Holiday

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

Every morning, Randy and Beth Espe watch reindeer frolic outside their kitchen window as they sip their morning coffee – a delightful daily ritual they have fondly dubbed the “rodeo," at Whispering Pines Reindeer Ranch & Tree Farm in Shabbona

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Polo residents kicked off the holiday season Saturday, Dec. 7, with the community's annual Christmas festival.

Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20; 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, at Emmanuel Church, 202 E. Morris St., Morrison.

A look back at some of the outtakes from recent assignment for the Northwest Herald.

Tickets to the concert won’t be sold. They will be exchanged for a generous donation of non-perishable food and/or paper products, which will be donated to Daybreak Shelter in Joliet.

Sterling's Sights and Sounds and Dixon's Christmas Walk kicked off the holiday season Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.

Christmas trees are installed and decorated Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, for the McHenry Chamber of Commerce Festival of Trees at the McHenry Recreation Center. The tree festival and runs through Dec. 29. Visitors can vote for their favorite Christmas tree by leaving canned food or toiletries under the tree they like best during normal business hours. All donations go to Veterans Path to Hope.

Here are five ways to ensure the holidays are merry and bright for people and pets in need in Will County.

Downtown Dixon business owners had positive things to say about Shop Small Saturday and are hopeful sales continue through the holiday season.

Two community theater troupes will present holiday-themed performances this weekend – one in Polo and the other in Morrison.

Sam and Laura Strom run Strom Tree Farm on Dixon’s northwest side. The farm grows and sells Christmas trees, a holiday tradition immortalized in song and Christmas cards — firs festooned with baubles and bulbs, and pines packed with presents underneath.

Red lit wreaths outside of Dixon's fire departments act as reminder to extra fire hazards during the holiday season.

Here's a list of where you can find holiday performances in Chicago and surrounding suburbs.

Woodstock chamber launches promotion to encourage people to support local businesses this holiday.

Enjoy shopping, music, live performances, annual tree lighting and visits with Santa.

Woodstock lit up downtown for the holidays Friday at the annual Lighting of the Square.

Events include special visits and breakfasts with Santa, annual interactive dinner theater.

"Shop local" in downtown Plainfield on Saturday through an artisan fair and a passport event.

This free event celebrates the magic of the season with festive and fun holiday activities, song and ceremony, culminating in Santa’s arrival and a welcome by Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke, followed by the ceremonial tree lighting.

If you have a Rock Falls address, you can spread holiday cheer by decorating your home/yard for Christmas and joining the Rock Falls Tour of Lights 2024 house decorating contest.

A lighted holiday display will open Friday, Nov. 29, at Centennial Park in Rock Falls.

Books on First in Dixon partners with Lutheran Social Services to provide a gift for at-risk children and teens during the holiday season.

Garbage, recycling, and yard waste pickup in Joliet will be pushed back one day this week for those with normal pickup on Thursday and Friday due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Rock Falls Chamber held its annual Grinch dodgeball event at Rock Falls Middle School for a chance to let kids know and show what they think of the anti-Christmas hooligan.

People enjoy the holiday spirit as they watch the McHenry Toys For Tots Parade on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in McHenry.

The event starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at the United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincoln Way in Morrison. Visitors can drop off their gifts to be wrapped and pick them back up at 3 p.m.

Miller’s Festive Lights is a new seasonal service that rents and installs colored holiday lights outside of customers’ homes.

The Grinch takes on all comers in a no-holds-barred dodgeball throwdown Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Rock Falls.

Held at the Rock Falls American Legion, the Thursday night event sold out at 450 tickets and gave away loads of prize baskets and gifts cards donated from local businesses.

To kick off Rock Falls' Hometown Holidays weekend, the Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce held its popular bingo event Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at the American Legion.

Diva Montell and Jeorge Holmes will perform Sunday, Dec. 15 at the Norris Cultural Arts Center Gallery.

Dixon gets a makeover Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, as the downtown is decorated for the holiday season.

The Glen Ellyn Park District will host a toy drive for Toys for Tots Dec. 8

Several road closures in and around the downtown Rock Falls area are planned for Friday, Nov. 22, because of events surrounding the Rock Falls Chamber Hometown Holidays.

What will start with a great day of supporting local small businesses on Shop Small Saturday will continue into December this year, as Discover Dixon’s Support Local promotion offers shoppers a chance to win $500 or a loaded prize basket.

The family-friendly event runs from 5-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6.

The Rotary Club of Joliet is hosting a casual, margarita-themed fundraiser to raise money for its new community contingency fund on Dec. 14.

Features at the Joliet event include a delicious breakfast, a visit with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and holiday crafts.

Located in the heart of Downers Grove, Osteria by Capri pays homage to Chef Joey Capri’s birthplace of Calabria, Italy with bold, Southern Italian flavors and handcrafted cocktails.

Dozens of people gathered at Veterans Memorial Park in Dixon for a Veterans Day ceremony hosted by the Dixon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 540 in conjunction with the Veterans Memorial Park Commission.

A Veterans Day ceremony was held Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, at Dixon's Veterans Memorial Park. The event was hosted by Dixon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 540. Retired U.S. Army Col. Jerry Newman served as the keynote speaker.

Music, food and cocktails will spice a show featuring 130 exhibitors’ vintage and handcrafted goods.

Bosma-Renkes & Bosma-Gibson Funeral Homes will hold their annual Holiday Remembrance Program on Sunday, Nov. 10.