive free reindeer food while supplies last. Mobile carts will sell holiday accessories at The Glow Zone, and My Funnel Truck will serve funnel cakes and hot chocolate. For the full agenda, visit shopdeerparktowncenter.com.

Saturday, Nov. 14; 6 to 9 p.m. Free admission. Deer Park Town Center, 20530 N. Rand Road, Deer Park.

5. Grayslake Antique Vintage Market at the Lake County Fairgrounds

Somewhere in a row of vintage lights and old toys is the thing you didn’t know you were looking for. The Grayslake Antique Vintage Market exists for that moment. The market takes over the Lake County Fairgrounds and Event Center, where dealers offer antiques, estate and vintage jewelry, vintage clothing, collectibles, comics, TV and movie memorabilia, mid-century modern pieces, furniture, decorative arts, vintage lighting, decor and more. Vintage experts will also be on hand. Learn more at lcfair.com.

Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 14-15; Sat.: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sun.: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $9 for both days. Lake County Fairgrounds & Event Center, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake.

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