Grayslake-Area Holiday Events: Parades, Tree Lightings, More

GRAYSLAKE, IL — There is no shortage of things to do in and around Libertyville 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.

Tree and menorah lightings in and around Libertyville are:

• The Grayslake Tree Lighting and Holiday festival will run from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday in downtown Grayslake. The tree lighting will be held at 5:30 p.m. More information on the festival can be found online.
• The village of Libertyville's holiday tree lighting ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Cook Memorial Park in Libertyville. Holiday walk festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Libertyville and will continue through 8 p.m. There will be a special area set up for photos with Santa and downtown merchants will offer extended hours for evening shopping and dining.
• The lighting of the village's tree and menorah and Kwanzaa displays will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Vernon Hills Municipal Golf Course, 291 Evergreen Drive in Vernon Hills. More information is available on the village's website.

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; the Target.

Parades in and around Grayslake may not be able to match those in size, but the heart behind them is just as big. Parades to catch near Grayslake include:

• The lighted Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting in Lake Villa will step off at 5 p.m. More information on the parade can be found here.
• The village of Antioch will hold its annual holiday parade starting at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Antioch. More information can be found here.