Holiday Housewalk and Market returns for 26th year on Dec. 6 and 7

The local kick-off to the holiday season is approaching, and this year’s Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society (IWS) Holiday Housewalk and Market is an event that promises to deliver plenty of good cheer.

The 26th annual fundraiser will be held the weekend of Dec. 6 and 7. Beyond offering a chance to see six beautifully decorated homes lit up for the holiday season, the event offers a chance to do good while having fun.

This year’s Holiday Housewalk and Market Chair Cam Niederman said the event is the biggest fundraiser for the IWS Children’s Clinic, which has been a healthcare provider for children for over 100 years. “We’ve been a part of the community since 1916,” she said.

At its new location at the corner of Madison Street and Humphrey Avenue in Oak Park, the Children’s Clinic ensures access to health care for children in need from the Oak Park area including the city’s West Side. Niederman said that in this fiscal year, the Children’s Clinic has served over 3,000 patients through over 8,000 medical, dental and behavioral health care visits.

While supporting a key component of the Children’s Clinic financial well-being with their ticket purchase, participants can also get ready to enjoy their own holiday season. Niederman said the walk will provide plenty of decorating inspiration, and the market will allow guests to get a jump on their holiday shopping.

The Holiday Market will take place inside the Children’s Clinic, allowing visitors to get a glimpse of the space that offers healthcare to so many children in need. This year, there will be 22 vendors offering everything from hand-knit sweaters to artwork and food offerings. 

On Friday, Dec. 6 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oak Parker Mary DiSomma will hold a book signing for her new book, “Pies: Sweet and Savory Recipes Inspired by Family and Friends.” 

On Saturday DiSomma will hold a special event where she describes her baking journey and offers tastes of her homemade pies. Tickets for this are $30.

The market will also offer a Christmas tree raffle, and Niederman said that four local businesses have decorated trees with wares that are in keeping with their businesses. Lucky raffle winners will be able to take one home.

Niederman said the Holiday Housewalk is a great way to spend time with family and friends and get inspired by holiday décor in homes that have wonderful architecture.

“We have six of the most fabulous houses this year, and even more fabulous than the houses are the owners. They are so enthusiastic,” he said.

Deepa Chand’s Tallmadge and Watson-designed home will be one of the highlights of the walk. Chand and her husband, who both work in healthcare, were inspired to join the walk this year due to the mission of the IWS.

Chand said, “The IWS has been serving the community for so long and in such an important way. This is something near and dear to our hearts.”

The Chands’ two college-aged children play a large role in the decorating, which starts when the family chops down a tree together. One side of their home features more traditional decorations while the other is more whimsical and fun.

Chand said the entire family enjoys the holiday, and added, “It’s a way to be creative and to be with one another. We have a lot of fun with it.”

Around the corner from the Chands, Gigi Rowe will be decorating her Italianate home with multiple themes. The owner of Pickle Hill Parties said their family moved frequently, so they made an effort to focus on traditions that could travel with them wherever they lived.

The family feasts on reindeer pancakes every Christmas morning, and Rowe will set the breakfast table for the family meal. The dining room will be set for husband Taze’s infamous New Year’s Eve dinner.

The tree in their front hall holds ornaments with sentimental meaning. Some were needlepoints made by Rowe’s mother; others reflect places they’ve lived or their hobbies.

Their living room will be full of plants and flowers, which is Rowe’s specialty. The sunporch will be set up for a cocktail party. The decorations aren’t limited to the indoors: even the chicken coop will be decked out for the holidays.

Rowe loves the holidays and said, “It’s a month where we really do a lot. We host friends and family and have a series of traditions that are kind of special.”

Two other Oak Park homes will offer glimpses into Christmas in a Victorian home decorated with ornaments from family vacations and a Prairie-Style gem where decorations include a gingerbread advent calendar.

In River Forest, Kristien Singer will be decorating her family’s French Normandy-style home. The family moved from the city to their home only a few years ago, and they are enjoying having more space for family Christmas traditions. 

The main Christmas tree holds ornaments with sentimental meaning, many of them made by the kids. The kids still love the tradition of Elf on the Shelf, and family baking takes precedence in the kitchen. Throughout the holidays, music is the backdrop to the family’s gatherings.

A short walk away, a 1927 Mediterranean home in River Forest will dazzle with a 15-foot tree in the atrium as well as a 12-foot tree that showcases ornaments from the family’s travels.

Niederman said the IWS is grateful to all of the community members who opened their homes for the walk. “This year’s homes are all new to the walk. So, it’s pretty exciting,” she said.