Christmas, Hanukkah Events Near Glen Ellyn: Parades, Fests, More

GLEN ELLYN, IL — There is no shortage of things to do in and around Glen Ellyn 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.

Glen Ellyn hosted its holiday walk and tree lighting on Nov. 25.

In nearby Naperville, an ice menorah will be lit on Dec. 26. To view the menorah lighting, head to Naperville City Hall at 400 S. Eagle St. at 5:30 p.m. The festivities include hot chocolate and other goodies.

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.

Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Throughout the season, downtown Glen Ellyn will be aglow with painted windows and twinkling lights. Residents in nearby Wheaton will deck their houses out for the city's "Light Up Wheaton" holiday lights contest.

The Glen Art Theatre will show holiday movies on Saturdays through Dec. 17. The park district has also planned candy cane hunts and visits with Santa Claus to round out its holiday festivities.