Take a look at some of the fun winter events happening across Illinois.
WonderLight’s Christmas
Nov. 14, 2025-Jan. 4, 2026, Madison
WonderLight Productions plans to bring this special event to the World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison for the holiday season. Pack the whole family into the car and drive through this magical light show to see more than 1 million LED lights synchronized to Christmas songs played through your car radio.
The eight-week event kicks off Friday and runs on weekdays from 5 to 10 p.m. and on weekends from 5 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $7 per person or $30 per vehicle (up to seven passengers) Monday through Thursday and $30 per vehicle (up to seven passengers) on weekends. Group pricing can be found on the website.
To learn more or purchase tickets, visit wonderlightschristmas.com.
Lebanon’s Winter Wonderland
Nov. 21-Dec. 31, 2025, Lebanon
Celebrating its 18th year, the impressive holiday lights display at Horner Recreational Park is put on by a group of volunteers who work year-round to make this event happen. The drive-through light show blends nostalgic wooden decorations with modern displays, including the animated light show. As you drive through, tune your car’s radio to the event’s broadcast station for holiday music while you take in the lights. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and from 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is free, though donations are encouraged. Visit lebanonswinterwonderland.org or call 618-660-7621 for more details.
Christkindlmarket
Nov. 21-Dec. 24, 2025, Chicago
Looking for a traditional German-style Christmas market experience right here in Illinois? The Christkindlmarket returns to Chicago this holiday season with its popular outdoor market inspired by the 16th-century Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany. In addition to the one at Chicago’s Daley Plaza, markets also will be set up in Wrigleyville and Aurora. The event features a unique shopping experience with vendor products from around the world, festive music, live entertainment, holiday decor and more. Come hungry because the market also includes an assortment of delicious traditional food and beverage offerings to choose from, including roasted nuts, fresh pretzels, bratwurst and hot spiced wine. For more information and opening hours for each market, visit christkindlmarket.com or email info@christkindlmarket.com.
Du Quoin Holiday Lights Fair
Nov. 27-Dec. 30, 2025, Du Quoin,
This de-“light”-ful show is possible thanks to 15 miles of extension cord, 500 rolls of electric tape and dozens of volunteers eager to make their town shine bright. Held at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds on U.S. Hwy. 51, visitors can drive through 3 miles of holiday splendor for $10 per car. Stop by the Expo Hall on weekends to see trees decorated by children, musical acts, a model train and, of course, Santa Claus. For more details, visit duquointourism.org or call 618-542-8338.
Chris Kringle Market
Nov. 28-30, Dec. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 2025, Ottawa
Head to Ottawa to kick off your holiday shopping at the annual Chris Kringle Market. This European-style Christmas market spotlights local artisans, boutiques and restaurants in an open-air setting in historic downtown Ottawa’s Washington Square and Jordan Block. Stop by to browse the booths featuring more than 80 vendors to pick up something special for everyone on your list. For more information about the market, visit facebook.com/ChrisKringleMarket, contact floreteventsllc@yahoo.com or call 815-530-9577.
One of a Kind Show and Sale
Dec. 4-7, 2025, Chicago,
Celebrating more than 20 years, the One of a Kind Holiday Show is ready to welcome visitor in person this year. Support the creative community and hundreds of talented artists, makers and designers while finding the most unique gifts for everyone on your list. Visitors can find items ranging from fashion, jewelry and home goods to fiber art, painting and sculpture. Check out the website for more details at oneofakindshowchicago.com/holiday.
Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum
Dec. 5, 12 and 19, 2025, Lisle
The Morton Arboretum in Lisle celebrates the holiday season with an impressive color, light and sound show spanning 50 acres. Stroll the 1-mile paved path while listening to festive music and enjoying the light effects and concession tents along the trail. Then warm up beside the fire while roasting marshmallows for s’mores. Illumination runs Nov. 18 through Jan. 6 (closed select Mondays and Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Event organizers recommend purchasing tickets in advance, as many nights will sell out. For more information and tickets, visit mortonarb.org.
