Wilmette's Winter Wonderland, Santa, Savings, Swing At Tree Lighting

WILMETTE, IL — Wilmette's annual tree-lighting celebration is set to transform the village into a winter wonderland on the first Saturday in December.

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 2, shops and restaurants around the village's downtown will be offering various promotions and refreshments as part of the daylong "Holiday Happenings" event, culminating in the tree lighting, according to organizers.

The event kicks off on Dec. 2 with a character breakfast from 9 to 10:45 a.m. at Convito Cafe and Market, 1515 Sheridan Road in Plaza del Lago. This reservations-only breakfast event is due to feature visits from characters from Disney's "Frozen," according to village staff.

From 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., a Santa Claus will be available for photos at the Wilmette Theatre, after which he can be found strolling around downtown Wilmette until 1:30 p.m.

Shortly after Santa's departure, the 1122 Central Ave. theater is scheduled to screen the Will Ferrell holiday film "Elf" from noon to 2 p.m. Free tickets are available for anyone who can show off a receipt for a purchase of $10 or more from a local Wilmette shop.

From 4 p.m. until the tree lighting at Village Hall an hour later, the New Trier Swing Choir Carolers are scheduled to perform at the Village Green, where there will also be free hot chocolate and candy canes.

But there are opportunities to have some family friendly festive fun even before "Holiday Happenings" happens.

The village is hosting "Game of Gnomes," a family-friendly scavenger hunt running through Dec. 24. To take part, competitors can scout out for stickers of gnomes in storefront windows, write down the name of the business on a game card and submit the completed card for a chance to win a Shop Wilmette gift card. New winners will be picked weekly in December, and game cards are available online or at The Wild Child Toy Shop.

Another event to look forward to is the "Holiday Open House – Sip & Shop" from 5 to 8:00 p.m. on Nov. 30. It invites visitors and residents alike to check out the village's downtown and holiday gifts, winter merchandise, refreshments and special promotions at local businesses.