Are you a sucker for Santa? Do you love showing off your holiday sweater or carol-singing skills? Does Christmas just serve as an afterparty for your Hanukkah celebration? Chicago's holiday parties are as diverse as its holiday traditions, so you can find plenty of ways to celebrate no matter what you love about the season. Here are ten for your party calendar.
FOR SANTA'S FAN CLUB
Santa Con Chicago
Where: Congress Plaza Hotel(520 S. Michigan Ave. 312-427-3800)
When: noon-5 a.m. Dec. 8
Price: Free
Santas swarm the streets during this annual spectacle, which includes caroling at the Art Institute and Millennium Park plus plenty of imbibing at bars such as Beef & Brandy, Celtic Crossings and McFadden's. If you don't have a Santa suit, you're welcome to dress as an elf, reindeer, Mrs. Claus or anything else holiday-related. More info: santacon.info.
Bad Santa Bar Crawl
Where: Mother's Too (14 W. Division St. 212-255-4233)
When: Noon-9 p.m. Dec. 15
Price: $10 at barcrawls.com
BarCrawls.com puts on this crawl to eight hangouts, which includes drink specials and an afterparty at The Original Mother's. If that's not enough Santa-inspired drinking for you, upgrade to the $12 all-access ticket for admission to a pre-party at She-nannigans House of Beer from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Dec. 14.
The Santa Shuffle Pub Crawl
Where: McGee's Tavern & Grille (950 W. Webster Ave. 773-868-8073)
Date: Noon-6 p.m. Dec. 22
Price: $30 at bar1events.com
A tickets to the third annual crawl to six Lincoln Park and Lakeview bars includes a Santa get-up complete with hat and beard, so there's no excuse not to dress up as you take a trolley between pubs serving up plenty of snacks and punch.
IF YOU'RE SWEET ON SWEATERS
Ugly Sweater Holiday Party
Where: Division Ale House (1942 W. Division St. 773-384-6886)
When: 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Dec. 5
Price: No cover
Your most hideous outerwear and this Wicker Park bar's fireplace will both keep you warm as you enjoy a few cold drafts from California's Lagunitas Brewing Company, which will be taking over the taps. Brewery reps will be on site to talk up their beers while Pony Up provides live music.
Fun & Ugly Xmas Sweater Karaoke Party
Where:The Bar 10 Doors (1259 W. Taylor St. 312-226-1611)
When: 6-9 p.m. Dec. 12
Price: No cover
If you have the courage to go outside with a reindeer on your chest, singing in front of a crowd should be no problem. Share your favorite tunes and have a few $5 Absolut vodka cocktails at this gathering hosted by The Chicago Black Professionals Social Network.
POST-HANUKKAH PARTIES
The Matzo Bash
Where: Enclave (220 W. Chicago Ave. 312-654-0234)
When: 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Dec. 24
Price: $15-$50 at matzobash.com
Billed as the largest Christmas Eve party in Chicago, a bevy of Jewish groups sponsor this annual celebration, which includes a cocktail reception from 8-10 p.m., beats from DJ Trentino and an after-party at nearby club Cuvee.
Hubukkah
Where:Hub 51 (51 W. Hubbard St. 312-828-0051)
When: 9 p.m.-midnight Dec. 24
Price: No cover
Hub 51 knows what a Jewish Christmas is all about: Chinese food. The bar's chicken egg rolls ($5) are typically only served at the restaurant on Sunday, when they always sell out, but you can eat your heart out at this laid-back gathering.
FOR HOLIDAY GIVING
12 Bars of Xmas Pub Crawl
Where: The Cubby Bear (1059 W. Addison St. 773-478-3378)
When: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 8
Price: $37.50 at festaparties.com
This is the mother of all holiday pub crawls, known as TBOX for short. Don a crazy holiday-themed costume and travel between Wrigleyville bars at the 17th annual event, collecting stickers at each stop to fill out a Monopoly-style board for the chance to win gift certificates and hotel stays. Participating bars-more than 40 in all-offer drink specials and sugary cereal doled out by representatives from Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, which receives a portion of proceeds from the event. If you still have any energy left after a full day of drinking, head back to Cubby Bear at 9 p.m. for tunes from cover band Stache.
Holiday Rock & Roll
Where: Cafe des Architectes (20 E. Chestnut St. 312-324-4000)
When: 6-8 p.m. Dec. 17
Price: $35 at holidayrockandroll.eventbrite.com
Enjoy the delicious taste of competition at the second annual benefit for Share Our Strength, where pastry chefs from restaurants including Sepia, Perennial Virant and Blackbird show off buche de noels (aka yule log cakes) that are more delicious than any log has the right to be. Taste their work and vote for your favorite while also enjoying appetizers, punch and holiday tunes from Rod Tuffcurls & The Bench Press.
Eve of the Eve
Where: Union Station (500 W. Jackson Boulevard 312-787-9824)
When: 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Dec. 30
Price: $125-$140 at highsight.org
Bridging the gap between Christmas and New Year's Eve, the annual swanky black-tie-optional benefit for High Sight's scholarship program is expected to bring out more than 2,000 revelers to mingle over appetizers and drinks as well as dance along to tunes from Pat McKillen and South of 80. The bash also includes a cash raffle, silent auction and an after-party at River North club Cuvee.
Samantha Nelson is a RedEye special contributor. redeye@tribune.com | @redeyechicago