‘Tis the season for enjoying all the holiday fun available in our local communities! There are countless local opportunities available for celebrating the holidays in December. Some of them are much-loved traditions for the entire family!
Here’s your local round up of a few of the most anticipated holiday happenings in our corner of Chicagoland…
Clarendon Hills
The annual Clarendon Hills Holiday Walk will take place on Friday December 6 from 5-9 p.m. in the downtown business district. The public is invited to start the evening at 5 p.m. by visiting our local merchants for some holiday shopping and visiting with Frozen’s Anna and Elsa. Then, at 6 p.m., everyone is invited to witness the magic of the tree lighting at Village Hall. After the tree is lit, head back to the downtown area and stop by the Sloane Triangle to watch a professional artist paint a work of art in real time. Santa and his elves will also make an appearance at the triangle between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. The family can even enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride! This is an evening filled with holiday spirit that is much-anticipated and much-loved by locals and visitors alike.
Don’t forget to also take a look at the tree in the Triangle that Mike McCurry Group decorated for the 2024 Christmas Tree Decorating Contest! Give a shout out to [email protected] that you saw it and thought it was the best! (Hint: it’s the one that celebrates Clarendon Hills’ 100th anniversary!)
Hinsdale
Hinsdale hosts their Tree Lighting and Christmas Walk at the beginning of December every year. This year marks the 58th Annual Christmas Walk and it will take place on Friday December 6 from 5-7 p.m. in Burlington Park and around Downtown Hinsdale. Coined a “treasured kickoff event to the holiday season”, the Christmas Walk features a Santa meet and greet, festive rides on a traditional carousel and trackless train, holiday treats and games, and plenty of opportunity to support the local shops in Downtown Hinsdale.
The very next day after the Christmas Walk, Hinsdaleans and their friends and family can experience even more holiday magic in Burlington Park at Hinsdale for the Holidays – an event focused on festive family-friendly activities like decorating gingerbread cookies, horse-drawn carriage rides, visiting with Santa, and more.
Hinsdale has several ways to celebrate the season available…all of which you can learn more about by clicking here.
Westmont
Holly Days is a month-long celebration of festive fun for the whole family hosted by a variety of Westmont organizations and public agencies. The highlight of the season is the Frosty & Friends Parade followed by the tree lighting ceremony and pictures with Santa on Saturday, December 7 beginning at 4:30 p.m. in downtown Westmont. Other Holly Days highlights include:
· Family ornament decorating on December 3 at the Westmont Public Library
· Santa’s train ride on December 15 at the Westmont train station
· Phone calls from Santa on December 17 (deadline to signup is December 13)
· Breakfast with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Rudolph on December 21 at the Administrative Building
…and more. The full listing of Holly Days festivities can be found here on the Westmont website.
Oak Brook
Oakbrook Center expands their shopping hours during the holiday season and the grounds become a festive and magical place to visit. Santa visits often and photos (both with kids and/or pets) can be reserved online.
- An Evening With Fashion Santa – Oakbrook Center - Wednesday, December 4, beginning at 6 p.m.
- Holiday Express – Oak Brook Park District - Sunday, December 15, Time slots available between 2-5 p.m.
Lisle
Every year, The Morton Arboretum, located in Lisle, produces “Illumination: Tree Lights” and it has become a local destination for sharing in the spirit of the holidays in the great outdoors. Illumination transforms the treescape at The Morton Arboretum with festive and immersive installations along a one-mile, ADA-compliant path. The 2024 exhibition features 17 unique displays of light and music that “highlight the beauty of trees in winter.” Illumination is running through January 4, 2025!