Lisle celebrates the magic of the season
Lisle celebrates the wonder of the season during the first weekend in December with its annual Lisle Santa Light Parade, tree-lighting, luminaria lining the streets, holiday shopping, caroling, free trolley rides and 1800s Christmas.
The Lisle Santa Light Parade starts the celebration at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, from Ogden Avenue and Main Street and works its way south through downtown, turning east on Burlington Avenue and ending at the village hall, 925 Burlington Ave.
Santa's final destination is the Museums at Lisle Station Park, where there will be a photo opportunity as the Jolly Old Elf takes requests from boys and girls.
Visitors can enjoy holiday performances by students all afternoon in the village hall board room, as well as after the tree-lighting ceremony.
Downtown businesses present "Merry on Main" for a day of holiday open houses, treats and giveaway. Visitors can stroll along Main Street and view the decorated tree walk, play the holiday word hunt, and then head to the village hall for the tree lighting and The Lights of Lisle Festival.
At dusk, roughly 2,000 luminarias line the streets, and at 6 p.m. the official tree-lighting ceremony begins. The Lisle Community Band will perform and cookies and hot chocolate will be served. Holiday song books will be available for all to enjoy community caroling.
Make it a point to stop at the outdoor Holiday Market Tent this year where vendors will be selling holiday gifts and festive crafts. Purchase foods offered by local food trucks and dine in the heated tent.
A festively-decorated Holiday Trolley, complete with holiday music, will be available from 5 to 7 p.m. for free rides to view the holiday decorations. Riders get on and off at the village hall, where there will be an ice carving demonstration, refreshments and an opportunity to visit with Santa at the Depot Museum.
Free wagon rides also will be available from 5 to 8 p.m. and run between the village hall and the Museums at Lisle Station Park, 921 School St.
The annual Lisle Heritage Society Holiday celebration, "Once Upon a Christmas," is from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at the Museums at Lisle Station Park.
Highlighting this year's event will be an 1800s-era holiday celebration complete with period costumes, demonstrations, children's crafts, music, brick oven baking, model train displays, hay rides, blacksmithing and, of course, Santa.
Before Lights of Lisle, visit Villa St. Benedict, 1920 Maple Ave., for the Memorial Luminary Illumination from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
For details, call the Lisle Convention & Visitors Bureau at (630) 769-1000 or visit www.stayinlisle.com/events.