Christmas Uptown
Dec. 5, 2025, Mount Carmel
Get in the holiday spirit this season at Mount Carmel’s 14th Annual Christmas Uptown. Taking place on Market Street from 4 to 9 p.m., the event includes an exciting lineup of free attractions and festivities for the whole family. Visitor favorites include carriage, train and pony rides; face painting; s’mores making; live jazz and string music; visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus; kids’ play zones; elves and Christmas characters; and family photo ops. Visitors will also enjoy opportunities for retail shopping, along with food and craft vendors.
For more details about the holiday event, visit facebook.com/ChristmasUptownMtCarmel or call 618-263-2093.
Snowflake Festival
Dec. 5, 2025, Godfrey
Visit the beautiful Glazebrook Park, lit up with twinkling lights to celebrate the holiday season on the first Friday in December. This old-fashioned festival will feature carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides and hot cocoa, and pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The festival is free to attend, but please embrace the spirit of giving this Christmas season by bringing a nonperishable food item for the Crisis Food Center.
To learn more, call 618-466-1483 or visit godfreyil.org.
Geneva Christmas Walk
Dec 5, 2025, Geneva
The holiday season in Geneva begins with the annual Geneva Christmas Walk on the first Friday in December. Visit downtown to see twinkling Christmas lights and fresh greenery lining the streets around the courthouse lawn, enjoy festive carolers, and visit Santa Lucia and Santa Claus. Attendees will also enjoy a tree lighting ceremony, holiday shopping, roasted chestnuts, Swedish cookies and more. The Christmas Walk takes place from 6 to 10 p.m., and more holiday festivities continue in Geneva on weekends in December. For more information, visit genevachamber.com/festivalsevents/christmas-walk or call 630-232-6060.
Christmas in Carlinville
Dec. 5-7, 2025, Carlinville
Kick off the holiday season at the 35th Annual Christmas in Carlinville. The three-day event features several Christmas market locations throughout town, including the historic downtown square, the Macoupin County Fairgrounds, the Macoupin County Historical Society, the Carlinville Elks Lodge and more. A trolley service and transit buses will transport shoppers to each location. Visit christmasincarlinville.com and facebook.com/christmasincarlinville or call 217-556-5700 for more information.
Christmastown Festival
Dec. 5-7, 2025, Tuscola
Tuscola’s Community Building transforms into a winter wonderland during the annual Christmastown Festival. Held the first weekend of December, the vendor fair features more than 40 locally handmade items and merchandise.
Follow Santa throughout the day to participate in various events. The weekend kicks off with a Santa Chase 5K Saturday morning at 8 a.m. On Sunday, attendees can enjoy breakfast with Kris Kringle himself from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the Douglas County Museum. Santa will also have something special for each child in attendance.
To learn more about this year’s Christmastown Festival, visit tuscola.org.
McFerren Park Christmas Light Show
Dec. 6, 2025, Hoopeston,
This light show is the perfect outing for the family. The town of Hoopeston has banded together to make this free festival of lights a possibility. Enjoy the jubilant displays, thousands of lights and drive under beautifully lit arches. Be sure to visit with Santa and maybe even do a little Christmas shopping in Hoopeston before leaving. The lights are turned on each day from dusk until 11 p.m. Learn more at facebook.com/LightUpMcFerrenPark or by calling 217-283-9336.
Old Fashioned German Christmas
Dec. 7, 2025, Maeystown
“Fröhliche Weihnachten!” That means “Merry Christmas” in German, and you can practice your pronunciation at the Old Fashioned German Christmas event in Maeystown.
Held on the first Sunday in December, this event features German music, carriage rides, shopping and visits with Sankt Nikolaus. Guests can participate in both German and traditional caroling, as well as experience the lighting of the village weinachtsbaum, or Christmas tree.
For more information, visit maeystown.com/events or call 618-458-6660.
