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RAVINIA
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Adopt a Pet, Come for a Visit
CAGIS Archaeological
Consulting Services
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Holiday Magic is a Great Event and the Top Notch Magicians Make the
Event a Treat in Itself.
Holiday Magic
Saturday and Sunday, December 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23
Wednesday to Monday, December 26-31
review by Ed Vincent
We took a trip to see what kind of magic was being done at the
Holiday Magic Celebration at Brookfield Zoo. We already knew the lights were the best ever seen on display at the zoo
and the atmosphere was in keeping with the season and lots of good spirits abounding, plus some great deals on gifts.
Magician Terry Murphy Entertains a Family with Illusion and Delight.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo
The two magicians are veterans, talented, and crowd pleasers.
Mr. Terry Murphy, is known as a master magician and is a retired employee of ComEd. Magician Murphy does a wonderful job of working the small tables loaded with kids and
families. Mr. Murphy does a great job with the little ones and their folks. It has been many years since I have seen such fine
close hand magic, have a look at the video below for yourself.
Magician Matthew Scherer Draws a Crowd Outdoors to Perform His Magic...if it gets too cold he brings it indoors.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo
These two magicians by themselves are more that worth the price of admission. Being part of the magic, or being so close to the magic is a treat you won't get at many places. These shows of drama and illusion are tops for the family and lovers of magic. I watched the kids in wonder and the parents baffled just as well. The zoo is magic in its own right with thousands and thousands of lights beautifully placed from one end of the park to the other. No matter what the weather, there are plenty of heated buildings with food, gifts, and magic to keep you warm and wanting more. Have a look below at some of the show by the Magician Matthew Scherer.
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Only A Few Less than 1,000,000 Small Lights Are Making the Zoo a Festive Evening Show, and Tents Here and there to Warm You Up.
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All of the new lights being used at the Zoo Holiday Magic are
LED bulbs instead of the traditional small incandescent
Celebrate the 26th Annual Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo
A Winter Wonderland Festival for the Entire Family
Brookfield, IL—When the weather turns chilly, the Chicago Zoological Society turns up the heat at Brookfield Zoo’s 26th annual Holiday Magic festival. Featuring live entertainment for the entire family, Holiday Magic is the perfect way to spend time with loved ones while celebrating the winter holidays. Presented by ComEd, the festival takes place on Saturdays and Sundays, December 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, and 22-23, and Wednesday to Monday, December 26-31, from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. Before venturing out to Holiday Magic, visit the zoo’s Web site, www.BrookfieldZoo.org, for a complete schedule of events, which lists up-to-date entertainment, activities, and animal exhibits that will be open on specific nights. Guests will also receive a schedule of the activities when they arrive at this traditional family festival.
Guests are welcome to join in the Holiday Magic opening ceremony on December 1 at 6:00 p.m. at Roosevelt Fountain. Prior to the official switching on the lights, the Carl Sandburg High School Choir will perform at 4:30 p.m. followed by the Bolingbrook Park District’s “DANCEFORCE” at 5:00 p.m.
Holiday Magic is sure to be one of the brightest, most decorative events in the Chicagoland area. With nearly one million twinkling lights lining the walkways, the brilliant illumination will create a truly magical aura throughout the park. Guests will be dazzled with the new spectacular “Dancing Lights” display around Roosevelt Fountain, which will feature 50 brightly lit trees and a 20-foot-tall animated peacock light display that will come alive to synchronized holiday songs. The show will run three times an hour every 20 minutes. In addition, there will be a new choreographed laser light show, presented by Sara Lee Foundation, and color-themed and theatrical lighting throughout the park. The laser light show will take place at the Formal Pool and will be shown every hour on the half hour each night of Holiday Magic. Families can also enjoy hundreds of community and corporate trees decorated with hand-crafted ornaments.
A winter celebration like Holiday Magic wouldn’t be complete without Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and the Chicago Zoological Society is excited to present this popular reindeer in a fascinating presentation by Rick Goldschmidt on December 8 and 9 in the Holly Jolly Theater on the East Mall. Author of the book “The Making of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Goldschmidt will give behind-the-scenes accounts on the movie’s animation style, talented cast, and overall production efforts. In addition, he will present the original reindeer and Santa puppets used in the 1964 movie, and to further celebrate the longest-running television special of all time, he will play a DVD of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer featuring the original commercials. Children will be invited to sing along, and there will be time for questions and answers after the movie. To wrap up the presentation, Goldschmidt’s book will be available for sale and signing—along with official Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer licensed merchandise. The entire presentation is sure to be a fun and enlightening experience for all who attend.
