It’s time for that magical moment when Santa arrives to lead parades and light the trees.
Join the festivities when Santa Claus is coming to your town or make the most of the season with visits to other suburbs in coming weekends.
Here are events in the area.
Alsip
The village’s annual tree lighting ceremony will be at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at Village Hall, 4500 W. 123rd St.
The third annual Holiday on Pulaski from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 11 also will feature a tree lighting along with carriage rides, heated kids’ activity and vendor tents, high school bands and Those Funny Little People.
Call 708-385-6902 or visit villageofalsip.org.
Blue Island
The annual Light Parade will be at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5 starting at Western Avenue and Union Street.
The route, which has doubled this year, travels south to the Gregory Street turnaround then north on Gregory back to Union.
After the parade, attendees are invited to join the mayor to light the trees, which are decorated with ornaments made by local students, in Metro South Park at York Street and Western Avenue. Photos with Santa will be available until 9 p.m.
Other activities in conjunction with the parade include Christmas movies and refreshments from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Blue Island Public Library and a Kringle Mart and free train rides for kids from 3 to 7 p.m. at Metro South Park.
Call 708-597-8603 or visit blueisland.org.
Crete
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The 24th annual Crete Country Christmas Dec. 4 to 6 in downtown Crete at Main and Exchange streets will feature trolley rides, a chili cook-off, an ice sculpture competition, a 5k, bonfire and a reindog contest.
The Parade of Lights will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 5.
Call 708-672-9216 or visit cretechamber.com.
Dolton
The tree lighting will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Village Hall, 14014 Park Ave.
Call 708-849-4000 or visit vodolton.org.
Evergreen Park
A Dickens Christmas from 2 to 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at 97th and Homan will feature train and sleigh rides, Those Funny Little People, face painting, cookie decorating and visits with Santa.
The tree lighting will be at 6 p.m.
Call 708-229-3373 or visit evergreenpark-ill.com.
Frankfort
The village’s tree lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Kansas and Oak streets will kick off a weekend of festivities.
The Frankfort Historic Business Association’s annual Christkindl celebration will be from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6 and include the Cookie Walk ($12 tickets for a gourmet cookie from 20-plus merchants and unlimited horse-drawn wagon rides) and visits with reindeer from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 6.
Call 815-469-6542 or 815-469-2177 or visit villageoffrankfort.com or shophistoricfrankfort.com.
Also, the Frankfort Area Historical Society will host a holiday house walk Dec. 4 and lantern parade Dec. 5.
Call 815-469-6541 or visit frankforthistoricalsociety.org.
Homewood
Santa will arrive by fire engine for Holiday in Lights from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4 at Martin Avenue and Hickory Road.
The event will feature a tree lighting, Holiday Window Walk, reindeer, free trolley rides, an antique car parade, outdoor marketplace and ice carving demonstrations.
Call 708-798-3000 or visit village.homewood.il.us.
Joliet
The annual Light Up the Holidays Parade and Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday along Chicago Street in downtown Joliet.
The tree lighting will be at 5:15 p.m., with the parade following.
The Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St. (815-726-7171 or rialtosquare.com) will host the Teddy Bear Tea and Santa’s Workshop at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $22.50 for kids 12 and under and include reservations for Dave Rudolf’s Christmas with Rudolf Family Show at 2 p.m. and “The Lego Movie” at 3:30 p.m. Separately, general admission is $10 for Dave Rudolf and $1 for the movie.
At the Joliet Public Library, 150 N. Ottawa St., Storytime with Santa will be held at noon, 2 and 4 p.m.
More daytime events will be offered at the Joliet Area Historical Museum, Gji’s Sweet Shoppe, Jitters Coffeehouse, Chicken-n-Spice, Juliet’s, Tin Roof and more.
Call 815-723-1800 or visit jolietdowntown.com.
Lemont
Hometown Holidays from 4 to 10 p.m. Dec. 5 in downtown Lemont will feature a tree lighting, sleigh rides, caroling, face painting and a Kris Kringle Market.
Call 630-257-5997 or visit lemontchamber.com.
