Holidays

GLOW Holiday Festival coming to Joliet Slammers stadium starting Nov. 27. The light show combined with holiday activities will continue on selected evenings through Jan. 5.

Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois will host a Trunk or Treat on Sunday at Nikos Catering in Joliet.

The Morton Arboretum in Lisle will host its breathtaking holiday light exhibit "Illumination" from Saturday, Nov. 16 through Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.

The upcoming season of “Illumination” will feature a new tree-centric display in the arboretum’s Grand Garden and a new sensory-friendly night set for Dec. 3.

The Will County Center for Community Concerns will provide holiday food baskets for 125 income-eligible families with children 16 years of age and younger.

It's never too early to start making your holiday season plans. The Rialto's "Home for the Holidays" lineup includes family-friendly holiday shows and films, concerts, social gatherings and a variety of special events.

The one-of-a-kind advent calendar features 24 of Illinois’ finest craft breweries from across the state, and is available exclusively for pre-sale now until July 31.

Lieutenant Tom Clifton has been serving the Lockport community as a firefighter and paramedic for 15 years, but that's not the only way he's found to serve others in need.

The juried craft show will take place over Thanksgiving weekend

Since 1997, the Herald Angels campaign has made local residents’ lives a little better during the holiday season. Every dollar donated to Herald Angels supports the initiatives of United Way community partners.

Some Will County municipalities collect Christmas trees for recycling and composting as part of their curbside garbage collection services, while others offer drop-offs for trees.

During these last days of the year, additional law enforcement will be patrolling Illinois roads for impaired driving, seat belt, speeding, distracted driving and other traffic laws.

Don’t send your holiday tree to the landfill. Donate it to the Lake County Forest Preserves, and they’ll recycle it into wood chips for trails and landscaping in your forest preserves.

Whether those who have live Christmas trees take them down immediately after the holidays or like to enjoy them for weeks to come, the tree care experts at The Morton Arboretum recommend planning ahead for when it’s time to dispose of them.

If you're still looking for ideas to celebrate the New Year, check out one of these exciting events.

View houses in Joliet decorated for the holidays with the city of Joliet’s online map. A red Santa hat icon indicates participating homes.

There are daytime programs throughout the Joliet area for families, and adults to celebrate the new year and welcome in 2024.

For people experiencing too much stress this holiday season, the best way to unwind may be a breath of fresh air.

A look at people and places from events held this holiday season across the Grundy County area.

A look back scenes through a century of Christmases is Joliet.

The Illinois Conservation Foundation launched ornament sales whose proceeds will be directed to restoration at Illinois state parks.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued a warning going into the holidays to take extra health precautions as COVID-19, flu, and RSV numbers continue to rise.

We asked Shaw Local News Network readers to send in photos of their special ornaments that are hung on their Christmas trees. Here are responses and photos we received from our readers.

Angie Caldwell, president of Pink Heals Joliet Area Chapter, said cancer plus the holidays sometimes often emotionally hits women particularly hard since they often feel responsible for everyone’s well-being.

Operation St. Nick sure has grown from raising $895 in 1983 from auctioning off Cabbage Patch Dolls: In 2023, the 41st annual radio auction raised $150,000, all of which goes towards making the best Christmas possible for 63 local families.

We asked Shaw Local News Network readers to send in photos of their special ornaments or collections that are hung on their trees every year during the Christmas holidays. Here are more stories to share with you.

Take a pre-Christmas break and travel around Starved Rock State Park and Lodge and historic downtown Utica in a trolley tour, Saturday and Sunday.

Locals experts suggest ways to make meaningful celebrations for people with dementia and their caregivers.

The Grundy County Land Use Department completed a gift drive for local children in need this holiday season thanks to donations from individuals, schools, and local community groups.

The Illinois Conservation Foundation has launched the first in a new series of annual Illinois state park holiday ornaments, showcasing the distinct landscape of Starved Rock State Park

Robin Curtner, owner of Magical Marketing in Lockport, is working to fulfill her younger sister's last wishes and take care of her daughters, and she has some help from local businesses, who are hosting a holiday fundraiser for the family.

A look back at the holiday season around Will County.

WCSF-FM 88.7 is once again presenting the Spirit of Christmas, a 24-hour, commercial-free, holiday format featuring music, classic specials and more.

Now through Wednesday, Hawk Volkswagen on Jefferson Street in Joliet is set up as drop off location for new and unwrapped toys or gift cards benefiting Pink Heals families.

The “Pack the Paddy Wagon” food drive is in its fifth year at the Joliet Police Department which collects non-perishable food items for the Salvation Army food pantry in downtown Joliet.

Do you have a special ornament (or collection of ornaments) that you hang every year? Shaw Local News Network would love to tell its story in an upcoming publication.

Annual Joliet Santa Send-Off starts at 10 a.m. and winds westward through the city ending at the intersection of Ridge and Caton Farm roads.

Camp Aramoni's Holiday Open House takes place Friday, Dec. 15, at its Tonica location.

Come meet Santa’s very own reindeer from noon to 2 p.m. Get up close and take photos with these gentle furry friends, along with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Kids and kids at heart will be delighted with holiday-themed activities.

“A Winter Wonderland Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus" will take place from 8-11:30 a.m. Dec. 9 at the Joliet Central Student Center, 201 E. Jefferson Street in Joliet.

This “wee-bit tipsy fun” at Bicentennial Park in Joliet centers on 21st century problems: drinking, family issues, holiday pressures and mental health.

The Plainfield Fire Protection District is promoting fire safety this holiday season with its annual Red Wreath campaign.

The Salvation Army's Joliet Corp has launched its annual Red Kettle Campaign to collect donations for families in need at the holidays. Hopes to have volunteers outside stores from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. six days per week.

Starting at noon on Thanksgiving Day, University of St. Francis radio station WCSF-FM 88.7 begins its 30th season of the Spirit of Christmas, a 24-hour, commercial-free, season-long holiday format.

State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel is asking residents for help collecting holiday cards and toys during the holiday season.

The Lake County Retired Teachers Association will meet at noon Dec. 12 at the Lambs Farm restaurant in Libertyville, located at the junction of Route 176 and Interstate 94.

Take a break from the hustle of the holidays and get explore the outdoors this holiday season with Forest Preserve District of Will County programs. Online registration is available.

McHenry County Toys for Tots expects to give thousands of presents to kids this year. Gifts for toddlers and kids over 10 are especially needed.

Light up the Holidays Festival and Parade starts off the season in Joliet with a family feeling.

Motorists will see hundreds of additional seat belt enforcement zones and other enforcement patrols looking for seat belt law violators and drug- and alcohol-impaired drivers through Nov. 28.