Updated: January 24, 2013 6:35AM

Sun Calendar

Wednesday

Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides: Take a 15-minute ride through the prairies and woodlands of Danada Forest Preserve, and learn about the features of this historic preserve. Wagons will be used when there is less than 4 inches of packed snow on the trail. Noon to 2 p.m. at Danada Equestrian Center, 3s507 Naperville Road in Wheaton. $5 per person ages 13 and up; $2 ages 5 to 12; free 5 and younger. Rides are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Call 630-668-6012.

Thursday

Blood drive: Donate from 3 to 7 p.m. at Community United Methodist Church, 20 N. Center St. Signup online at www.heartlandbc.org or call Joan Uebele at 630-983-1857 or Audrey Bueche at 630-355-6925. Walk-ins also welcome.

Finger Knitting: Children’s in grades 3 to 5, learn the finger knitting method. No knitting needles — or experience — needed! After Session 1 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave., take home a finished scarf. The next week, Jan. 3, for Session 2, bring in a completed length of finger knitting from home and create one of the suggested projects. Yarn will be provided for Session 1 only. Visit www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Old School Game Day: Teens, the Naperville Public Library is breaking out the old-school board games for an afternoon of fun and competition from 2 to 4 p.m. at the 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Drive. They’ll have everything from checkers and chess to Pictionary, Apples-to-Apples, Trivial Pursuit and more! Visit www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Miracles for Margo: A fundraiser at 8 p.m. at The Comedy Shrine, 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora, will honor Margo Krug, owner and operator of Only a Stage (OAS) for 22 years. Krug succumbed to lung cancer Dec. 13. Visit http://miraclesformargo.eventbrite.com/ to purchase tickets.

Christmas Memories House Tours: Discover Victorian Christmas traditions. Enjoy the house decked in greens, savor the aroma of holiday treats, and see the table set for company. Tours begin on the hour 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kline Creek Farm, 1n600 County Farm Road in West Chicago. All ages. Free. Registration not required. Call 630-876-5900.

Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides: Take a 15-minute ride through the prairies and woodlands of Danada Forest Preserve from noon to 2 p.m. at Danada Equestrian Center, 3s507 Naperville Road in Wheaton. Wagons will be used when there is less than 4 inches of packed snow on the trail. $5 per person ages 13 and up; $2 ages 5 – 12; under 5 free. Rides are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Groups of 15 or more are encouraged to reserve private rides. Call 630-668-6012.

Dec. 28

Dance Into The New Year: Put on your dancing shoes and join us for a New Year’s Eve Party from 11:15 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave. We will do the Hokey Pokey, Chicken Mack, YMCA and other favorite dances. Then at noon, we will celebrate with noise and fun to ring in 2013! Visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Grinch Party Celebration: The IndieBOUND “Grow Your Heart Three Sizes” promotion comes to a close with a wrap up party at 2 p.m. at Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave. in Naperville. Events include prize drawings and refreshments. Meet the Grinch, too. Call 630-355-2665.

TDIY(Teens Do-It-Yourself) Craft Series — Book Safes: Some things aren’t always what they seem! Turn old hardcover books into book safes! They’ll pass for plain old books on the shelf, but inside you’ll have a place to store your valuables from prying eyes! Registration is required at www.naperville-lib.org for this program from 2 to 4:30 p.m., Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave. Visit www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Christmas Memories House Tours: Discover Victorian Christmas traditions. Enjoy the house decked in greens, savor the aroma of holiday treats, and see the table set for company. Tours begin on the hour 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kline Creek Farm, 1n600 County Farm Road in West Chicago. All ages. Free. Registration not required. Call 630-876-5900.

Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides: Take a 15-minute ride through the prairies and woodlands of Danada Forest Preserve from noon to 2 p.m. at Danada Equestrian Center, 3s507 Naperville Road in Wheaton. Wagons will be used when there is less than 4 inches of packed snow on the trail. $5 per person ages 13 and up; $2 ages 5 – 12; under 5 free. Rides are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Groups of 15 or more are encouraged to reserve private rides. Call 630-668-6012.

