Big List of 2019 Tree Lightings, Holiday Festivals, Santa Arrivals in Kane County, IL!
There are tons of holiday happenings coming up in Kane County. Here’s just a sampling of tree-lighting events and upcoming Santa arrivals!
If you’ve got more to add, let us know at kanecountyconnects@gmail.com.
Algonquin
Miracle on Main — Dec. 7
Celebrate the holiday season with family and friends and plenty of free family activities for everyone to enjoy on Saturday, December 7 at The Plaza (2 S. Main St.) in Algonquin.
Activities will kick off with the arrival of Santa and the annual tree lighting ceremony. Admission to the event is free, and a donation bin for Toys for Tots will be made available for new, unwrapped toys. Watch for updates on the village’s Facebook page.
Breakfast With Santa — Dec. 14
Aurora
The Merriest & Cheeriest of Seasons Starts with Winter Lights — Nov. 23
Kane County Holiday Season Tips Off Friday With Aurora’s Winter Lights Parade, Fireworks
Batavia
Celebration of Lights Festival — Dec. 1
Experience the Magic of Batavia! Free admission and free parking.
Schedule of Events
- 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Free hayrides with food or $1 cash donation (proceeds directly benefit the Batavia Food Pantry)
- Free roasted chestnuts
- Family photo opportunity at the main stage of Peg Bond Center
- Hot dogs and hot chocolate for sale
- Holiday craft activities inside City Council Chambers
- Old fashioned ornament making for all ages at the Depot Museum, main level
- Performance by the Batavia Community Band
- 5:15 p.m.: Community sing-a-long led by Craig Foltos, Foltos Tonsorial Parlor
- 5:30 p.m.: Arrival of Santa; Welcome by Mayor Shielke & Ceremonial Tree Lighting
- 5:45 p.m.: Santa’s Warming House: Visit Santa at the Peg Bond Center warming house and receive a treat from Santa (children under 10 while supplies last)
- 6 p.m.: Batavia Depot Museum’s Light Up the Bank
- 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.: Story Hour presented by the Batavia Public Library at the Gustafson Research Center
Special Features:
- Christmas Tree Lane – 25 holiday trees are decorated by local organizations and businesses.
Breakfast With Santa — Dec. 7
- Time: 8:30 a.m.
- Location: Shannon Hall / Eastside Comm Center
Ho! Ho! Ho! Here comes Santa Claus! He has come to share breakfast with you! Families will be able to see Santa before the entertainment. Santa will talk to each boy and girl, then hand them a present.
Carpntersville
Holiday Tree Lighting – Nov. 30
The village of Carpentersville’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Event takes place at 4:30 p.m. Saturday Nov. 30, in Carpenter Park.
Enjoy visiting with Santa, free apple cider doughnuts and hot chocolate (while supplies last), the School Spirit Tree Contest, caroling and more.
Click here for more information.
East Dundee And West Dundee
Dickens in Dundee — Dec. 6-7
2019 marks the 32nd year of the annual Dickens in Dundee event to kick off the Christmas season.
The weekend kicks off each year on the first Friday in December, with tree lighting ceremonies in both East and West Dundee. Residents and visitors stroll through downtown East and West Dundee to see local merchant’s windows “come alive” during Living Windows.
Saturday begins with the cornerstone event: the Spirit of Christmas Parade. The parade begins at Second Street in West Dundee and travels across the Main Street Bridge into East Dundee, ending near the Dundee Township Visitors Center (The Depot) on River Street. Other popular events include Gingerbread House Making, Festival of Trees, Santa’s Petting Zoo and, of course, a visit from Santa Claus himself!
Elgin
Downtown Elgin Winter Wonderland — Dec. 7
Winter Wonderland draws thousands to experience the magic of the holiday season in Downtown Elgin.
Enjoy an indoor holiday craft market, food trucks, live holiday music, carriage rides, pictures with Santa, a visit with Ms. Claus, a live nativity, petting zoo, ice sculpting, tons of free kids activities, s’mores over an open fire, special performances and so much more! Cap off the afternoon with the official tree lighting ceremony by the city of Elgin.
Activities will be held in DuPage Court and along Spring Street as well as inside Imago (for the Winter Market). The tree lighting ceremony has moved and will now take place in Festival Park.
For more event details please visit www.elginwinterwonderland.com.
Geneva
Geneva Christmas Walk and Tree Lighting Weekend — Dec. 6-8
Tis the season to be jolly … especially in downtown Geneva! The festivities begin at the courthouse square at 6 p.m. with the arrival of Santa Lucia, the first candy cane of the season, lighting of the great tree and Santa Claus — and continue with roasted chestnuts, strolling carolers and a live nativity.
