Starting now, Chicago’s North Shore suburbs are offering an abundance of twinkling lights, photos with Santa, Christmas tree lightings, carolers, gingerbread, cocoa, menorah lightings, holiday teas, skating, concerts and more. Here’s a list to get you into the merry mood of the holidays.
Nov. 14 through Jan. 4
Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. A 1.3 mile walking trail featuring designer-curated holiday lights, art and music, with festive treats available. chicagobotanic.org/lightscape
Willow Hill Lights, 1350 Willow Road, Northbrook. Opens nightly at 5 p.m. A 2.5 mile drive-through holiday lights show. $40 per car. Advance purchase recommended, some tickets available at venue. Entrance is on Willow Road, west of Route 43 and in between I-94 and I-294. willowhilllights.com
Friday, Nov. 22-Sunday, Dec. 7
Santa’s Mailbox, Mallinckrodt Park Gazebo, 1041A Ridge Rd., Wilmette. Drop a letter to Santa with a self-addressed stamped envelope in the magical mailbox, receive a reply. Free.
Friday, Nov. 28
Glencoe’s Annual Light the Lights Festival, downtown Glencoe. Lighting Ceremony on Village Court at 5 p.m.,
live music, meet the characters of “Frozen,” trackless train rides, photos with Santa at Writers Theatre , live reindeer,
Writers Theatre bar and live music, crafts at Glencoe Public Library, tunnel of lights connecting Park Avenue and Tudor Court. villageofglencoe.org/
Nov. 28 and continuing
Fresh Christmas and holiday trees, daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Historic Wagner Farm, 1510 Wagner Road, Glenview.
Dress up your home and yard with the Farm’s cut
holiday trees and wreaths. All sales help to support the animals on the Farm. glenviewparks.org.
Saturday, Nov. 29
Holiday in the Park & Parade 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Follow the parade down Glenview Road from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church going west to Jackman Park, 1011 Lehigh Avenue, Glenview. Festivities in the park include a visit with Santa, hay rides, a train ride for kids, carolers, cookies, hot chocolate and popcorn.
A snow machine was popular at Jackman Park during the Nov. 30, 2024 Holiday in the Park and Parade in downtown Glenview. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)
Thursday, Dec. 4
Holiday Sip & Shop, 4 to 7:00 p.m. Downtown Wilmette. Enjoy shopping, in-store promotions, refreshments, and festive cheer at participating downtown merchants. Free gift wrapping. https://www.wilmettekenilworth.com/
Friday, Dec. 5
Winnetka Annual Tree Lighting, 5 p.m., Dwyer Park, near the intersection of Elm and Birch, Winnetka. Visits with Santa, caroling, hot chocolate, shopping at downtown businesses. wngchamber.com
Saturday, Dec. 6
Holiday Craft Fair, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Techny Prairie Activity Center, 180 Anets Drive, Northbrook. Browse new and handmade jewelry, arts, crafts, kitchen items, pens, etc. Free admission for shoppers, free hot chocolate.
Flapjacks & Flannels, 9 to 11 a.m. Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St., Evanston. Families will enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast, festive winter crafts and a visit with Santa. $10 for youth/$15 for adults. Register at cityofevanston.org/recreation.
Festival of Trees, 4 to 6 p.m., Park Center, 2400 Chestnut Ave., Glenview. View the decorated trees and vote for your favorites. Take pictures with Santa Claus and The Grinch. Enjoy carolers, children’s crafts and activities. $5; children ages 2 and under are free. glenviewparks.org
Holiday Happenings in Wilmette. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wilmette Village Green and various locations. Visit with Santa, enjoy a giant snow globe, curling in Ouilmette Way, live performances, and New Trier carolers. See a showing of “Elf” at the Wilmette Theatre. At 9 a.m., enjoy a Frozen Character Breakfast at Convito Café (reservations required: 847-251-3653 or convitomanager@gmail.com). Caroling, cocoa, and the annual tree lighting take place at 5 p.m. on Village Green. wilmette.gov/745/Holiday-Events-2025
Downtown Evanston Tree Lighting, 4:30 to 7 p.m., Fountain Square, Evanston. Includes performances from the Evanston Children’s Choir, Evanston Folk Choir and others, followed by visits with Santa at The Merion, 1611 Chicago Ave., Evanston. downtownevanston.org/treelighting
Friday, Dec. 5-Saturday, Dec. 6
Adult Gingerbread House Workshop, 7 p.m. Lakeview Center, Wilmette. Build an artisan gingerbread house with BYOB beverages, refreshments. R-$49 / NR-$61, age 21+. Register at wilmettepark.org
Saturday, Dec. 6 – Sunday, Dec. 7
Chicagoland Holiday Bookstore Trolley. Climb aboard a holiday trolley for a festive ride, stopping at indie bookstores along your route! Our first ever Chicagoland Holiday Bookstore Trolley brings together 43 indie bookstores across the city and suburbs. Route 1: 9:30 a.m. Dec. 6 tour begins and ends at Bookends & Beginnings 1620 Orrington Ave, Evanston. Route 3: 10:30 a.m. Dec. 7 tour begins and ends at The Book Stall, 811 Elm St, Winnetka.