Dec. 29

Blacksmithing Demonstrations: Stop by the wagon shed to see the blacksmith repair equipment and demonstrate the tools and techniques of the trade. Free demonstrations ongoing from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Kline Creek Farm, 1n600 County Farm Road in West Chicago. All ages. Registration not required. Call 630-876-5900.

Christmas Memories House Tours: Discover Victorian Christmas traditions. Enjoy the house decked in greens, savor the aroma of holiday treats, and see the table set for company. Free tours begin on the hour 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kline Creek Farm, 1n600 County Farm Road in West Chicago. All ages. Registration not required. Call 630-876-5900.

Farrier Demonstrations: See the farrier tend to Danada’s herd of horses and exhibit the tools and techniques of the trade. Free demonstrations ongoing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Danada Equestrian Center, 3s507 Naperville Road in Wheaton. Dates and times subject to change. All ages. Registration not required. Call 630-668-6012.

Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides: Take a 15-minute ride through the prairies and woodlands of Danada Forest Preserve from noon to 2 p.m. at Danada Equestrian Center, 3s507 Naperville Road in Wheaton. Wagons will be used when there is less than 4 inches of packed snow on the trail. $5 per person ages 13 and up; $2 ages 5 to 12; under 5 free. Rides are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Groups of 15 or more are encouraged to reserve private rides. Call 630-668-6012.

Dec. 30

Hunt for the Yule Log: Take part in the 35th annual Hunt for the Yule Log from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 30 at Morton Arboretum in Lisle. Receive a list of clues leading to various parts of the arboretum to find the Yule Log. Once found, join in a log-sawing celebration, bonfire, caroling by the Frozen Robins singers, and wassail. Meet in the visitor center. Free with admission.

Yule Twig Hunt: Little ones are invited to take part in the pint-sized “Yule Twig Hunt” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 30 in the Children’s Garden at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle. This event sends our smaller adventurers to find a Yule Log that is just their size. Free with admission.

Christmas Memories House Tours: Discover Victorian Christmas traditions. Enjoy the house decked in greens, savor the aroma of holiday treats, and see the table set for company. Tours begin on the hour 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kline Creek Farm, 1n600 County Farm Road in West Chicago. All ages. Free. Registration not required. Call 630-876-5900.

Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides: Take a 15-minute ride through the prairies and woodlands of Danada Forest Preserve, and learn about the features of this historic preserve. Wagons will be used when there is less than 4 inches of packed snow on the trail. Noon – 2 p.m. at Danada Equestrian Center, 3S507 Naperville Road in Wheaton. $5 per person ages 13 and up; $2 ages 5 – 12; under 5 free. Rides are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Groups of 15 or more are encouraged to reserve private rides. Call 630-668-6012.

Meet the Beekeepers: Learn about beekeeping equipment and the important role that bees play in our food supply. Ask the beekeepers questions about honey and bees. Demonstrations ongoing. 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road in West Chicago. All ages. Free. Registration not required. Call 630-876-5900.

Night Hike: Begin your celebration of the new year by taking a nighttime hike through woodlands and meadows. 7:30 – 9 p.m. at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve in Wheaton on Butterfield Road two miles west of Naperville Road. Ages 8 and up. Free. Registration not required. Call 630-206-9581.

Dec. 31

Daytime countdown: Ring in the new year with a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 31 for downtown shopping and dinging, and then count down the new year for an early ringing in of the at the base of the Carillon at Rotary Hill. Visit www.downtownnaperville.com

Special Holiday Carillon Concert: A New Year’s Eve concert will take place at the Millennium Carillon at the base of Rotary Hill, north of Aurora Avenue and west of Eagle Street. At 5:30 p.m., music will play before a family countdown to 2013. At 11:15 p.m., carillon duets in the Viennese tradition will play with a countdown to midnight. Visit www.naperville-carillon.org.

