Villages are ready to brighten the holidays with tree-lighting ceremonies, house-decorating contests and other festivities.
Frankfort
The tree-lighting ceremony will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at Kansas and Oak streets. Featured will be performances by the Hickory Creek Middle School Choir and Lincoln Way East Madrigal Ladies, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot chocolate and cookies.
The Frankfort Area Historical Society will host its annual Holiday House Walk Dec. 5.
For information, call (815) 469-6541 or go to frankforthistoricalsociety.org.
Horse-drawn wagon rides, a lantern parade, visits with reindeer, free cocoa with St. Nicholas, a cookie walk and more are on tap at the Christkindl & Cookie Walk Weekend from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7 throughout downtown.
Cookie Walk tickets are $12. Tickets and more information are available at shophistoricfrankfort.com.
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Mokena
The Holiday House Decorating Contest is free to enter and the deadline is Dec. 8.
Judging will be Dec. 12 and 13.
For information, call (708) 390-2401 or go to mokenapark.com.
New Lenox
Free horse-drawn wagon rides, free hot cocoa and cookies, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and reindeers Comet and Cupid, performances by a bell choir and madrigal singers, a coloring contest and more will be featured from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 7 at Christmas in the Commons, 1 Veterans Parkway.
For information, call (815) 462-6400 or go to newlenox.net.
The New Lenox Community Park District’s Holiday Lights Contest will award prizes to the top three decorators with judging Dec. 14.
Entry deadline is Dec. 10. To enter, email [email protected].
For information, call (815) 485-3584.
Orland Hills
Judging of the House Decorating Contest will be Dec. 9.
To enter, call (708) 349-7211.
Orland Park
The Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting will be Sunday at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Ave.
Santa will arrive at 3 p.m.
The fest will feature photos with Santa, face-painting and crafts; horse-drawn sleigh rides around the Village Center. Entertainment will be provided by the Encore Concert Band, the Carl Sandburg High School Chamber Singers, and dance companies from Ken Schultz’s Holly Folly Show. The tree lighting will be at 5:45 p.m.
“Individuals, families, scout groups and organizations from throughout Orland Park have created decorations for the tree, making it a true community-wide effort,” Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin said. “When we light the tree at the Village Hall, all of the lights down Ravinia Avenue go on at the same time.”
For more information, call (708) 403-7275 or go to orland-park.il.us.
Palos Heights
Santa will arrive by fire truck for the annual tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Fire Department, 123rd Street and Harlem Avenue.
The event will include Christmas carols, goodie bags, hot chocolate and cookies. Winners of the tree decorating contest will be announced.
For information, call the Palos Area Chamber of Commerce at (708) 480-3025.
Palos Hills
Tickets are on sale for Evening with Santa and the annual tree lighting at 6 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Community Center, 8455 W. 103rd St.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $7 for children and include a hot dog dinner, face-painting and magic show.
For information, call (708) 598-3400 or go to paloshillsweb.org.
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Palos Park
The Holiday Home Decorating Contest is taking entries until Dec. 5 with the winner announced Dec. 8.
Registration is $5.
For information, call (708) 671-3760 or go to palospark.org.
Tinley Park
Handmade crafts, letter-writing stations and music by local groups will be featured at the Holiday Market from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 5, noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 6 and noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 7 in a heated tent at the Oak Park Avenue train station.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive in the Toyland Parade at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 6, starting from the Harald Viking Lodge, 6730 W. 175th St.
The weekend also will include photos with Santa, carousel and carriage rides and holiday movies.
The chamber of commerce’s 17th annual Parade of Lights will step off at 5 p.m. Dec. 7 along Oak Park Avenue.
For information, call (708) 444-5000 or go to tinleypark.org.