Christmas, Holiday Events In Bolingbrook: Winter Walk, Santa Send-Off

BOLINGBROOK, IL — There is no shortage of things to do in Bolingbrook 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.

Bolingbrook's Festival of Lights Winter Walk will kick off on Dec. 3.

The Winter Walk will run through Jan. 8 behind Town Center, 375 W. Briarcliff Road.

The event kick-off and tree lighting ceremony will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 3. Guests can visit with Santa, check out the holiday displays, and buy treats sold to benefit local organizations. Displays are decorated by local groups and organizations, and presented by the Civic and Cultural Affairs Commission.

Several holiday events will be held throughout December at the Holiday Walk, including:

• Senior Nights, on Dec. 7 and Dec. 14. Reservations are required. Guests will receive a guided tour around the pond, and there will be holiday popcorn, hot chocolate and hot apple cider.
• Bonfire and S'mores, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 10. There will be two bonfires with s'mores kits to purchase. Guests can also buy treats or visit with Santa.
• Hot Chocolate with Santa, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 17. Each Santa visitor will receive a free gift. Displays will be open, and holiday treats will be sold.

Bolingbrook residents should also save the date for the Village of Bolingbrook's Santa Send-Off on Dec. 22.

Full details will be released soon, including an addition to this year's event.

The Santa Send-Off event brings Santa around Bolingbrook with his sleigh, greeting families as he leaves for the North Pole. In past years, Santa has left from Town Center and made his way around different areas of town, but his route has not yet been released.