Illinois' Christmas and Holiday Event Guide!
From the Cosley Zoo Festival of Lights in Wheaton, IL on December 4 to Photos with Santa at Golf Mill in Niles, IL on December 22, and culminating at World of Illumination: Arctic Adventure in Gurnee, IL on December 24, there are plenty of festive holiday activities to enjoy during the month of December!
December 6, 2023 at 9:00am
The holiday cheer begins at Cosley Zoo as the Festival of Lights transforms the venue into a winter wonderland. Marvel at thousands of twinkling lights, find the perfect holiday gift in the Wild Side Gift Shop and enjoy a mug of hot chocolate. Free admission during the Festival of Lights and Tree Sales, donations accepted.
December 6, 2023 at 3:00pm
Experience the holiday cheer at Gallagher Way. Enjoy live entertainment and plenty of
fun activities for the whole family. The Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville in Chicago, IL is the perfect place to celebrate the season.
December 12, 2023 at 4:00pm
Come join the
fun at Algonquin Area Public Library District on December 12 for Gingerbread-Palooza! Work with a team to decorate
delicious gingerbread houses with stickers and foam! The creations will be displayed for all to admire during Winter Reading. Don't miss out on this delightful event!
December 13, 2023 at 5:00pm
Experience the magical and vibrant Folepi's Winter Wonderland in East Peoria, IL! Come to witness the spectacular Parade of Lights and many other lighted displays, including a Candy Cane Factory, lighted arches, and a Western town. Enjoy a 30-minute drive-through electric park and holiday music playing on 88.1 FM. Don't miss out on this spectacular event!
December 15, 2023 at 4:30pm
Prepare to be dazzled by the magical holiday lights illuminanting the sky at Lilacia Park! Enjoy visiting Santa and exploring the holiday characters in the park from 4:30 to 10pm. Treat yourself and the youngsters to a delightful show with complimentary hot cocoa and cookies that will leave lasting memories. Visit Lilacia Park, 150 South Park Avenue, Lombard, IL for the Holiday Lights in Lilacia Park event.
December 16, 2023 at 9:00am
Come join Santa at The Morton Arboretum for a special breakfast! Enjoy a
delicious breakfast buffet in the scenic Ginkgo Restaurant and share your holiday wish list with the big man himself. Make lasting memories and holiday traditions this season as all children have the opportunity to come meet Santa.
December 16, 2023 at 3:00pm
Take a magical journey this winter at the Fox River Trolley Museum! Discover the joy of Chris Van Allsburg's book, The Polar Express as you board the train and take off to the “North Pole.” Enjoy caroling and sing-alongs with professional musicians during your
adventure and make it an annual holiday tradition for your family.
December 19, 2023 at 9:00am
The Evanston Art Center invites the community to the Annual Winter Arts and Crafts Expo at 1717 Central Street. This exciting event features original, handmade works of jewelry, ceramics, fiber, metal, glass, painting, photography and more. Families can find the perfect holiday gifts while supporting the ongoing exhibition, education and outreach programs at the Art Center.
December 22, 2023 at 11:00am
The winter holiday season is in full swing at Golf Mill Shopping Center in Niles, IL! Bring your children to take memorable holiday photos with Santa on December 22nd. Visits with Santa are sure to be a special time for all, with reservations encouraged, and walk-up visits available as space allows.
December 24, 2023 at 6:00pm
Witness the spectacular Arctic
Adventure produced by World of Illumination this December 24th at Six Flags Great America. Join your host Beti the Yeti as you explore snowflake tunnels and meet all of Beti's tundra-bound friends. Marvel as you enjoy your favorite holiday music and whimsical winter characters at the world's largest animated drive-through light show.
This text was created by the author with the assistance of GPT-3, a large-scale language generation model developed by OpenAI. The author reviewed, edited, and revised the draft language to their satisfaction and is fully responsible for the content of this publication.
