Glencoe Gears Up For Light The Lights 2023

GLENCOE, IL — The village is set to host the 2023 Light the Lights Festival from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday in downtown Glencoe and Wyman Green.

The free annual holiday event promises a festive evening of family-friendly activities, according to organizers.

The lighting ceremony at Wyman Green, 310 Park Ave., due to take place at 5 p.m., will for the first time this year feature a 6-foot, 3-dimensional illuminated display of the village's 60022 ZIP code.

The new sign, which village staff described as perfect for selfies, will be on display for the whole weekend.

On Saturday, attendees can look forward to live music at the Green from Rosie and the Rivets. Attendees were encourages to bring their own chairs and warm blankets.

A "Winter Village" will be arranged on Tudor Court and at the Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court. It will offer photo opportunities with Santa Claus and characters from the Disney movie "Frozen."

The festival is also set to feature trackless train rides through downtown, an igloo photobooth, sponsor booths with giveaways and a tunnel of lights connecting Park Avenue and Tudor Court.

Other new attractions this year include a variety of food and beverage vendors like Lincoln Land Kettle Corn, Wally's Waffles, Sweet Ride food truck, Writers Theatre's Bar and Ravinia Brewing Company, which was recently slapped with a copyright lawsuit from the Ravinia Festival Association alleging people would confuse the Highland Park microbrewery with the music festival.

Families can also participate in crafts at the Glencoe Public Library, 320 Park Avenue. From 5 to 6 p.m., there will be free hot chocolate and bite-sized pastries at the locally owned Hometown Coffee and Juice, 700 Vernon Ave. And free bite-sized cookies will be distributed outside the future location of Honey Butter Fried Chicken, 668 Vernon Ave., with an opportunity to win a gift card.

The will be accepting donations to benefit local families in need.

Donations to the Glencoe Community Holiday Drive can be made at a booth outside Village Hall, 675 Village Court, or online.

Road closures will be in effect for Village Court and Tudor Court, starting at noon for parking and then completely closed to traffic from 2:30 p.m. for event set-up. Parking will be available at the Temple Court parking lot, Metra commuter lots and part of the Village Court parking lot.