Festivals and Fairs
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Shining bright: Holiday tree lightings around the suburbsNov 19, 2025 12:48 pm - A community tree lighting is a great way to kick off the holidays. Here’s where they are happening around the suburbs.
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Schaumburg, Bartlett to see changes to holiday tree-lighting traditions this yearNov 19, 2025 12:25 pm - Though virtually all Northwest suburbs will soon be welcoming residents back for their annual holiday traditions, Schaumburg and Bartlett are among those who’ll see special and deliberate changes to their tree-lighting ceremonies this year.
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Woodstock to illuminate historic Square with annual lighting ceremonyNov 18, 2025 4:53 pm - On Nov. 28, the City of Woodstock is hosting its annual Lighting of the Square event to kick off the holiday season, featuring festive activities, live music, and the illumination of tens of thousands of twinkling lights.
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St. Charles Business Alliance warns against fake Holiday Homecoming events on FacebookNov 18, 2025 3:21 pm - The St. Charles Business Alliance is warning of fraudulent Facebook events spreading misinformation about the upcoming St. Charles Electric Christmas Parade and Holiday Homecoming.
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Best Bets: Dazzling light displays usher in the holiday seasonNov 18, 2025 1:56 pm - Christmas at Cantigny, Chicago’s Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival and Light Up the Park in Rosemont welcome the holidays, and Smashing Pumpkins co-founder Billy Corgan brings “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” to the Lyric Opera.
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Things to do Nov. 21-27: Aurora Christkindlmarket, Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Holiday Magic, Thanksgiving events and moreNov 18, 2025 10:47 am - Make plans for Aurora Christkindlmarket, Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Holiday Magic, Chicago Sports Spectacular in Rosemont, Turkey Trots, winter festivals, Santa sightings, Thanksgiving events and more.
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Grinch-themed Breakfast Bash brings Whoville to Geneva churchNov 17, 2025 7:51 pm - United Methodist Church of Geneva is bringing back the popular Whoville Fest during Geneva Christmas Walk weekend, and this year it’s a Breakfast Bash featuring “Storytime with The Grinch!”
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Things to do Nov. 14-20: Reindeer Run at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Grand Kyiv Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’ and moreNov 11, 2025 10:40 am - Make plans for Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Reindeer Run, “Swan Lake” at Waukegan’s Genesee, IllumiBrew at Morton Arboretum, the Grand Kyiv Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” at the Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago and more.
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‘A beloved holiday tradition’: Morton Arboretum’s ‘Illumination’ returns for a 13th year of immersive displaysNov 07, 2025 10:34 am - The Morton Arboretum’s “Illumination” presentation incorporates several large-scale sculptures from the arboretum’s “Vivid Creatures” exhibition -- and offers three days for dogs to attend.
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Rolling Meadows 2026 events: Meadows Fest rocks on, but Hoedown gets the bootNov 05, 2025 11:06 am - Rolling Meadows officials plan to bring back Meadows Fest in 2026 after its successful debut in 2025, but will eliminate the Hometown Hoedown Fall Fest and Bites & Beats due to low attendance.