It's Christmastime in the suburbs

You know the drill. Drive downtown, pay $23 for parking, spend $400 to take the kids to "The Nutcracker" and another $200 to eat in the Walnut Room on State Street.

Taking in Chicago's seasonal shows is always a treat, but it may be time to find some new traditions -- all closer to home.

Below we offer a dozen ideas for fun things to do this time of year. Let's call them "The 12 Faves of Christmas."

In the suburbs, that is.

Festive festivals

Ride in a horse-drawn wagon, listen to carolers and travel back in time to a richly decorated 1800s Christmas. "Christmas Memories" at Naper Settlement includes all that, plus live music, a gingerbread house display and contest, tours with docents, reindeer you can pet and visits with Father Christmas.

• Christmas Memories, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15, 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 16 at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. $9 adults, $8 seniors, $6.50 ages 4-17. (630) 420-6010.

Solstice spectacle

Did you know Santa can trace his origins to a Holly King who did fierce battle in ancient times? Hear winter tales of mythical kings, queens, gods and goddesses at the Solstice Feast Dinner Theater. It includes a banquet fit for a king.

• Solstice Feast Dinner Theater, 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 9, 16 and 23 at Morton Arboretum, Ronald Reagan Tollway and Route 53 in Lisle. $60. Make reservations at (630) 725-2066. www.mortonarb.org.

Hallelujah!

For some, Christmas is not complete without Handel's "Messiah." Now, you can catch it in Oak Brook.

• "God's Gift of Love: Handel's Messiah and Carol Fest" at 7 p.m. Dec. 9, Christ Church of Oak Brook, 31st Street and York Road, Oak Brook. Free. (630) 654-1882.

Cut your own tree

You can get your tree at any number of lots -- or cut your own. You'll love the fresh scent, and you even help support Marmion Abbey. Bring your own saw or borrow one with a $10 deposit.

• Cut your own tree, 9:30 a.m. to dusk through Dec. 23 at Marmion Academy Tree Farm, one mile north of Aurora on Route 56 (Butterfield Road). Take the Reagan Tollway west, exit at Farnsworth Road north, go to Butterfield and turn left, look for signs. (630) 897-3011. www.marmion.org.

Living Nativity

Legend says St. Francis of Assisi started these pageants to tell the Nativity story to illiterate peasants. Many versions feature live animals.

Here are three in the suburbs:

• "And It Came to Pass," 6 p.m. Dec. 9 at Fourth Street United Methodist Church, Fourth Street and Marion Avenue, Aurora. Includes a hand bell choir, narration in English and Spanish, 15 actors, theater lighting and Mary arriving on a donkey. Narrators will lead the audience in song, visitors can pet the animals and the evening will conclude with cocoa and cookies indoors. Free. (630) 801-3341.

• "The Light," 2 and 6 p.m. Dec. 8-9 and 15-16 (no 6 p.m. show Dec. 16). At Quentin Road Bible Baptist Church, Quentin Road just north of Route 22 in Hawthorn Woods (near Lake Zurich). Pageant features live animals including camels, theatrical lighting, children's choirs and the 200-voice Victory in Grace choir. $5. www.qrbcc.org. (847) 438-4494. ext. 1040

Holiday houses

Housewalks give you a chance to see gorgeous homes done up in their extra-special holiday finest.

Take your pick -- or head to both Geneva and Naperville.

• Christmas Walk and House Tour, Geneva. Tour five homes from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 7 or 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 8. Includes traditional tea at Congregational Church. $30 ($28 in advance). Call (630) 232-6060 for details. www.genevachamber.com.

• A Cup of Cheer House Walk and Holiday Market, Naperville. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6, $50. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 7, $30. Tour four homes. Includes a souvenir china cup and refreshments. Call (630) 820-3838 for details. www.napervillegardenclub.org.

Christmas concert

This extravaganza has treats for the eye, not just the ear. The Elgin Symphony Orchestra performs onstage in front of an ice rink, and Olympic ice dancers and Cirque du Soleil aerialists do their thing as the orchestra plays. Guest vocalists and the Elgin Choral Union add to the delights with seasonal songs.

• Elgin Symphony Orchestra's "Holiday Showcase," 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Sears Centre in the Prairie Stone Business Park, immediately north of the Jane Addams Tollway and west of Illinois Route 59 in Hoffman Estates. $29 adults, $17 children. (888) 732-7784 or www.searscentre.com.

Nutcrackers sweet

While the downtown "Nutcracker" has the cash, many suburban versions have a lot of dash. They do it by bringing in star-quality guest artists for leading roles and employing ballet-school divas-in-training for other parts.

They may not have the jaw-dropping production values of the Joffrey, but they're very much worth seeing -- especially considering the price.

• Chicago Festival Ballet's "The Nutcracker," 7 p.m. Dec. 21, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 22 or 23. McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $33. $23 students and kids. $31 seniors. www.atthemac.org or www.cod.edu/artscntr.

• Civic Ballet of Chicago's "The Nutcracker," 3 p.m. Dec. 8-9 at Blizzard Theatre in Elgin Community College's Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $16-$20; $12 under 12 years. (847) 622-0300 or www.elgin.edu/arts.

• "The Nutcracker," 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 5 p.m. Sundays at Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $18 to $25. (847) 895-3600. www.prairiecenter.org.

Santa and shopping

You've been waiting in line for 45 minutes and the kids are cranky. Still, you've got to get that payoff -- a photo of your elves on Santa's lap.

For a more relaxed pace, the specialty shops at Long Grove provide carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides, Santa, plus Nutcracker teas at a sit-down restaurant.

• Visit Santa at any major mall and many Christmas festivals and events.

• The Long Grove Historic Village Shopping District is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays) at Route 83 and Old Route 53 in Long Grove. www.longgroveonline.com

Lighting the way

Stay toasty in your car while you drive through a mile or more of dramatic holiday light displays.

• Clearbrook's Wonderland of Lights, a drive-through lights display, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday ($10 per car); 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday to Sunday ($12 per car) at Arlington Park, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. Find a coupon on the Web site. It benefits Clearbrook, a home for disabled people. (847) 577-4646 or www.clearbrook.org.

• "A Winter Wonderland," a drive-through lights display on the grounds of the Cuneo Museum in Vernon Hills. 6 to 10 p.m. daily. $5 per car Monday-Thursday, $10 Friday-Sunday. You can also see the museum, 1350 N. Milwaukee Ave., decked out for the holidays between 6 and 8:30 p.m. It's free for ages 15 and younger and $7 for adults. Take Route 60 to Lakeview Parkway and turn north. Stay in the right lane. (847) 367-3700. www.vernonhills.org.

Polar Express

The train appears, the conductor beckons and the children climb aboard for the North Pole to see Santa.

It's the plot of the book "The Polar Express," and it happens for real in Lisle, Prospect Heights, Lake Zurich, Grayslake and many other suburbs. The train may be Metra and the North Pole location may be undisclosed, but young kids love the thrill.

• Consult your town's park district or library for more information. Tickets sell out, but you can always plan for next year.

See Scrooge

Scrooge, Marley, Bob Cratchit and the rest appear in a professional production of Dickens' classic tale in Arlington Heights.

• "A Christmas Carol," Various times Wednesdays-Sundays through Dec. 24 at Metropolis Performing Arts Center, 111 N. Campbell Ave., Arlington Heights. $13.50-$27. (847) 577-2121. www.metropolisarts.org.