19th Century Christmas
Dec. 7, 2025, Moline
Visit the Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House in Moline for a Victorian Christmas celebration. The 1872 home of Charles Deere, son of John Deere, and the 1892 home of Katherine and William Butterworth will be decked out in traditional holiday decorations. Tour the houses, stop by the Deere-Wiman Carriage House to create your own ornaments, then visit Santa in the Butterworth Education Center. The event takes place from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 309-743-2701 or visit butterworthcenter.com.
Happy Holiday Railway
Select dates in November and December, Union
Forget the Polar Express – the Happy Holiday Railway takes place right in your own backyard with no trip to the North Pole required. Embark on a magical 40-minute train ride through the winter countryside with Santa Claus himself.
Hosted by the Illinois Railway Museum, this event is a perfect holiday activity filled with fun for the whole family. Children can visit with Santa Claus and his elves, plus enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and cookies. All aboard!
Advance reservations are recommended. Book your trip by visiting irm.org/event/happy-holiday-railway.
West Chicago Frosty Fest
Dec. 6, 2025, West Chicago
Visit West Chicago’s historic downtown area on the first Saturday in December for the city’s annual Frosty Fest. The event kicks off with the official tree lighting ceremony at 4:30 p.m., followed by a variety of family-friendly activities on Main Street. Festivities include horse-drawn trolley rides, ice sculpture carving, a window decorating contest, carolers, live music, food vendors, an Elves Workshop full of craft vendors and more. Children will especially love meeting the many characters in attendance, including reindeer, a gingerbread man and, of course, Frosty himself. For more information about this year’s Frosty Fest, visit westchicago.org/frosty-fest or call 630-293-2200.
Winterfest
Dec. 6, 2025, Oak Park
Oak Park celebrates the start of the Christmas season with Winterfest, a one-day celebration with holiday offerings for all ages. The event begins at 10 a.m. with Christmas carols and a free holiday movie at Lake Theatre. Visitors can enjoy the downtown Cookie Walk from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by Byline Bank to warm up while enjoying live music in the lobby from noon to 1 p.m. And keep an eye out for Santa, who will be making an appearance during the festivities. Visit downtownoakpark.net/winterfest-cookie-walk or call 708-383-4145 for more details or to prepurchase a cookie tin.
Old Fashioned Christmas on the Prairie
Dec. 7, 2025, Lerna
Head to the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site in Lerna for some holiday fun on the farm. At the Old Fashioned Christmas on the Prairie event, guests can sip hot wassail and nibble cookies in the visitor center, while children have the opportunity to make holiday crafts and listen to Christmas stories at Lincoln’s Farm.
If you need to do some last-minute shopping, stop by the Goosenest Prairie Gift Shop for unique gifts for family and friends.
The Old Fashioned Christmas on the Prairie takes place Saturday, Dec. 3. Find more information at lincolnlogcabin.org or by calling 217-345-1845.
Winter Solstice Celebration
Dec. 12, 2025, Urbana
Welcome the winter season and celebrate the shortest day of the year in Urbana at the free Winter Solstice Celebration with the Urbana Park District. Visit the Anita Purves Nature Center from 4 to 7 p.m. to enjoy an evening of guided hikes through Busey Woods, crafts, a candlelight spiral walk, snacks and hot chocolate around the fire, and time for setting intentions for the year ahead. All activities are free, but space is limited. To reserve your spot, call 217-384-4062. For more information, visit urbanaparks.org.
Downtown Belleville Cookie Stroll
Dec. 12-13, 2025, Belleville
Experience the charm of downtown Belleville during the holidays, where participants enjoy visiting local shops and restaurants and gathering more than two dozen tasty Christmas cookies to take home. Stick around for the German Christkindlmarkt, gingerbread displays, a horse-drawn trolley, the Santa house and other festivities. Purchase tickets online starting Nov. 1. For more details, visit bellevillemainstreet.net or call 618-233-2015.
Christmas at the Mansions
Dec. 13, 2025, Bloomington-Normal
Celebrate the holidays with a history lesson at the annual Christmas at the Mansions event, a three-stop home tour in Bloomington-Normal.
