Plainfield kicks off the holiday season by handing out free hot cholocate and lighting the Christmas tree with guest Santa and the Grinch on Saturday evening, Dec. 6, 2025.

Cary's very merry holiday celebration Merry Cary brought a parade and lots of seasonal mirth to town Sunday after another snow left the village looking that much more like Christmas.

Fireworks were launched during the Christmas Fireworks Spectacular on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 at the Bureau County Fairgrounds in Princeton. The fairgrounds also holds a Home for the Holiday Light Show. The show is a family drive-thru experience featuring light displays and a few special guests to greet you. The show is open Friday's and Saturday's generally runs from 5:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. and on Sunday's 5p.m.-8p.m. through Christmas Day.

Operation Jesus volunteers will personally deliver the care packages to homeless individuals in downtown Chicago on Christmas morning.

Holiday cheer warmed the crowd in the cold weather during the 40th annual Bradley Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

Oregon's Candlelight Walk included plenty of holiday shopping, activities, and a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus on Saturday. Dec. 6, 2025.

The Polo Christmas Festival offered activities for kids, shopping, refreshments and more on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.

Huntley made the season bright Saturday with A Very Merry Huntley, featuring live reindeer, a big Santa arrival, Kris Kringle market, the Lighting of the Square, fireworks and, for the first time this year, a parade.

Sponsored by Candlelight Inn, these festive rides will run from 5:30–8:30 p.m. Dec. 12, 2025, with the last ride at 8:15 p.m. Please note that no vehicles will be allowed in the park that evening.

The Mendota Chamber hosted its annual " A Mendota Christmas" on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. The event featured visits with Santa and the Grinch, free horse-drawn carriage rides, a Touch a Truck experience with police cars, fire trucks, and tractors, and kids’ crafts. The Mendota Lions Club provided free hot chocolate and hot dogs.

The Polo Chamber of Commerce recently announced its Home and Business Holiday Decorating Contest. Prizes will be awarded for first, second, third and honorable mention in both home and business categories.

About 80 children were able to shop for Christmas gifts at Walmart at no cost on Saturday thanks to the Joliet Police Department. 

The city of Rochelle hosted its annual Old Fashioned Christmas Walk on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in downtown Rochelle.

The City of La Salle celebrated their annual Miracle on First Street on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 downtown La Salle.

New Hope Presbyterian Church in Coal City will again host its annual Blue Christmas service at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, the the church said in a news release.

The City of Princeton celebrated their "Night of Lights" event on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. The event featured the Christmas tree lighting at Veterans Park a lighted Christmas parade down Main Street, Living Windows, a Candy Cane Hunt, and visits with Santa.

Joliet police officer Tony Lakota brought Christmas cheer to children while dressed as Santa Claus. Officers helped children select gifts for the 36th annual Santa’s Cops event at Walmart.

Dixon kicked off the holiday season with their annual Christmas Walk Friday, Dec. 6, 2025.

Sights & Sounds is Sterling’s Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, kickoff to the holiday season.

The holiday season officially arrived in Kankakee when Santa Claus came to the city depot.

Despite frigid temperatures, the city of Kankakee welcomed Santa Claus and guests during the 19th annual Lion Wreathing and Tree Lighting on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.

The display of beautifully decorated trees nestled in the heart of Town Square Park. 301 N Bridge St., Yorkville.

The Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department is once again coordinating Christmas tree recycling in Ogle County.

Santa Claus is coming to Huntley – and will be among the first participants in a new holiday parade at Very Merry Huntley. And find a listing of other weekend Christmas events.

Affectionately named Floyd, this 36-foot-tall illuminated penguin greets visitors at the entrance to the New Lenox Christmas in the Commons.

The program will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m on Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7.

The Rochelle Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, is continuing its efforts to honor local veterans through the Wreaths Across America program.

The Oswego Christmas Walk will take place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. in downtown Oswego.

The Kankakee County Museum is officially aglow with the twinkle of Christmas lights for the 47th annual Gallery of Trees, themed "Blast from the Past." The experience kicks off Thursday, Dec. 4, and runs through December with the hours of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

Dixon Fire Department and Dixon Rural Fire Department are spreading fire awareness with the annual “Keep the Wreath Red” Campaign. The intent of the red-lighted Christmas wreaths is to bring awareness of the effects of holiday-related fires and the importance of being fire safe.

Eager children and their families bundled up Friday to greet Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus in downtown Sycamore for the annual Walk with Santa and lighting of the tree on the DeKalb County Courthouse lawn.

Oregon Living & Rehab Center at 811 S. 10th St. is collecting food donations Dec. 1-22, 2025, to help local families in need.

Santa Claus made his way to DeKalb Thursday night during the annual Lights on Lincoln and Santa Comes to Town event hosted by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce.

The city of Wheaton and Wheaton Park District will again present the annual Light Up Wheaton holiday decorating contest.

On Dec. 6 at VFW Post 4551, a community of volunteers will come together united by a shared mission to give sailors and veterans a meaningful holiday experience in Antioch.

The holiday season is getting a spirited new twist with the debut of Captain Santa’s Pop-Up Bar, opening Dec. 4 at Pier 91 in Port Barrington, located at 99 Kazimour Drive in Port Barrington.

The Lake County Retired Teachers Association will meet at noon Dec. 9 at Lambs Farm Magnolia Cafe and Bakery in Libertyville, located at the junction of Route 176 and Interstate 94.

Celebrate the season with the Village of Mundelein at the Winter Tree Lighting Festival from 3 to 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at Courtland Commons, 444 E. Courtland St.

Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters invites families to celebrate the holiday season at Storytime with Santa, hosted at two of its café locations: Dec. 9 n Libertyville and Dec. 16 in Barrington.

The River Valley Wind and Choral Ensembles to perform a Holiday Concert on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University on Dec. 14.

The sale will be from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.

The two beloved holiday events return to Geneva the first weekend of December.

Twins Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, the sons of music legend Ricky Nelson and grandsons of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, will bring their show "Christmas with the Nelsons" to St. Charles Dec. 9.

The Kankakee County Museum held its 47th annual Gallery of Trees preview party on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. The gallery, themed "Blast from the Past," is now open through December from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays.

The cold weather has snuffed out the luminary light display and music that had been planned for Thursday evening in downtown Crystal Lake, but organizers hope Luminary Nights will be back Dec. 11 and 18.

Column: The Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual “Celebrate the Season” from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, in downtown Genoa, writes Krissy Johnson of the chamber.

Celebrations in Montgomery, Oswego, Plano and Sandwich will help you get into the holiday spirit Friday through Sunday.

Concerns regarding the forecasted cold temperatures on Thursday's evening, the tree lighting event at The Grove in Bourbonnais has been canceled.

The Dixon Municipal Band is excited to announce its annual Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at The Dixon: Historic Theatre.

Students collected donations during the Small School Big Hearts campaign on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025 at Dimmick School in La Salle. The “Small School, Big Hearts” campaign is a toy drive organized by third graders and celebrates the power of kindness, generosity and community spirit. Gifts will be wrapped and sent to Officer Santa with the La Salle Police Department and St. Jude. The school is accepting donations through Dec. 12.