Rock Island Public House 'Decked' Out for Blue Island Shopping Sat/Sun

Rock Island Public House’s “Deck the Halls” plant sale and “Holiday Craft Fair” returns to Blue Island’s Olde Western Avenue the weekend of December 9-10 with several stores offering unique shopping experiences for gift giving and strategies for sprucing up the house for the holidays and winter months.

“House plants make great gifts for the holidays,” said Anthony Polcaster of Lock House Garden in Wyanet, IL, about a two-hour drive west of Chicago, located north of Peoria.

Owners and operators of a “microfarm” located next to the Hennepin Canal in Bureau County, Illinois will set up Saturday at the Rock Island Public House with ornamental Christmas wreaths, dried flower arrangements, bouquets, ornaments and more beginning at 4 p.m. and running through until 7 p.m.

The Rock Island Public House’s famed beer selection will include seasonal winter ales and specialty mixed drinks celebrating the holiday season.

“The scents, sounds and spirit of Christmas fill our Public House as if we’ve gone back in time,” said Jennifer Brown, who owns the Public House with her husband Dave. “We’re excited to have our friends from Lock House Garden back with their clever ideas and creative decorations.”

Bizarro & Son will serve up its specialty house favorites delivered directly to tables. The “Mexican Scratch Kitchen” prepares healthy dishes made only with fresh ingredients – nothing processed.

On Sunday, Old Western Avenue comes alive at noon with of the annual “Holiday Craft Fair” bookended on the north end by the Rock Island Public House and the Blue Island Beer Company to the South in cooperation with Streetz Artz Alliance for the Third Annual Krampus Market.

With the promise of “something for everyone” Olde Western becomes a walking-talking boulevard of Christmas lights and decorations for shoppers of all ages and budgets. Shopping will run until 6 p.m. Dinner and beverages can be found until late in the evening.

“After the pause of the pandemic, our annual events are coming back stronger than ever,” said Alan Cromwell, co-owner of Blue Island Beer Company. “I can’t wait to see the faces of our patrons when they spot our new streetscape and our own newly-paved and graded parking lot. Blue Island city hall and the mayor did a great job.”

SATURDAY DECEMBER 9TH

Rock Island Public House hosts the Lock House Garden’s plant sale, featuring beautiful plants for home decoration and for gifts!

04:00 PM - 07:00 PM

HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR ALONG OLDE WESTERN AVENUE

SUNDAY DECEMBER 10TH

The annual street wide holiday craft fair is back! Olde Western Ave. will have something for everyone!

12:00 PM - 06:00 PM

lockhousegarden@gmail.com

(708) 228-9096

instagram: lockhouse_garden

711 S Walnut Rd, Wyanet, IL 61379

Location

Rock Island Public House

13328 Old Western Ave, Blue Island, IL 60406, USA

Get directions

Dates

Saturday, December 10, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm CDT

Sunday, December 11, Noon - 6:00 pm CDT