Lansing
Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive by fire truck at 6 p.m. Friday at the corner of Randolph and Henry. They will greet children as they walk to the Christmas tree in Park Plaza for the mayor’s lighting ceremony. Girl Scouts will serve free cookies and hot chocolate and the Memorial Choir will perform carols.
The Santa House at Lake and Henry streets will officially open for the season, with hours every Friday and Saturday to Dec. 19.
Also Friday, the Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce will host Taste for the Holidays at the American Legion with food items available for less than $3. Children are invited to decorate ornaments for the annual ornament contest.
Call 708-474-4170 or visit lansingsanta.com or chamberoflansing.com.
Matteson
The annual Holiday Festival and Breakfast with Santa will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Community Center, 20642 Matteson Ave.
Tickets for the event, which includes a tree lighting and continental breakfast, are $3 to $15 and requested in advance.
Call 708-283-4777 or visit villageofmatteson.org.
Monee
The tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Village Hall, 5130 W. Court St., will be followed by a celebration at the Monee Education Center Gym, 5154 W. Main St., with visits with Santa, a puppet show and a performance by the Monee Community Children’s Christmas Choir.
Call 708-534-8301 or visit villageofmonee.org.
New Lenox
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Christmas in the Commons from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 6 at 1 Veterans Parkway will feature free horse-drawn wagon rides, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and reindeer Comet and Cupid, music performances and a coloring contest.
Call 815-462-6400 or visit newlenox.net.
Oak Forest
Santa arrives by fire truck for the annual parade at 11 a.m. Dec. 5 along Central Avenue from Oak Forest High School to City Hall.
The tree lighting will follow along with caroling by local students, announcement of winners of the annual trim-a-tree contest, Relay for Life Oak Forest’s luminaria service and refreshments with Santa in the fire station.
Call 708-687-4050 or visit oak-forest.org.
Oak Lawn
Santa on the Green will be from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, on the Village Green at 94th and Cook Avenue.
Call 708-636-4400 or visit oaklawn-il.gov.
Orland Park
The Mayor’s Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting Ceremony will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 Ravinia Ave.
The annual event features the arrival of Santa, sleigh rides, music and dance performances and concessions.
Also, trees are available on a first-come, first-serve basis for the Community Tree Trim from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 13 at Centennial Park Winter Wonderland Ice Rink, 15600 West Avenue at Fun Drive.
Call 708-403-7275 or visit orlandpark.org.
Palos Heights
Santa will arrive by fire truck for the annual tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Fire Department, 123rd Street and Harlem Avenue.
Winners of the tree decorating contest will be announced, with trees on display in the Art Garden through the holiday season.
Call 708-361-1800 or visit palosheights.org
Palos Hills
Evening with Santa and the annual Tree Lighting will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Palos Community Center, 8455 W. 103rd St.
The event includes decorating the tree with Santa, face painting with Mrs. Claus, entertainment and a hot dog dinner.
Tickets are required in advance and cost $5 for adults and $7 for ages 1 to 12.
Call 708-430-4500 or visit paloshillsweb.org.
Palos Park
Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive via The Center’s Hayrack Express for the annual tree lighting from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Recreation Center, 8901 W. 123rd St.
The event will feature local choral groups, visits with Santa, hayrack rides, a holiday market and a microbrew tasting with Argus Brewery.
Call 708-671-3760 or visit palospark.org.
Tinley Park
The mayor’s tree lighting ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 at Zabrocki Plaza, 17375 Oak Park Ave., with a singalong at 5:30 p.m.
The Holiday Market will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4, noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 5 and noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 6 inside a heated tent.
Tinley’s Toyland Parade will be at 11:45 a.m. Dec. 5. Parade attendees are asked to bring unwrapped toys to donate to a local charity.
The Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce will present the Parade of Lights at 5 p.m. Dec. 6 along Oak Park Avenue.
On Dec. 5 and 6, festivities also include photos with Santa, free carousel and teddy bear rides, horse-drawn carriage rides and campfires.
Call 708-444-5678 or visit tinleypark.org
Vickie Jurkowski is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.