You can also visit Santa on Friday evening and on Saturdays and Sundays visit Santa and take a complimentary carriage ride throughout the Christmas season.
Huntley
A Very Merry Huntley — Dec. 6-7
Ring in the season with our hometown holiday celebration on Friday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 7. There are great activities for everyone in the family to enjoy. Be sure to bring your camera — there will be plenty on festive photo opportunities for your holiday cards!
Montgomery
Tree Lighting Ceremony in Montgomery — Dec. 1
Montgomery’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, at Village Hall, 200 N. River St. This is a free family event and is hosted jointly by the Village of Montgomery and the Greater Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.
The event will kick off with festive music performances from students from local schools, followed by the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus in fire trucks with sirens blaring. After the lighting of the Christmas tree, children can visit Santa and take some great holiday pictures with him. Don’t forget to enjoy holiday snacks provided throughout the evening by the GMACC (while supplies last).
New this year will be an elf workshop where holiday games and craft stations will be available for kids to enjoy. Also new, the Merry Mixer by Ozinga will be displayed in front of Village Hall for the event. The Merry Mixer will be decked out with more than 32,000 programmed lights on its signature red and white cement mixer and features animated light sequences and toe-tapping renditions of favorite holiday tunes.
The Village Hall will host the Festival of Trees that will turn all three levels of the Village Hall into a decorated holiday delight. Area businesses participate by decorating Christmas trees for everyone to enjoy, and visitors of all ages are invited to vote for their favorite tree. The Festival of Trees will continue until Dec. 23 during normal business hours.
Mooseheart
Mooseheart Holiday Lights — Nov. 29 to Dec. 31
Join the Mooseheart family for the 10th Annual Holiday Lights display, opening on Friday, Nov. 29, and running 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly through Tuesday, Dec. 31.
Holiday Lights at Mooseheart is one of Chicagoland’s largest light displays! The lighted route is approximately 1.8 miles and has more than 80 lighted displays to view.
Wisconsin Tree Lighting at Mooseheart — Dec. 7
Wisconsin Day at Mooseheart is just around the corner! There are lots of fun activities planned for our visitors on Saturday, December 7th. Join us for tours and presentations at some of the residential homes, pictures with Santa, the Wisconsin Tree Lighting Ceremony, and lots of other fun activities!
- 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Museum Open
- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Wisconsin Home Open for Tours
- 10:30 a.m. to noon: Baby Village Tours of Susquehanna, Juniata, & Tennessee Homes
- 11:30 a.m.: Wisconsin Moose Association Senior Portrait Luncheon
- 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Gift Store Open
- 3:30 p.m.: Tree Lighting Ceremony
North Aurora
Messenger Library’s Holiday Open House in North Aurora — Dec. 1
The Library Board and staff invite everyone to holiday entertainment, activities and fun! Enjoy live music, a piano recital, and a visit from Santa. Don’t forget to bring the camera! Celebrate with a Treasure Hunt in the Stacks, Used Book Sale, and more.
Pingree Grove
Free Pictures With Santa — Dec. 1
Tree Lighting in Pingree Grove — Dec. 7
Kids Crafts, Train Rides, North Pole Mail Box, Frosty the Snowman Movie, Food and Beverages and more! Santa arrives at 4:50 p.m.!
St. Charles
Holiday Home Coming & Electric Christmas Parade — Nov. 29-30
St. Charles Selects Former Fire Chief To Lead 2019 Electric Christmas Parade
Holiday Homecoming is one of the Midwest’s most spectacular holiday events and is the official kick-off to the holiday season in St. Charles.
This weekend-long event has been making holiday memories for area families for over seventeen years. The event features seasonal music, holiday movies, sleigh rides and lighted parade floats that light up Main Street between 6th Street and 4th Avenue.
The 2019 St. Charles Holiday Homecoming Parade is scheduled to step off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The parade will be held on Main Street (IL Route 64). It begins at 6th Street and travels east, ending at 4th Avenue. Main Street will be closed between 7th Street and 5th Avenue (Illinois Rt. 25). Traffic on both, Main Street (Route 64) and 2nd Street (Route 31) will be detoured beginning at 5:15 PM.
Sugar Grove
Holiday in the Grove — Dec. 7
Holiday in the Grove is a festive community event that includes Breakfast with Santa, Candy Cane Lane, Carriage Rides, a Craft Fair and many other holiday activities throughout the day in Sugar Grove.
Holiday in the Grove is volunteer-ran and was created to continue to tradition of The Sugar Grove Community Christmas Festival.