Stops include one elegant manor steeped in history and two mystery houses decorated for the season. Tours of the David Davis Mansion State Historic Site in Bloomington showcase a rich cultural heritage. Guests will enjoy educational storytelling, learn about historic preservation, be treated to delicious Christmas treats and participate in hands-on activities at the former home of a U.S. Supreme Court Justice and friend to Abraham Lincoln.
To learn more about the event and where tickets are sold, visit daviddavismansion.org/events/special-events.
Wreaths Across America
Dec. 13, 2025, Elwood
This national event unites Americans in spirit, if not geographically. Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, in more than 1,600 locations, people gather to remember and honor those who have died in service to our country by laying wreaths on the graves of veterans. Ceremonies and wreath-layings take place across the state, including Elwood, where the Will County Farm Bureau is asking people to sponsor a wreath for a veteran’s gravesite at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. Wreaths must be ordered by Thanksgiving, and order forms are available at Will County Farm Bureau.
For more information on how to get involved, contact 815-727-4811 or visit willcfb.com/calendar.
Caroling at the Carillon
Dec. 14, 2025, Springfield
Sing your way through the holiday season with a unique caroling session at the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon.
The free, family-friendly event encourages guests to gather around the bonfire and sing traditional Christmas carols accompanied by the music of the Carillon. Kids of all ages can have their pictures taken with Santa Claus and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies following the caroling.
The annual Caroling at the Carillon takes place from 3:30 to 5 p.m. To learn more, visit carillon-rees.org or call 217-546-3853.
Christmas in Carterville
Dec. 13, 2025, Carterville
Come one, come all to a Christmas celebration in Carterville. Downtown streets will be closed off in the afternoon to create a safe, fun, outdoor environment for enjoying a variety of activities, including horse & carriage rides, Santa’s Post Office, Santa’s Workshop where you can write letters to Santa, Photos with Santa, carolers, bands, Festival of Trees, Window Decorating Contest, food and beverage, and more. The event also features treats such as candy and cookies, beautifully decorated Christmas trees, visits with Santa and more.
For more information on this year’s activities, check out visitcarterville.com, visit the Christmas in Carterville Facebook page or call 618-985-2252.
First Night Springfield
Dec. 31, 2025, Springfield
Held on multiple stages in downtown Springfield on New Year’s Eve, this annual celebration of the arts features more than 300 performers. Visitors can look forward to live entertainment, fun (and free!) activities for kids, a silent auction, fireworks and so much more.
The First Night event typically kicks off in the afternoon, with the fireworks show at 8 p.m. The celebration ends around 11:15 p.m. to allow attendees to ring in the new year at home or their place of choice.
For more information, visit springfieldartsco.org/first-night.
La Guiannee at Fort de Chartres
Dec. 31, 2025, Prairie Du Rocher
Ring in 2026 with a traditional New Year’s Eve celebration dating back to 1722. The La Guiannee singers will visit Fort de Chartres State Historic Site in Prairie du Rocher, as well as houses in the area, to sing and play period music for residents and visitors. The free event takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit fortdechartres.us/events or call 618-284-7230.
Cross-Country Skiing at Matthiessen State Park
December through March, Oglesby
Located just south of Starved Rock State Park off Route 178, Matthiessen State Park features 6 miles of tree-lined trails for cross-country skiing. Don’t have your own skis and poles? The park offers a ski rental kiosk, open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays when snow is on the ground, located in a cabin near the shelter and fort at the Dells entrance of the park. Before making plans, please call 815-667-4726 to confirm weather conditions and availability.
Share Your Illinois Event
Are we missing your favorite July events in Illinois? Send the details to ilfbpartners@farmflavormedia.com, and we may feature them on this website and in a future issue of Illinois Partners magazine.
can not access ilfbpartners.com/pumpkin page… interested in recipes referred to on page 4 of latest Partners issue.
can you help?
Hi Shirley,
Sorry for the inconvenience! Looks like we were having some technical difficulties. Please try again or you can access the recipes here: http://www.ilfbpartners.com/food/pumpkin-recipes. Hope this helps!
Rachel Bertone
editor, Illinois Partners