When you think of Christmas, toys and candy immediately come to mind. When you think of visiting Chicago, Navy Pier (600 E. Grand. 312.587.7632) immediately comes to mind. When you think of toys and candy and Navy Pier all converging on one glorious November weekend, pandemonium immediately comes to mind. Buckle yourself in. This weekend gives kids of all ages the rare chance to go all-out with holiday excitement with the Chicago Toy & Game Fair and the Chicago Fine Chocolate Show both running concurrently at Navy Pier.    

Now in its tenth year, the Toy & Game Fair is a great way to get those holiday wish lists humming with hundreds of toys and games from around the world, plus giant interactive versions of popular games like Bananagrams and Pajaggle, contests and tournaments, roving characters and plenty of live entertainment. The Chicago Toy & Game Fair is open Sat. from 10am to 6pm and Sun. from 10am to 5pm in Festival Hall A. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children (3–13).

The Fine Chocolate Show, meanwhile, features pastry demonstrations, seminars, dessert displays and, most importantly, enough tastings to send any chocolate lover over the blissful edge. The Chicago Fine Chocolate Show is open Fri. from 12 to 10pm, Sat. from 10am to 10pm, and Sun. from 9am to 4pm in Festival Hall B. General admission tickets are $25 for adults (includes 15 chocolate samples) and $10 for children, ages 3–12 (includes 5 chocolate samples).

If the spirit of Christmas isn’t already in the air around Chicago, it certainly will be when the city’s most renowned retail stretch decks itself out in grand fashion during the 21st annual BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Lights Festival on Sat., Nov. 17. A full day of interactive holiday activities, plus musical performances on Pioneer Court (401 N. Michigan) culminate in the main event: an evening parade of floats, bands, and balloons down N. Michigan Ave. led by Mickey and Minnie Mouse that sets the more than 200 trees along the route ablaze with a million twinkling lights, followed by a fireworks show over the Chicago River. For more information on the day’s events, call 312.409.5560.

Before, during, or after the big event, be sure to check out all the other great ways to celebrate the season during this wonderful Chicago holiday:       

Breakfast with Santa

Get in the spirit early, and share the most important meal of the day with the big guy at Texas de Brazil. 9am–12pm. Adults, $30; children (12 and under), $20. 51 E. Ohio, 312.670.1006.

Santa in the Sky

Get a family photo taken with Santa 1,000 feet up in the air at the John Hancock Observatory. Plus, kids can see a balloon artist, get their own free balloon animal, and get their faces painted. 10am–2pm. 875 N. Michigan, 888.875.VIEW.

Garrett Popcorn

Stop in to the Michigan Ave. location of Garrett Popcorn for a sample of its Chicago mix, a delicious mix of cheese and caramel popcorn. 625 N. Michigan, 312.944.2630.

Shoreline Sightseeing

In honor of the Lights Festival, Shoreline Sightseeing offers two “Mag Mile and Beyond” walking tours. Beginning with a ride on the Chicago River, guides then lead groups on a walking tour of Michigan Ave. with stops at world-famous Chicago landmarks, providing in-depth and lively commentary on Chicago’s history and architecture along the way. Tour guests will also receive a voucher for a free treat from the Hershey Store on Michigan Ave. Sat., Nov. 17. 10am and 1pm. $20. Departs from the southwest corner of Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand, 312.222.9328.

InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile

Warm up in the InterContinental Chicago lobby, just steps from the parade action, and don’t miss a minute with a live big-screen video feed of all the fun outside. Plus, the hotel is on the east side of the street, which provides the best views of the action. 505 N. Michigan, 312.944.4100. And afterward, stop into Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse for a drink or a meal. The restaurant is also giving away roasted chestnut bisque to all diners. 505 N. Michigan, 312.321.8823.

Wendella Cruises

Get a water-level view of the fireworks show (plus caroling, cookies and hot chocolate) on Wendella Cruises’s Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Fireworks Cruise. 5:45–7pm. $30. 400 N. Michigan, 312.337.1446.

