This weekend’s holiday celebration shined a spotlight on Wilmette businesses as downtown streets and Plaza Del Lago were decked out for festive fun.
Holiday Happenings was a two-day event with family-friendly attractions, shopping and dining hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and the village of Wilmette.
“The goal of Holiday Happenings has always been to provide families the opportunity to celebrate the holidays,” said Julie Yusim, executive director of the Wilmette/Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce.
Included in this year’s event were pictures with Santa, a giant snow globe on the Village Green, carolers, the holiday movie “Elf” showing at the Wilmette Theatre, a scavenger hunt, tree lighting and free promotions and refreshments from participating shops and restaurants.
The newly constructed downtown streetscape with its decorative lights, seating areas and new holiday tree set the stage for the event this year.
Yusim says Wilmette has been holding holiday celebrations downtown for 35 years.
Up until 2018, the event included a holiday parade, marching bands and floats making their way from Linden Square through downtown to Village Hall.
“The desire to host holiday festivities has remained and morphed into Holiday Happenings, which culminates in a tree lighting,” Yusim said.
This year, Holiday Happenings continued into Sunday with the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah and a gelt drop on the Village Green.
Although the event was scaled down during the pandemic, this year a more robust event was planned.
Alex Levoff of Wilmette attended Saturday with his family.
“It’s so good to see Wilmette all decorated for the holidays, and the streetscape construction completed in time for Christmas, they did a really good job,” Levoff said.
during Holiday Happenings on Dec. 4, 2021.
Gina Grillo is a freelance reporter.