Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Lake Forest: Tree Lightings And More

LAKE FOREST, IL — There is no shortage of things to do in the Lake Forest area to get the winter holiday season off to a rollicking good start.

Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, intersect this year, with Hanukkah running Dec. 18-26. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the holidays.

The 38th annual Lake Forest tree lighting ceremony took place Nov. 25 at Market Square with live music, kids’ activities, food, drinks, carolers and Lake Forest Dance Academy.

Starting Wednesday, a special mailbox has been placed outside the Lake Forest Recreation Center for letters addressed to Santa. Letters can be dropped off until Dec. 10 by registered Lake Forest residents.

Saturday holiday markets are planned for Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 at the West Lake Forest train station with gifts, specialty foods, crafts and more. And the city's new Think Local Pop-Up Shop is open Thursdays through Saturdays at 252 Market Square until the end of the year.

Other upcoming events in the Lake Forest area include:

The annual Winnetka tree lighting takes place 5 p.m. Dec. 2 at Dwyer Park, with hot chocolate, apple cider, cookies, candy canes and visits from Santa, Mrs. Claus and an Elf.

In Highwood, the 4th annual Elf Invasion Pub Crawl will take place Dec. 3 from 7 p.m. to close.

And the Lightscape experience at the Chicago Botanic Garden runs until Jan. 8. A mile of light-filled installations includes the Winter Cathedral, a fire garden and more. Tickets to the event are sold in timeslots between 4:30 and 9:15 p.m.

Christmas parades — often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands — are a holiday tradition, both nationally and locally.

Several big parades are taking place this year, including the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade in Baltimore City, Maryland, and the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, California.

In Chicago, thousands of attendees were on hand earlier this month at the 31st annual Magnificent Mile Lights Festival on Michigan Avenue.

And the Light Up the Lake indoor light experience runs through Jan. 7 at Navy Pier. It features a skating rink, tree maze, visits with Santa and interactive light displays.

Related: Where To Buy Your Own Fresh Christmas Tree Near Lake Forest