Dance Into The New Year: The Naperville Public Library is hosting a New Year’s Eve party from 11:15 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., Naper Boulevard Library, 2035 S. Naper Blvd., and the 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Drive. Dance to the Hokey Pokey, Chicken Mack, YMCA and other favorite dances. Then at noon, celebrate with noise and fun to ring in 2013! Visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Kidz Kabaret family fun package: For the fourth year, Kidz Kabaret will sponsor a New Years Eve event with the Marriott of Naperville, featuring a dinner theater production of “Footloose” and “Little Shop of Horrors.” The package for $240 (plus tax) includes: a guest room for four, prime rib dinner buffet, four tickets to both shows, live music from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. To make reservations, call 630-505-4900.

Bubble Bash: The 11th annual family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration takes place from 10:30 a.m. to noon this year at Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College. Featuring music by Jeanie B. and the Jelly Beans and entertainment by Geoff Akins, The Bubble Wonder Man. Cost is member $10, nonmember $15 (an additional $2/ticket box office service charge will apply). Reservations are required. Visit www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org or call 630-637-8000.

Jan. 2

Going Polar with Travelers’ Klub: Let’s get chilly as we visit the ends of the world! Polar bears, penguins, and lots and lots of ice! Join us for fun activities, crafts and scrumptious snacks. This program for children in Grades K – 3 without a caregiver meets from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. in the Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave. Register for this program at www.naperville-lib.org. For more information visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Thursday, Jan. 3

Morningstar One-On-One Training: Register for a 30-minute one-on-one session with Business Librarian Kent Palmer and learn how to use the online version of the Morningstar Investment Research Center to obtain investment information from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave.. The print format of the Morningstar Mutual Fund Reports will be discontinued this month. (January) Register for this program at www.naperville-lib.org. For more information visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Get Your Game On!: Join us for Wii and board gaming. We’ll be working up a sweat by playing Just Dance 2™. Stop by, grab a snack and practice your skills from 2 to 3:30 p.m., Naper Boulevard Library, 2035 S. Naper Blvd. For more information visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Friday, Jan. 4

Crazy Contraptions: Catapults: Calling all warfare engineers! Get ready to crush the castle or even just a stack of cups! We’ll build mini catapults out of everyday items and then we will have a marshmallow launching contest. We’ll see whose catapult can hurl marshmallows the farthest and whose can topple the most cups. Come prepared to be amazed at what you can do with Popsicle sticks and a little bit of duct tape from 2 to 3:0 p.m., Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave. Register for this program at www.naperville-lib.org. For more information visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Naper Settlement’s free Bridal Showcase: The 11th annual show is from 5:30-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. More than 40 vendors will have booths in the Pre-Emption House Visitor Center and Century Memorial Chapel. The nondenominational chapel is the highlight of the showcase. Call 630-420-6012 or visit www.napersettlement.museum.

E-Books Workshop: Download E-Books: Got an e-reader and wonder how to download e-books from over 6,000 titles available from the Library? Bring your Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader, iPad or other device capable of displaying Adobe-DRM protected EPUB, PDF or Kindle e-books and we will help you join the world of e-reading. Register for this program that meets from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Computer Lab, 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr. at www.naperville-lib.org. For more information visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Stuffed Animal Sleepover: Bring in your favorite stuffed animal for a sleepover at the Library. Drop off your stuffed animal from 4 to 5 p.m., Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave., create a special nametag and say goodnight, while leaving it in the care of the Children’s staff. Come back the next morning to reunite with your stuffed animal, find out what happened during the sleepover and enjoy a special storytime. You’ll be surprised to see pictures of the fun they had at the Library! For more information visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Saturday, Jan. 5

Special Needs Storytime: Your whole family is invited to a 30-minute program of books, songs and fun for children with special needs. All abilities are welcome with an adult caregiver from 11 to 11:30 a.m., Naper Boulevard Library, 2035 S. Naper Blvd. For more information visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Ice fishing: The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s “Hard-Water Classic” Ice-Fishing Tournament is from noon to 3:30 p.m. on Silver Lake at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville. Registration is $15 per person in advance online at signmeup.com/86766. Check-in is at Blackwell from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Jan. 5, and tournament fishing is from noon to 3:30 p.m. If the ice is unsafe, the tournament will be Feb. 9. For details, call 630-876-5931.