With the Chicago Fine Chocolate Show coming to town Nov. 16–18 (!!) Chicago's pastry elite are serving up delicious, signature chocolate desserts for the first-ever Chicago Chocolate Week from Nov. 11 to 18. And if you order the special dish, you wouldn't just be feeding yourself: for each Chocolate Week featured dessert sold during that week, 10 percent of the retail sales price will be donated to Share Our Strength, which aims to end childhood hunger.

Below are several of the participatings spots, as well as their featured desserts:

While the honoree may have roots in Mexico and California, Chicago is more than happy to do its part in celebrating National Spicy Guacamole Day on Nov. 14. Please note the key word: spicy. The standard version of this affair took place back in Sep., so be sure to have the chef at one of these fine options kick up the heat to really do things right.   

Patron’s Hacienda

Enjoy a wide selection of guacamoles—from traditional to piña (with fresh pineapple) to pomegranate—all made fresh to order. 316 W. Erie, 312.642.2400.
Su Casa

Just off the Magnificent Mile, this place has been a favorite go-to for guac since the 1960s. 49 E. Ontario, 312.943.4041.

Zapatista

How hot can you handle? They’ll bring the rolling made-to-order guac cart right to the table to give you the chance to set your own temperature. 1307 S. Wabash, 312.435.1307.

It's almost Election Day—and like this child, we're ready for the election to be over all ready! To celebrate this once-every-four-years holiday, here are a few fun activities around the city:

View an exhibit presented by the Chicago Loop Alliance, featuring 50 hybrid images of President Barack Obama at the Inland Steel Building lobby. (An opening reception with complimentary wine and beer will be held on Monday, Nov. 5 from 6 to 8pm.) Artist Rick Valicenti’s Ark of the Archetypes: The Politics of Projection places the president’s face on familiar, archetypal images—including “The Coach,” “The Neighbor,” and “The Heartthrob” (pictured)—to comment on the different personas he embodies when representing the United States. The president's features become more or less clear, depending on how and where you're viewing the image. Mon.–Fri., 10am–6pm. FREE. 77 S. Dearborn.

Check out the election returns on the big screen, followed by a performance by local band the Statutes of Liberty during the Election Night Viewing Party at Schubas. 7pm. FREE, but tickets required. 3159 N. Southport, 773.525.2508.

Catch a special election night performance of the historical/hysterical tour-de-force 44 Plays for 44 Presidentstonight at the Neo-Futurarium. 7:30pm. $19.99. 5153 N. Ashland, 773.878.4557.

Get a few laughs with your political analysis tonight with comedian Tony Sculfield and his Comedy Campaign 2012 at Laugh Factory Chicago. 8pm. $20–$35. 3175 N. Broadway, 773.327.3175.

A diverse array of concerts are going on this week. Here are just a few:

Fri., Nov. 2: Legendary jazz drummer (and Chicago native) Jack DeJohnette celebrates his 70th birthday at Symphony Center. 8pm. $25–$85. 220 S. Michigan, 312.294.3000.

World-class flautists are in rare supply on today’s rock scene—just one of the many reasons to catch Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson tonight at the Chicago Theatre. 8pm. $48–$103. 175 N. State, 312.462.6300.      

Mon., Nov. 5:  Halloween may have been last week, but the spirit of creepy chaos will be in the air again when veteran punk outfit the Misfits hits the stage tonight at the House of Blues. 8:00pm. $22. 329 N. Dearborn. 312.923.2000. 

Wed., Nov. 7: Singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin’s sings her stories in the intimate concert space of City Winery. Wed.–Thu., 8pm. $40–$50. 1200 W. Randolph, 312.733.9463.
 
Thu., Nov. 8: Tonight at the Park West: your last chance to catch alt-country rockers Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers in Chicago before the band takes a self-imposed hiatus at the end of the year. 7:30pm. $22. 322 W. Armitage, 773.929.1322.

Fri., Nov. 9: Veteran troubadour Bob Dylan (see young Dylan above) comes to town behind strong buzz for Tempest, the most recent release in his 50-year career. Tonight at the United Center. 7:30pm. $50–$129.50. 1901 W. Madison, 312.455.4000.