Family Gingerbread House Workshops, 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Community Recreation Center, Wilmette. Create a holiday house, decorate it with frosting and sweets.
R-$49 / NR-$61, age 3+. Register at wilmettepark.org.
Saturday, Dec. 6-Saturday, Dec. 20
Breakfast with Santa, Various times and dates. The Lawn Grill at Wilmette Golf Club, 3900 Fairway Dr., Wilmette. Enjoy breakfast, photos with Santa, a goodie bag and hot chocolate decorating. Adults R-$41/NR-$51, Children 3-17 R-$20/NR-$25, age 2 and under free. Register at wilmettepark.org.
Santa and all his helpers wave to the crowd at the Wilmette Holiday Parade in a previous year. (Pioneer Press)
Sunday, Dec. 7
Welcome to Winter, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Weinberg Family Recreation Center, 305 Randolph, Glencoe. Enjoy Happy Land Mini Golf on ice, skating, games, music, and refreshments! Free for passholders; $24 for non-passholders. Learn more at glencoeparkdistrict.com
Shine: A Chanukah Celebration, 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Techny Prairie Activity Center, 180 Anets Drive, Northbrook
Music, cookie decorating, crafts. $15/$19 residents/nonresidents. Register at nbparks.org.
Breakfast with Santa. 11:30 a.m. Glenview Park Golf Club, 800 Shermer Rd., Glenview. Meet Santa and enjoy an Italian-inspired breakfast from Coarse Italian. $50 adults; $25 for children 11 and under (plus tax and gratuity). Children under 2 free. 847-657-3200 for reservations.
Holiday Teas at Evanston History Center. 225 Greenwood St., Evanston. Family tea at 10:30 a.m., adults-only tea at 4 p.m. $10-$40. evanstonhistorycenter.org/events/
Thursday, Dec. 11- Sunday, Dec. 14
The Nutcracker, Various times. Community Recreation Center, Wilmette. The beloved holiday production is presented by Wilmette Center for the Arts. $13 reserved seating. Register at wilmettepark.org.
Friday, Dec. 12
Visit and photos with Santa. Timeslots between 4 to 8 p.m., Weinberg Family Recreation Center, 305 Randolph, Glencoe. Picture times are scheduled every 10 minutes and families can gather for a group photo within a single time slot. $15/$20 R/NR per group. Register for Activity #220321 at glencoeparkdistrict.com.
Senior Holiday Party, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunset Ridge Country Club, 2100 Sunset Ridge Road, Northfield. Enjoy a delicious lunch (three choices) amidst beautiful decorations, a raffle with holiday prizes and live music by Maureen Christine. Ages 55 and up. $65 Senior Center members, $85 nonmembers. Register at nbparks.org.
Christmas Candlelight Tours, 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview. Step back into time to discover the sights and sounds of a traditional 19th
century family Christmas. Guests will be ushered through the festively adorned, candlelit rooms of the 1856 Kennicott House by a historically-dressed guide. Tours end with a visit and small gift from Santa. $12/$15 resident/non-resident.
Register at glenviewparks.org.
Friday, Dec. 12- Sunday, Dec.14
Nutcracker on Ice. Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.; Dec.13 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main St., Evanston. Attend the 50th anniversary of Evanston’s Nutcracker on Ice with stars from the present and past. $12. Tickets at cityofevanston.org/recreation or at the performance.
