Holiday Celebration Downtown In 'North Shore's North Pole'

LAKE BLUFF, IL — It's time to light up the Village Green with Lake Bluff's annual "It's a Wonderful Life ... In Lake Bluff" celebration Saturday. Downtown businesses are kicking off the festive season with old-fashioned family fun and holiday atmosphere.

Santa will be making an appearance, plus throughout the day there'll be horse-drawn carriage rides, reindeer on the Village Green, caroling, music from Lake Forest High School Holiday Brass, chestnuts "a'roasting," food tastings, art, crafts and more.

The event will culminate with a 5 p.m. lighting ceremony at the gazebo featuring sing-along caroling with Lake Bluff Middle School Singers.

Check out the schedule below and head down to the Village Green to take advantage of great deals and in-store drawings from local businesses throughout the day.

• 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Whitehead Studios, a new addition to local festivities, is holding a holiday showcase and a drawing for $58 ornament at its 36 E. Center location. MORE: Lake Forest Artist Opens Downtown Lake Bluff Art Studio
• 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. DIY Holiday Décor at the LB Library for adults – displays, instructions & more
• 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Lake Bluff History Museum Historic Christmas Home Tours
• 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Holiday storytime, crafts & treats with the Library Elves at the Lake Bluff Library
• 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Carriage rides sponsored by Lake Forest Bank & Trust
• 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Visit with Santa Claus at the Lake Bluff History Museum
• 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Live reindeer on the Village Green
• 3 p.m.-5 p.m LFHS Holiday Brass perform through town
• 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Caroling by The Buckthorns
• 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Holiday-trimmed Happy Hour at Inovasi
• 5 p.m. Lighting ceremony at the Gazebo, featuring caroling by the LB Middle School Singers.
• 5 -10 pm Be Market tastings of Mulled Wine, Turmeric Sweet Potato Spinach Soup & Apple Berry Crisp
• All Day Register to win tickets to a Dec. 15 screening of "It's a Wonderful Life" at Gorton Community Center at all Clockworks, Lake Bluff Hub & Cycle, Lawrence Interiors, Peg Ann Kompany & Twigs, who are raffling off two tickets each.

Around Lake Bluff:

• 11 am-9 pm Buy-one-get-one-free offer at Suzy's Swirl, plus you'll register to win a $100 gift card as you pick up your favorite frozen delight.
• Dec. 1 - Dec. 15 Holiday Food Drive at the Lake Bluff Recreation Center, The Park District will donate non-perishable food items to Midwest Veterans Closet, a not-for-profit charity that provides food and clothing to our veterans in need. Donations are being collected in the lobby of the rec center, and everyone is encouraged to bring an item or two to help make a difference for those in need this holiday season.

For more information, visit BuzzOnTheBluff.com

» via the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce, Lake Bluff Park District, Lake Bluff Library

Check out a video last year's event from the Village of Lake Bluff:

_{Top photo via Shutterstock}