This time of the year is synonymous with tradition, right? Many of the holiday-themed events in our region have been around for decades, so generations of families make it a point to attend them year after year. Here are just some of the holiday gatherings taking place in Downstate Illinois this winter – for more events as we get closer to the season, visit downstateil.org/events.

November

The streets of Vandalia come to life during the second week of November for Olde Tyme Christmas and their growing Festival of Lights display. It starts with the lighting of a huge Christmas tree on Gallatin Street and the Rotary Lighted Christmas Parade, both on Friday evening. From there, visitors can experience a ton of different activities from shopping at Fashionista Avenue to the Soroptimist Cookie Walk. Santa and Mrs. Claus usually read stories at the Old Statehouse as well, so this event is truly one for all ages!

Not long after the annual Pinckneyville Mardi Gras, the Perry County community hosts visitors for Cracklin’ Christmas. The gathering is centered around shopping and is usually scheduled for the Thursday before Thanksgiving. Aside from shopping there is a tree lighting ceremony, and a Santa meet and greet.

There is nothing like ice skating outdoors, and the Christmas Magic Festival in Robinson offers that experience and so much more. This event usually happens on the 3rd weekend of November, so mark your calendars for a lighted parade, bonfires, bounce houses and more!

For one day, the village of Sainte Marie turns into Whoville! Prepare to see the Grinch, Cindy Lou Who, and other characters from the famous holiday story as the Newton County community comes together for tree lighting, wagon rides, and a 5K run. This year’s gathering is set for Saturday, November 25.

Right after Thanksgiving, many of the light shows in the area fire up their displays for the season, and that’s certainly true at Peterson Park in Newton. It is totally free to drive through the display and then head to the illuminated Old Mill Bridge just a few blocks away – which makes for a wonderful family photo.

The day after Thanksgiving is when Christmas in Carlyle takes full effect. We’re talking a Christmas parade, Breakfast with Santa, a Festival of Trees and more! The biggest draw for folks would be the lights in Carlyle City Park, which is free to experience and features more than 100,000 strands of lights!

On the last Saturday of November, the city of Grayville welcomes folks to town for its Annual Lighted Christmas Parade. The parade itself usually starts around 6 p.m. but there are open houses at local merchants, a Santa meet and greet, and prize giveaways.

There are three communities in Randolph County that pride themselves on holiday spirit. Red Bud, Chester, and Prairie du Rocher are consistently top vote getters in River Travel Magazine’s ‘Best Holiday River Town’ contest. Fort de Chartres in Prairie du Rocher hosts its Annual Winter Rendezvous on November 4-5 complete with reenactments, handmade crafts, and period music. Meanwhile, Red Bud is home to Santa’s Village every weekend between Thanksgiving and the weekend before Christmas. There is a community tree lighting, a pajama supper with Santa, a Sunday Funday and more! Chester’s big holiday draw is Christmas on the River – which runs December 1-3 this year and incorporates a ton of fun as well. We’ve heard a lot of good things about their games, and Santa on the Square is always a hit.

December

Christmas Uptown in Mt. Carmel is a big deal every year. Once you see the tree suspended over Market Street, it just puts you in the holiday spirit. This event attracts hundreds of people from outside the community every year, making it one of the community’s biggest celebrations. Folks come for the parade, carriage rides, train rides, caroling, a gingerbread house competition, and a ton more. Mark your calendars to attend Christmas Uptown on Friday, December 1st.

Washington County is full of holiday spirit each year, starting with Okawville who hosts their Christmas Stroll on the first weekend of December. Enjoy decorated house tours, museum tours, a festival of trees and more! The first weekend in December is also a big one for Nashville, as they celebrate their annual Hometown Christmas event. Have a ton of fun with drive-in movies, Candy Cane Lane, and a lighted nighttime parade. In rural Washington County, Rainbow Ranch Petting Zoo welcomes visitors for Christmas in the Barn. It’s a chance for folks to enjoy the farm during the colder months with some fun themed Holiday décor and more! It’s open the first three weekends in December.

Christmas in the Heart of Charleston is a long-running tradition that usually takes place on the courthouse square during the first Saturday of December. Highlights include roasting chestnuts, crafting stations, live reindeer, shopping, and live music performed by Charleston High School.

Casey is hosting its 9th Annual Candy Canes on Main celebration on December 1st and 2nd this year! There’s never a bad time to visit Casey thanks to all the Big Things in a Small Town, but this event is definitely one you don’t want to miss. Live music, shopping, bubbles, trains, face painting, a Jeep display and more are all part of the celebration. Oh, and Santa reads a bedtime story to the crowd from a balcony above Main Street. How cool is that?

The small community of Coulterville draws more than twelve times its size each year for its Holiday Light Display, which includes a half-mile walking portion as well as a drive-thru feature. There are well over 2 million lights incorporated into the display. There are also activities, character meet and greets, and free refreshments each weekend. Check it out from December 2-27 this year!