Additional scheduled live entertainment to appear in the heated Holly Jolly Theater will include Those Funny Little People (every evening, various times); Singing Men of Note (December 1 at 7:00 p.m.); The Notables (December 2 at 6:00 p.m.); McNulty Irish Dancers (December 2 at 7:00 p.m.); Coal City High School Show Choir (December 15 at 6:00 p.m.); Sheela Na Gig (December 15 at 7:00 p.m.); meet and greet Pasión 106.7 FM’s on-air talent (December 16, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.);The Pipins Madrigal Singers (December 16 at 6:00 p.m.); School of Performing Arts (December 16 at 7:00 p.m.); Broadway Bound Marquis Dance Company (December 22 at 6:00 p.m.); Rich Renik of Chicagoland’s WCCQ-FM and Lee Murdock, Great Lakes folk singer (December 22 at 7:00 p.m.); McCauley Sisters (December 23 at 6:00 p.m.); Elk Grove High School Towne Criers (December 23 at 7:00 p.m.); Vagabond Singers (December 26 at 7:00 p.m.); Ronald McDonald Magic Show (December 27 at 6:00 p.m.); Western Lights Chorus (December 27 at 7:00 p.m.); St. Luke’s Bottle Band (December 28 at 6:00 p.m.); Linda’s Dance Studio (December 28 at 7:00 p.m.); Allegro Dance Company (December 29 at 6:00 p.m.); Encore Concert Band (December 29 at 7:00 p.m.); Dance Workshop (December 30 at 6:00 p.m.); and Kidz Kabaret “It’s a Grand Night for Singing” (December 30 at 7:00 p.m.).
In Candy Cane Corner, located just east of the Formal Pool, kids can share their holiday wish lists with Santa and Mrs. Claus (through December 23 only) and meet some of the zoo’s costumed animal mascots from December 26-31. While there, they can also view Holly-Days Village—large window displays featuring Old World Village, Gumdrop Village, and North Pole Village settings. The three villages are complete with more than 70 miniature buildings, trees, people, a train, cobblestone sidewalks, and more! Candy Cane Corner’s cozy interior will be lit with candy canes, wreaths, and theatrical overhead lighting. In addition, holiday treats and hot beverages will be available for purchase.
Professional magicians Matt Scherer and Terry Murphy will have visitors young and old captivated with their mystifying moves at The Living Coast Plaza and Nyani Lodge restaurant on each night of Holiday Magic. At the North Gate, children can meet Dora the Explorer on December 8 and 9, courtesy of Comcast. Then on December 31, kids of all ages can rock in Zoo Years Eve when Radio Disney’s Party Patrol cranks up the festivities with music, games, and prizes from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Discovery Center. At 8:00 p.m., guests can join Radio Disney for an early countdown celebration.
As part of Brookfield Zoo’s Holiday Idol, guests can spread cheer to the animals during nightly singing to the animals. Guests can serenade the Bactrian camels at 5:00 p.m., the bears or big cats at 6:00 p.m., and the Children’s Zoo animals at 7:00 p.m. each night. Finally, guests can watch professional ice carvers from Lang Ice at the Nature Stage (just east of Pachyderm House). At 6:00, 7:00 and 8:00 p.m., guests can watch these professionals transform large blocks of ice into beautiful works of frozen art.
During this year’s event, many animal exhibits will be open, including Australia House, Baboon Island, Bear Grottos, Children’s Zoo (free admission), Feathers and Scales: Birds and Reptiles, Hamill Family Play Zoo (free admission courtesy of LaSalle Bank), the Seven Seas underwater viewing gallery, Pachyderm House, The Fragile Kingdom, The Living Coast, The Swamp, and Tropic World. (Some exhibits will be closed on select nights. Check the zoo’s Web site for details.) Zoo goers can meet some of the keepers and learn about a variety of animals they care for. Informal talks take place at 5:30 p.m. in Australia House, big cats or bears at 6:00 p.m., The Swamp at 6:30 p.m., and The Fragile Desert (by the meerkats) at 7:00 p.m.
Guests can complete their holiday shopping at any of the zoo’s gift shops, which will offer hundreds of unique items for those hard-to-shop-for loved ones on their list. The zoo’s restaurants and food stands will also be open for those who work up an appetite or desire holiday treats such as cookies, hot chocolate, hot cider, cappuccino, and soup.
During Holiday Magic, guests should park in the zoo’s main parking lot (First Avenue and 31st Street). Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 3-11 and seniors 65 and over. Children 2 and under are free. Car parking is $8; bus parking is $10.75. Holiday Magic is presented by ComEd and is sponsored in part by American Airlines, Sara Lee Foundation, Fisher-Price®, and LaSalle Bank. For more information about Holiday Magic, call Brookfield Zoo at (708) 688-8000.
The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo, is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. Open every day of the year, the zoo is located off First Avenue between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and is also accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, CTA, and PACE bus service.
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published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.