CHICAGO - You know how some sales people often say, "Hey, this is one of a kind!" The Merchandise Mart in Chicago will host a show perfect for holiday shoppers where the sale items really are. | Festival calendar

It's aptly named the One of a Kind Show and Sale. The eighth annual edition will be Thursday through Dec. 7 and feature original handmade work from 500 juried artists from throughout North America. Browse through the booths, chat with the artists and pick out that unique present for that special someone on your list.

If you can't find it among the 60,000 square feet of fine arts and crafts, you probably won't find it anywhere.

The menu includes painting, sculpture, glass, photography, ceramics, jewelry, wearable art and furniture.

The show opens at noon Wednesday for a special day of extra shopping with all ticket proceeds going to the Children's Memorial Hospital.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and students with a valid identification. Tickets are available online at www.oneofakindshow.com.

Regular show hours are noon to 9 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 7.

Tickets also are good for admission to The Artist Project, featuring 100 independent artists working in 2-D, mixed media, photography and sculpture.

Visit www.theartistproject.com for more information.

And, don't forget to visit these other holiday attractions while you're in Chicago:

• Adler Planetarium presents Star of Wonder through Jan. 4, at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The museum's longest-running sky show looks at the theories behind the celestial event that prompted the three wise men to travel to Bethlehem. Visit www.adlerplanetarium.org.

• Christkindlmarket Chicago opened Thursday and runs through Dec. 24 at Daley Plaza. The German market opens at 11 a.m. each day with closing hours Sunday through Thursday at 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m. Admission is free. Items for sale include curios, nutcrackers, cuckoo-clocks, beer steins, European chocolates, toys, jewelry, clothing and holiday ornaments. Visit www.christkindlmarket.com.

Daley Plaza also features the Santa Clause House where the jolly fat man and his helpers visit with the kids. It opens at 11 a.m. Santa's lunch hour is 3 to 4 p.m. daily. Visit www.cityofchicago.org/specialevents.

• Millennium Park hosts Caroling at Cloud Gate at 6 p.m. each Friday through Dec. 19. Visit www.millenniumpark.org.

• Navy Pier is the site for Winter Wonderfest from Friday through Jan. 4. General admission is $15, premium admission is $18. The annual holiday extravaganza is in its eighth year and features more than 750,000 ornaments, hundreds of decorated trees, an indoor Ferris wheel, North Pole E-Wish Center and more. For more information, visit www.navypier.org.