The village of Antioch is pulling out all the stops in welcoming the holiday season to its historic downtown, with a variety of family-friendly events.

Main Street, with its quaint shops, takes on a new glow with lighting and decorations that make it appear like a throwback to a bygone era.

The annual Christmas Parade steps off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, following a path through downtown along Park Avenue to Main Street, and then directly to Sequoit Creek Park, at its intersection with Orchard Street. Immediately following the parade is the tree-lighting ceremony being held in the park, which opened as the village’s new centerpiece last year.

Another centerpiece is located at 510 Orchard Street, where staples of the season will be on display from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, from Thanksgiving Day through New Year’s Day. The Kringle’s Christmas Village is built to resemble storefront windows depicting holiday scenes and has been a staple since 2017.

“Remember the holiday windows in downtown Chicago? They looked so beautiful and magical,” said Cruzanne Lewis, an Antioch Chamber of Commerce board director. “That kind of magic can be relived at the Kringle’s Christmas Village, enjoying the handcrafted Dickens characters. It’s like seeing a public art program.”

Dickens’ Holiday Village is a series of miniature scenes donated by the Norma Losch family. The life-size figures from Dickens’ stories are also housed there. The familiar holiday feature has been a seasonal fixture for more than a decade in the municipality.

“We have so many plans for the enhancement of the Kringle and Dickens displays, and the new layout is just the start,” said Barbara Porch, the Antioch Chamber of Commerce’s executive director. “Our guests will be able to enjoy themselves and learn about the past through browsing our Dickens scenes.”

Besides the chamber’s efforts, the Antioch Parks and Recreation Department has taken the lead in arranging the schedule for Santa Claus. He will be available to meet with children of all ages at the iconic Hiram Butrick Sawmill at 806 Holbeck Ave., from 5-7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays only, Dec. 5-20.

The Festive Tree Grove is also at the sawmill site. The trees are decorated by local clubs and organizations, groups and families to mark the holiday season to win a prize.

The annual “Breakfast with Santa” is Dec. 13 from 9-11 a.m., at the Antioch Township Building, at 1275 Main Street. Santa will also make home visits for Antioch residents only, from 4-7 p.m. on Dec. 8, 10, 15 and 17.

To sign up for a visit, or find information on any Parks and Recreation events, visit: http://secure.rec1.com/catalogue.

“There’s plenty of parking available for everyone,” Porch said. “The schedules make it easy to enjoy the holidays throughout the month of December.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/25/antioch-dickens-christmas/