Whether you are looking for some Christmas fun with the family or ways to celebrate the New Year, the list of events below will offer you that and much more this holiday season.
Christmas
On Dec. 21, Downtown Oak Park invites friends, shoppers and families with children of all ages to the heart of downtown for the Home for the Holidays event. The festivities begin at 11 a.m. with horse-drawn carriage rides that start from Marion Street. The rides are free of charge and conclude at 2 p.m. While attendees are strolling through the downtown area, several participating businesses will be offering a free cup of hot cocoa to warm up with. Attendees can stop at Vigo Coffee, Crepas Culichi, Kribi Coffee or Wise Cup from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to claim a warm refreshment. Visitors may also spot Santa while enjoying hot cocoa, as he will be visiting Downtown Oak Park businesses to greet the event’s attendees from noon to 3 p.m.
Have you ever shopped for groceries and visited the North Pole on the same day? If not, consider checking that off your to-do list this Christmas season at Carnival Grocery. For two days, the grocery store will host a free event that is family friendly. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on both Dec. 21 and Dec. 22, the Carnival Grocery will host Santa Claus for photo opportunities. Attendees will also be able to write their wish list letters and treat themselves to hot cocoa, cider or snacks. The first event on Dec. 21 will be located at 824 S. Oak Park Ave., and the second day of festivities will take place at 458 W. Dickens Ave. on Dec. 22.
For music lovers, the Sing-Along Messiah Concert with the Apollo Chorus of Chicago on Dec. 22 may be of interest. From 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. members from the Apollo Chorus of Chicago will be in Oak Park for a sing-along concert. The event will also have musical scores available for purchase. If you would like to warm up your vocal cords this holiday season, then you can book tickets to this concert at this link. This event will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Oak Park, which is located at 324 N. Oak Park Ave.
Hanukkah
For families celebrating Hanukkah (which means dedication in Hebrew, whichever way you spell it), there are several options. On Dec. 25, the Chabad Jewish Center of Oak Park will host a Chanukah Festival at 4 p.m. The festival will include a grand menorah lighting, a kosher Chinese dinner, latkes, sufganiyot (sugared donuts), and a magic show featuring hypno-magician Jeffrey Powers. People who are interested in attending the festival must RSVP at this link. The address for the event will be provided upon reservation.
For residents living in either Oak Park or River Forest, the Chabad Jewish Center of Oak Park is offering a free menorah kit for Hanukkah. People interested in the opportunity can fill out a form at this link to order their kit, which can be picked up at the Chabad Jewish Center or delivered to your home.
Kwanzaa
The Oak Park Public Library will host a Kwanzaa celebration at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 30. Attendees will learn about the seven principles of Kwanzaa and be immersed in music, art and community spirit. This Black American Harvest celebration features dancing, drumming, poetry and storytelling. All are welcome to attend. The library is located at 834 Lake St.
Register: https://oakpark.librarycalendar.com/event/hold-82752
New Year’s Eve
The Stevenson Community Center is hosting parents and their little ones to their indoor playground for a festive New Year’s Eve Bash. On Dec. 31, families can celebrate the upcoming new year with crafts, dancing, a balloon drop and a toast (apple juice). The event will take place in the lower-level indoor playground, at 49 W. Lake St. The party begins at 10:30 a.m. and concludes at 12:15 p.m. Attendees can RSVP for the event using this link.
If you and your loved ones are early risers and do not want to stay up late for the new year’s countdown, then the Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex has you covered. Instead of counting down to midnight, you and your friends can skate into the new year by counting down to noon. On Dec. 31, the RCRC Ice Rink will host a Noon Year’s Eve Skate from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees will have access to fun games and activities both on and off the ice throughout the celebration. Ice skates will be available for rent as well. Although walkins are welcome, you may pre-register for this event using this link. The Noon Year’s Eve Skate celebration will take place at 415 Lake St.
Another family-friendly option for a New Year’s Eve celebration includes the Wonder Works Children’s Museum Noon Year’s Eve party. Advertised as the “last PLAY date of 2024,” this event will include activities suited for children of all ages. Families will have plenty of fun options to celebrate the holiday during the event such as exploring the museum, working on a new year’s art project and greeting costumed characters. When the festivities are complete everyone will be able to capture the memorable celebration as a family using the photo booth. Wonder Works will offer two opportunities for families to count down to the new year to accommodate everyone’s busy schedules around the holidays. The first count down and balloon drop is scheduled for 11 a.m. and the second will be at 1 p.m. Both adults and children planning to attend must purchase a ticket for this event, which is $15 for members and $30 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased using this link. Wonder Works is located at 6445 W. North Ave.