Tea & Talk Tuesdays: Are you a fan of the hit television drama “Downton Abbey”? Join other fans as Naper Settlement hosts four fun programs exploring the passion, nobility, treachery and looming change from the Edwardian era through the 1920s. The kickoff party will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Additional Tea & Talk parties are scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Jan. 15, Jan. 29 and Feb. 12. Each individual program is $15 per person; the series of four programs is $50. For teens through adults. Call 630-420-6010 for reservations.

Monday, Jan. 7

Naperville Newcomers and Neighbors Club: The club’s monthly welcome coffee is at 10:30 a.m.at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St., lower level. Children are welcome. Call at Sue at 630-904-5629 or visit www.NapervilleNewcomersandNeighborsClub.com

Tuesday, Jan. 8

Brownies & Books: Teens enjoy chocolaty treats while we discuss “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave. For more information visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Wednesday, Jan. 9

Wacky Wednesday Klub - Titanic: 100 Years Under the Ocean!: Didn’t anyone tell them, “Don’t Break the Ice?” Join us for our giant version of the game and see if you can lift the ice out of the way! Join us for fun activities, games and delicious snacks from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m., 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr. This program, for children in grades 3 to 5, requires registration at www.naperville-lib.org. For more information visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Thursday, Jan. 10

Anti-Art: Caravaggio, His Followers and Rivals: With his hyperrealist style and theatrically staged scenes, Caravaggio brushed against the grain of the established understanding of art and painting in 17th century Italy. Terah Walkup, (cq.) The Art Institute of Chicago, will explore Caravaggio’s controversy and influence in Italy and beyond Italian borders, his street brawl escapades and his enormous talents as an artist. Coffee and early seating at 6:30, program at 7 p.m., 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr. This program is presented in partnership with The Naperville Associates of the Art Institute of Chicago. For more information visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Saturday, Jan. 12

Family Films – “Happy Feet Two” (PG): Children and families are invited to join us to watch movies. A short activity related to the film will start the event, followed immediately by the movie, 1 to 3 p.m., Naper Boulevard Library, 2035 S. Naper Blvd. For more information visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Sunday, Jan. 13

New Release Sunday – “Prometheus” (R) (2012): Director Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus” follows a group of explorers as they uncover the beginning of life on Earth and are faced with a battle to save the future of the human race, 2 p.m., 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr. For more information visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Monday, Jan. 14

E-Books Workshop: Download E-Books: Got an e-reader and wonder how to download e-books from over 6,000 titles available from the Library? Bring your Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader, iPad or other device capable of displaying Adobe-DRM protected EPUB, PDF or Kindle e-books and we will help you join the world of e-reading. Register for this program that meets from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave. at www.naperville-lib.org. For more information visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Tuesday, Jan. 15

Exam Cram 2: Have finals now? Come to Exam Cram 2! We have reserved space in the Library just for you! We’ll have lots of tables for group study, free Wi-Fi and reference help. We’ll also have board games and snacks for brains that need a break, 4 to 8:30 p.m., Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave. For more information visit the library’s website, www.naperville-lib.org or call 630-961-4100.

Science Fair Genius Station: Middle Schoolers, your science fair is just around the corner and the Naperville Public Library is here to help! Our resident science geniuses, Dr. Judy Aulik and Lisa Durbin, offer individual appointments to help you develop a strong hypothesis, find great sources for your research and more. Reserve your 15-minute appointment by

---