Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Skokie Area: Tree Lightings And More

SKOKIE, IL — There is no shortage of things to do in the Skokie 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.

Lincolnwood Lights on the Lincolnwood Village Hall promenade is set for 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, and the tree lighting at Fountain Square in Evanston takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

A "Chanukah Happening" event is scheduled for Dec. 7 at the Niles Township Jewish Congregation, with music from the Maxwell Street Klezmer Duet and the Wilmetsky Orchestra..

A family friendly Santa's workshop event is planned at the Oakton Community Center at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 10. All adults and children over the age of 1 must pre-register.

On Dec. 16, Jewish Reconstructionist Synagogue hosts a Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Chanukah celebration featuring Heavy Shtetl and a performance by JRC's Junior Choir.

From Dec. 3 to Dec. 18, the Skokie holiday carolers will be available for bookings to sing in Skokie neighborhoods for a $50 fee.

A menorah lighting and Hanukkah celebration is scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at Fountain Square. The event will include live music, a LED robot dancer and Hanukkah treats and remarks from Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.

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.

Find more events or post your own on the Skokie Patch calendar.

Related: JCC Chicago Hosts '8 Nights Of Hanukkah' Events In Chicago, Suburbs

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 Skokie