Christmas

The 17th MLK Day of Service in Joliet attracted 700 volunteers performing 2,100 service hours in 30 different projects.

A Lombard contractor discovers a forgotten Christmas present from 46 years ago

The Goodfellows of Lee County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has been providing for families in need of a “hands up” during the holidays for 112 years.

The home Ann Loitz, 93, of Beecher was destroyed by fire on Dec. 12. She and her husband raised their four children in the house where she has lived for more than 60 years.

Mike Rank, who served as the children’s librarian at the Joliet Public Library's downtown branch for seven years, died in 2024. He is remembered for his "unique gift for connecting with kids and teens."

Clark Griswold, of the National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation” fame, has nothing on the residents of Leiser Street in Herscher

The fifth annual event began on Dec. 6 and encouraged residential festive lighting and decorations

Morris Herald-News teams up with United Way of Grundy County to make it easy to brighten the lives of children, senior citizens and neighbors this holiday season.

Free mental health care is available in Will County. Here’s how to access some of those resources.

Local group Goodfellows gathered at Blumen Gardens in Sycamore on Christmas Eve to collect and distribute gifts of clothes to more than 1,400 children throughout DeKalb County. It was a record number this year, organizers said.

Feel the holiday spirit with this gallery of Christmas cheer in the Sauk Valley.

John Smith invited people to his home for years to see his model train set up before donating it to the Illinois Railway Museum. He still has a setup in his McHenry garage and invites families to see it.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County will close all of its visitor centers after 12 p.m. on Tuesday and all day on Wednesday, for the Christmas holiday. All preserves, including dog parks, will be closed on Wednesday. .

Feel the holiday spirit with this gallery of Christmas cheer in the Sauk Valley.

Eleven families were on the receiving end of $8,000 worth of generous donations from the community for gifts, food and household items.

People enjoy Crystal Lake's Luminary Nights on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in downtown Crystal Lake. The snowy night featured sidewalks lite luminaries, holiday shopping and a visit to the Santa House.

Members bought and delivered presents to family.

Children lined the street in downtown Herscher on Friday as they awaited the arrival of Santa Claus for the 29th Christmas in Herscher celebration

Rock Falls Police and Fire departments spent the afternoon Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, delivering gifts to 11 families during Operation Santa.

The the FIT Foundation in Crest Hill is seeking donations for Christmas dinners for Joliet police and Crest Hill police.

McHenry County stores have handmade items ready to go before

Lake in the Hills residents can vote for their favorite holiday house through Friday.

Holiday light shows and shopping markets in Geneva, Aurora, Joliet, Lemont, Ottawa shine bright with festive fun this month.

Leave the cooking to someone else on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Enjoy a holiday meal at one of these restaurants.

Due to volunteer and committee conflicts, the village of Johnsburg officially cancelled the Holiday Magic Parade and event for 2024

More than 30 inflatable Santa Clause figures stand in front of homes on Ashland Avenue in La Grange and Countryside

The holiday spirit is alive and well in downtown Antioch! Local businesses and organizations are offering an array of shopping deals and festive activities for everyone to enjoy.

Audiences will find “everything’s better in threes” when The Irving Sisters take the stage, singing popular holiday tunes at Brushwood Center this December.

Here's a listing of some local retailers in northern Illinois that offer one-of-a-kind shopping experiences.

Tickets are still available for Lonestar's concert at Joliet's Rialto Square Theatre Sunday, Dec. 22.

The spirit of the holidays was alive and well over the weekend as Bourbonnais hosted its first Miracle at The Grove on Saturday

Oregon High School's Choir, Concert Band, and Jazz Band played Christmas selections in front of a packed house on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. The music department's annual Christmas Concert was held in OHS Music Room.

All the Catholics of Dixon would love for you to celebrate this year with them, however you wish. Local Catholic pastors welcome visitors to any and all of the Masses and devotions at St. Patrick’s and St. Anne’s.

A little rain didn’t keep Santa from spreading holiday cheer Saturday at the third annual Kankakee Christmas Parade

Dixon police and Lee County sheriff's deputies treated 37 kids to a shopping spree Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, during the annual Shop with a Cop event at Dixon Walmart.

The Dixon Park District invited the public to have a cookie with Father Christmas himself, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, at The Facility.

Sam Chellino of Crest Hill decorates trees in his yard each holiday season where he encourages residents to leave with their Christmas hopes and wishes.

Joliet police, fire and public works vehicles escort Santa Claus through Joliet before he heads off to the North Pole on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2024.

The city of Joliet will give Santa Claus an official send-off to the North Pole on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.  

Festive concerts to feature Elgin Master Chorale, Integrity School of Dance, Santa Claus Dec. 14-15.

Santa Claus, the North Pole superstar, was on hand to take requests and pictures along with his nemesis the Grinch, who sat nearby and growled at passing kids.

Hill’s Jyaire “Suga” Hill Foundation is hosting its inaugural Grinchmas Party and Toy Drive Dec. 23

Light shows, the festively decorated McCormick House and Taylor Swift-themed nights highlight Christmas at Cantigny in Wheaton.

The McHenry County Conservation District will hold a day of holiday fun Saturday, Dec. 14, at Glacial Park.

From 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 14, Hawthorn, a super-regional shopping center in Vernon Hills, will host a magical experience.

Hawthorn will host a Giving Tree in cooperation with Catholic Charities, an organization dedicated to providing food, clothing, shelter and counseling to the hopeless in Chicago and its suburbs.

Improv Playhouse Theatre joyfully returns to bring audiences an immersive live-staged radio play of Frank Capra’s timeless classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

The local Salvation Army needs bell ringers from now up until Dec. 24.

Enjoy family-friendly holiday events at Starved Rock Lodge in Oglesby.

The community is invited to attend Lucia Fest at the Church of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Covenant in Crest Hill.