'Holiday Lights' Festivities Set to Ring in Season Dec. 4

Homewood will welcome the holiday season on Dec. 4, with its annual “Holiday Lights” celebration.

The action-packed, family-friendly evening of festivities from 6 to 9 p.m. features a tree lighting ceremony, outdoor marketplace, ice sculpture carvings, live reindeer petting zoo, antique car parade, the arrival of Santa and his friends on the Homewood fire truck and more. Free musical trolleys will shuttle shoppers through downtown to each store and activity. New this year is the Holiday Window Walking Tour where downtown windows are dressed to celebrate winter and follows a famous Robert Frost poem. “HolidayLights in Homewood” is free and open to the public. Homewood is steps from the Metra Electric line and there is free and ample parking as well.

“It’s always magical to see Homewood put on its holiday finery for ‘Holiday Lights’,” said Rich Hofeld, Village President. “We are especially pleased to have our windows dressed with Robert Frost’s poetry to add to the magic this year. We are delighted this has become the highlight for many families during the holiday season.”

“Holiday Lights in Homewood” kicks off when the Martin Ave. Outdoor Market opens at 6 p.m. featuring live reindeer, unique shopping and an ice sculpting demonstration by Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures - Chicago’s premier ice carving company (demonstrations begin at 7:15 PM). The treelighting ceremony is at 7 p.m. at Irwin Park, 18120 Highland Ave.,when Santa and his friends arrives on a fire engine to flip the switch for the grand treelighting. In addition, Foundation 153, a fundraising non profit for School District 153, will offer pickup for pre-ordered premium-grade Fraser Firs and garland from Michigan. Free musical trolleys will take shoppers all around downtown Homewood to take advantage of the Holiday Lights specials and refreshments.

New to “Holiday Lights 2015” Holiday Window Walking Tour created by window designer Margot Hallahan. This year the windows follow Robert Frost’s poem, “Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening”. Each window will displays the admiration and beauty of a snowy, winter woods. All windows are marked with a number for easy viewing, starting on Ridge Road and with the complete poem at 18102 Martin Avenue.

The shopping season kicked off on Saturday, Nov. 20 when the Downtown Homewood Business Association (DHBA) launches “Unwrap Downtown Homewood”. Stores throughout the downtown and outlying areas open early and offer special discounts for shoppers. In addition, shoppers who spend $300 or more in 3 different DHBA stores are entered to win prizes and gift certificates.

For more information, visit www.HomeSweetHomewood.com.