Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association Hosts Holiday Road Saturday On Western Ave

CHICAGO — City sidewalks will be all aglow along this Saturday, Dec. 6, when the Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association will be taking over three blocks of Chicago’s longest continuous street for a holiday shopping and dining event on Western Avenue.

“Holiday Road” takes place from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. at various businesses and restaurants on Western Avenue from 99th to 115th streets, plus Church 103 in Beverly/Morgan Park. The MPBHBA and local businesses have planned a festive day of shopping and family fun that includes lots of holiday activities, specially priced merchandise, and delicious food and drink.

The festive holiday trolley is also back, offering hop-on, hop-off free transportation all along Holiday Road. The trolley will travel up and down Western Avenue all day and evening, from 99th to 115th streets, and it’s free for anyone to ride.

As an added incentive to ride, the neighborhood business association is offering a trolley pass that comes in an exclusive red cookie tin. It comes with a handle so it’s easy to carry as you fill it with treats during your shopping expedition. (Make your kids carry it.) Reserve your cookie tin when you buy a trolley pass online for $10. Orders can be picked up at Andy Sunflower Cafe.

A slew of children’s activities are planned, including visits with Santa at the Chicago Police 22nd District, reindeer pancakes (Original Pancake House/Beverly), holiday crafts (Andy Sunflower Cafe), upcycled inner tube jewelry and ornament making (Beverly Bicycle Repair), stories and cookies (Bookies), gingerbread house decorating (Town Realty) and more.

Music performances have been lined up featuring Conrad Black on piano (Open Outcry Brewing), DJ Radio Ruta at Uprising Craft Market, A Week Back (Beverly Arts Center), Beverly Records holiday tunes and trivia with DJ John Dreznes (Nicky’s of Beverly), A Week Back Band (Ken’s) and “A Very Merry Beverly” with Gerald Holden (Beverly Arts Center, get tickets).

Highlights include:

The Holiday Uprising Market
presented by the Beverly Arts Alliance
@ Beverly Arts Center,
2407 W. 111th St.
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Knock out your holiday shopping while also supporting local artists. There will be talented makers and artisans offering their handmade wares, plus music and seasonal libations to get you in the spirit.

Mini Christkindlmarket
22nd District CPD, 4 to 8 p.m.
1900 W. Monterey Ave.
• Vendors with holiday-themed wares
• Pictures with Santa & Mrs. Claus
• Kid-sized ‘Polar Express’ train
• Sweet treats & hot cocoa
• Free Christmas gift for kids

Holiday Film Fest
at Walker Branch Library
11071 S. Hoyne Ave

"A Pink Christmas," 10:30 am
"Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey," 11 am
"The Year Without a Santa Claus," 11:30 am
"Last Christmas," 12:45 pm
"It Happened on 5th Avenue," 2:30 pm

Keep the festivity going into the evening! After a day of family-friendly holiday activities, enjoy specialty food and featured cocktails at your favorite spots. Dine out ahead of The Beverly Arts Center’s “A Very Merry Beverly” holiday concert.

Visit Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association Holiday Road for the full slate of swinging Yuletide activities.

See the list of participating businesses and restaurants:

Americanos
AndySunflower Café
Barney Callaghan’s
Beverly Arts Center
Bookie’s
Core Kids
Cork & Kerry
DSC Vision Corner
Emilia Gray
Everything’s Relative Salon
Fit Code Beverly
Franconello
Haven 1890
Horse Thief Hollow
Janson’s Drive-In
Joey’s Red Hots
Ken’s on Western
Lauren Alyssa Photography
Levraddigans
McNally’s
Nicky’s of Beverly
O’Rourke’s
Open Outcry Brewing
Running Excels
Shirley’s Bridal Boutique
The Original Pancake House-Beverly
The Quilter’s Trunk
The Studio Beverly
Town Realty