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Five Things To Do in the Northern Suburbs: Nov. 28–30, 2025
Winter is easing in, and with it comes a new lineup of reasons to brave the cold. Here are a few standout events worth bundling up for this weekend.
Explore the Festival of Lights and Holiday Market.
Grayslake fills an entire afternoon and evening with holiday programming, starting with Giving Trees at the Heritage Center, photos with Santa, and a lineup of downtown vendors. As the sun sets, families can catch the holiday parade on Center Street, hop on horse-drawn carriage rides, browse the Arts Alliance show, and take a spin on the Ferris wheel. The night wraps with the lighting of the town tree, creating a scene straight out of a Hallmark script… minus the small-town drama.
Date: Nov. 28
Time: 2–6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Historic Downtown Grayslake
More Info: grayslakevillagecenter.com
Join the countdown at the Village Tree Lighting & Downtown Holiday Walk.
Libertyville's annual tree lighting brings crowds to Cook Park for an evening of carols, community performances, and Santa's grand arrival to flip the switch right at 7 p.m. After the countdown, families can grab photos with Santa, explore downtown shops, or extend the night with dinner at one of the surrounding restaurants.
Date: Nov. 28
Time: 6:30–8 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Cook Park, 413 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
More Info: mainstreetlibertyville.org
Have family fun at Kris Kringle Market.
The Kris Kringle Market brings together a mix of handmade goods, seasonal décor, collectibles, and sweet treats for a cozy indoor-outdoor holiday market. Visitors can browse vendor booths, roast marshmallows for free, let kids loose at an art station, and snap a photo with the Grinch himself!
Date: Nov. 29
Time: 1–6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Volo Museum, 27582 W. Volo Village Rd., Volo
More Info: volocars.com
Follow the fun at Holiday in the Park and Parade.
Glenview starts the season with its annual parade down Glenview Road, marching from OLPH to Jackman Park for a classic small-town holiday celebration. Once the procession arrives, families can hop on hayrides, grab hot chocolate, listen to carolers, and let the kids climb aboard the mini train. Santa sets up at the park for visits and photos, while cookies and popcorn keep the evening festive and sweet.
Date: Nov. 29
Time: 4–6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Jackman Park, 1930 Prairie St., Glenview
More Info: business.glenviewchamber.com
Watch the holiday glow at the Light the Lights Festival.
Glencoe flips the switch on the season with an all-out holiday takeover spanning Village Court, Wyman Green, Tudor Court, and the Writers Theatre campus. The lighting ceremony features a six-foot, 3D "60022" installation, plus live music from Rosie and the Rivets, a trackless train weaving through downtown, character meet-and-greets, and a full spread of crafts, carnival rides, sponsor activations, and food vendors. Kids can visit Santa, meet live reindeer, and even duck into a sensory-friendly room at the library. With heaters, photo ops, hot cocoa, cider, and a tunnel of lights connecting the action, it's one of the North Shore's biggest holiday openers.
Date: Nov. 28
Time: 5–7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Village Court, 675 Village St., Glencoe
More Info: villageofglencoe.org
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