Patch Picks: Holiday Fun For Families

Every Thursday, Patch will run a weekly feature called Patch Picks, highlighting editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off, and more.  

You’ll find useful lists to help you, your family, friends, and significant others find the best places for everything from Sunday brunch to New Year’s Eve celebrations, pumpkin patches, date night destinations, florists, girlfriend nights out, kids party places, parks and more.

For this week, we've got several holiday events planned for families.

1. Dodgeball Tournament

Take in a dodgeball game and help out those in need at the same time. Lemont Township officials are hosting a" dodgeball tournament at 7 p.m. Thursday, at the Lemont Park District's, 16050 W 127th St. Entry to the tournament is a $5 donation to the Lemont Township Family Emergency Fund and/or a bag of food/personal care products for the Lemont Food Pantries.

2. Live Nativity

Enjoy free live nativity. The live outdoor event includes live animals, a baby camel, a miniature donkey, sheep, goats and a lamb, and will be held 5 to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday at Franciscan Village, 1270 Village Drive. Enter the community at the west entrance on Main Street. Attendees will be guided through the community grounds past the live nativity scene before exiting right via the east entrance onto Main Street. For more information, call 630-243-3500.

3. First Nazarene Church Musical

Take in a show. The elementary children's department at will host the musical “Chris-Myth Busters" at 6 p.m. Saturday, and 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday, 12725 Bell Road. For more information, call 708-349-0454.

4. Shop For Library’s Teen Giving Tree

Take your family shopping for the Teen Giving Tree initiative. The library is partnering with Hope and Friendship to gather new books, mittens and scarves for those in need in the community. Visit the Giving Tree in the Teen Zone to pick up an ornament made by library’s Teen Advisory Group with a Christmas wish and bring back the gift by Friday, Dec. 16. E-mail teens@lemontlibrary.org with any questions.

5. Breakfast With Santa

Enjoy breakfast with your family and Santa. The annual Breakfast with Santa event is set from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday. Attendees can enjoy fresh waffles, scrambled eggs, sausage and other breakfast favorites. Children will visit and have their picture taken with Santa, make a holiday craft and play holiday games. Individual tickets are $8 for residents and $12 for nonresidents in advance, or $9 for residents and $13 for nonresidents on the day of the event. Group entry for a family of four is $27 for residents with $7 for each additional person, and  $31 for residents with $8 for each additional person. For more information about Breakfast with Santa, call the Park District at 630-257-6787.