Friday, Dec. 5

Flossmoor Public Library Closure. The library will be closed all day for a staff in-service.

Holiday Lights in Homewood Festival. The annual holiday gathering in downtown Homewood will go from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The market and family activities will be on Ridge Road west of Dixie Highway and on Martin Avenue south of Ridge. The coveted seasonal mug is gingerbread-themed this year. Mugs are available with mulled wine for $10 or without wine for $5. Mug sales are cash only, limit two mugs per person. The H-F Park District community Christmas tree lighting will be in Irwin Park, 1800 block of Ridge Road. Santa will arrive about 7 p.m. to preside over the tree lighting. Kids can visit Santa until 8:45 p.m.

Pop-up Photo Portraits. Homewood Creative Alliance and Beyond the Book are collaborating on pop-up photo portraits for $15 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 18063 Dixie Highway. Proceeds will benefit the alliance.

Saturday, Dec. 6

Food Drive for Catholic Charities at St. John Neumann Parish, 17951 Dixie Highway in Homewood, from 9 to 11 a.m. This is a pop-the-trunk event. Cash and check donations will be accepted.

Holiday Sing-Along. Flossmoor Public Library, 1000 Sterling Ave., will host a sing-a-long event for all ages from 10 a.m. to noon. 

Homewood Holiday Market. The market will provide a great opportunity for holiday shopping from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the auditorium at 2010 Chestnut Road.

Pictures with Santa. Santa will be at Thomas Photographic Services, 18676 Dixie Highway in Homewood, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for photos. No appointments are needed. Prices start at $25.

Snow Globe Ornaments. Kids in grades K through 6th can meet in the Homewood Public Library meeting room, 17917 Dixie Highway, from 2 to 3 p.m. to make waterless snow globe ornaments that can be hung up or sat upon a flat surface. Register here.

Holiday Crafts for Kids. H-F Park District will host hours of fun making holiday crafts from 2 to 5 p.m. at Irwin Center, 18120 Highland Ave. in Homewood. Children will create several different crafts to be given as gifts or used for holiday decorations. For kids from 6 to 12 years old. Fee is $35 for park district residents, $45 for non-residents. Register here.

Shopping with a Kappa. The seventh annual shopping event sponsored by the Chicago Heights Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Walmart, 21000 Western Ave. in Olympia Fields. Donations will help serve more children. Make donations to [email protected] and put SWAK in the subject line.

South Suburban Humane Society Holiday Market. Volunteers are hosting a holiday market from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 and 7, of handmade crafts and a bake sale at the humane society, 21800 Central Ave. in Matteson. The humane society also has a holiday “wish list” for its operations. Donations can be left at the society during business hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from noon to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Grande Prairie Singers. Under the direction of David L. Brunner, the choir will present “A Very Grande Prairie Christmas: One December Bright and Clear” featuring singers, organ and handbells at 4 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, 330 W. Highland Drive in Chicago Heights. The group will perform works by Forrest, Jennings, Chilcott, Rogers, Willberg, Ulreich and Brunner. The audience will be invited to join in on carols. This concert is free, with free will offerings accepted.

James Hart Winter Choir Concert. Sixth, seventh and eighth grade students at Homewood’s James Hart School will perform in concert at 2 p.m. on the stage at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, 999 Kedzie Ave. in Flossmoor. The choir is under the direction of teacher Heather Olsen.

Sunday, Dec. 7

Gingerbread House Extravaganza. Flossmoor Public Library, 1000 Sterling Ave., will host its annual gingerbread house-building workshop from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Helen Wilson Meeting Room. Register here.

Bel Canto 10th Anniversary Choir Concert. The concert will be held in the Mall Auditorium at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, South Building, 999 Kedzie Ave. in Flossmoor, starting at 3 p.m. Tickets range from $8.95 to $13.16  and can be purchased here.

Cruel Yule Krampus Market. Thornton Distilling Co. will host the fourth annual wicked winter market from noon to 6 p.m. at 400 E. Margaret St. in Thornton. Spooky meets seasonal in 35 vendor shops.