Saturday, Dec. 13
Downtown Skokie Holiday Cookie Walk, 1 to 3 p.m. Visit 20 downtown Skokie locations and receive a unique Christmas/holiday cookie at each. Start at FLX Move, 5117 Brown St., Skokie. $36.35, benefits Skokie Community Foundation. downtownskokie.community/cookiewalk
Saturday, Dec. 13 – Sunday, Dec. 14
Northbrook Community Theatre Presents: ‘A Christmas Chaos.’ Northbrook Public Library, 1201 Cedar Lane, Northbrook. When the Royal Shakespeare Company fails to show up for their performance of “A Christmas
Carol” in Northbrook, it is up to a rag-tag bunch of community members to put on the full production with only five minutes’ notice! Fun for the whole family. Tickets $17 at nbparks.org.
Sunday, Dec. 14
Holiday Exhibition, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Centennial Ice Rinks, 2300 Old Glenview Rd., Wilmette. Cheer on skaters at a festive holiday showcase. Free, all ages.
Log Cabin Christmas, The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview. Enjoy an evening filled with a crackling fire, holiday songs, tree decorating and games. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
$10/$12 resident/non-resident. glenviewparks.org.
Menorah Lighting, 5:30 p.m. Wilmette Village Hall, 1200 Wilmette Ave., Wilmette. Features the Wilmette Junior High Choir, hot cocoa, a 12-foot menorah, songs, stilt walker.
Wednesday, Dec. 17
The Great Holiday Wrap-Up, Noon to 6 p.m. Mallinckrodt Center, 1041A Ridge Rd., Wilmette. Drop off up to 10 gifts for wrapping; free with non-perishable food pantry donation.
Thursday, Dec. 18
Cultural Carousel, 5 to 7 p.m., Takiff Center, 999 Green Bay Road, Glencoe. Dive into festive winter activities like making a snowman, decorating holiday cookies, and building a LEGO® dreidel. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. $13/$16 R/NR. Register for Activity #220838 at glencoeparkdistrict.com.
Friday, Dec. 19
‘Tis the Season Bingo, 1:30 to 3 p.m., Northbrook Senior Center, 3323 Walters Ave., Northbrook. Bingo, treats and prizes with friends. Wear festive attire to spin the wheel and possibly win a holiday treat. Light refreshments. Ages 55 and up. $6 Senior Center members, $19 nonmembers.
Register at nbparks.org.
Women of Note: Happy Holidays, 2:30 p.m. Mallinckrodt Center, 1041A Ridge Rd., Wilmette. Enjoy a free holiday performance by the Women of Note chorus followed by light refreshments.
Winter Solstice Parade of Lights, 5 to 6 p.m., Shelton Park (251 Harbor Street, Glencoe). Decorate yourself, pets or strollers with lights for a festive stroll down the Green Bay Trail, ending with songs, hot chocolate, and refreshments by the fire pit. Learn more at glencoeparkdistrict.com. Free.
Left, Meridith Clement of Glencoe, FGBT trustee, addresses the audience. In the foreground is an illuminated stroller with parent Mariah Cunnick of Winnetka and children Ava Scovil, 2, and sibling Charlie Scovil, 1, at the ninth annual Winter Solstice Trail of Lights event and parade on Dec. 20, 2024 in Glencoe at Shelton Park. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)
Saturday, Dec. 20
Santa Paws Pop-Up Holiday Dog Photos, Village Green Center, 1810 Walters Ave., Northbrook. What’s cuter than your dog posing for a photo with Santa? Receive a doggie goodie bag and five-minute photo time slot. Dogs must be on a leash. Northbrook Park District staff can assist with capturing the perfect shot on your phone. $7 per dog. Register at nbparks.org.
Winter Solstice Bonfire, 7 to 8:30 p.m.Lighthouse Beach, 2603 Sheridan Road, Evanston. Learn about the winter solstice and traditions and enjoy s’mores and cocoa. $19.52. Register at cityofevanston.org/recreation.
Dec. 22 to Jan. 2
Winter Break Fun. The Northbrook Park District offers camp plus field trips for ages 5 to 13 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the school holiday break. Camp takes place at Greenbriar Gym, 1225 Greenbriar Lane, Northbrook. Field trip destinations include Kids Empire, ClimbZone and Enchanted Castle. Additional afternoon care is available from 3 to 6 p.m. Visit nbparks.org/programs/schooldayoff.
Wednesday, Dec. 24
Skate with Santa, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Centennial Ice Rinks, 2300 Old Glenview Rd., Wilmette. Enjoy cocoa and skating. $5 with food donation, standard fees otherwise, all ages.
Friday, Dec. 26
Kwanzaa Celebration, 6 p.m. Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main St., Evanston. Commemorate Kwanzaa by joining in an African Drum Circle, watching dance performances, enjoying food, and more. Free for all. No registration required.
