Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Oswego: Parades, Tree Lighting, More

OSWEGO, IL — There is no shortage of things to do in Oswego to get the winter holiday season off to a rollicking good start.

Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, intersect this year, with Hanukkah running Dec. 18-26. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the holidays.

In Oswego, there's no shortage of holiday happenings.

• Christmas Walk on Main Street is returning Dec. 3. The event includes the village's tree-lighting ceremony and emergency vehicle light parade, among other activities.
• Downtown Oswego's annual Cookie Walk will take place Dec. 4.
• The Holiday Caravan will make its rounds through Oswego neighborhoods Dec. 14.
• The Oswego Holiday Express will depart Santa Station, 810 Preston Lane, for the North Pole Dec. 9-11.
• Fox Valley Winery, 59 Main St., is hosting its Gingerbread Drink and Decorate event from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 13.

Plus, the Christkindlmarket has landed in Aurora this season, making the commute to spend time at the traditional German market — with two locations in Chicago — much shorter. The market will be open through Dec. 24.

Christmas parades — often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands — are a holiday tradition, both nationally and locally.

Several big parades are taking place this year, including the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade in Baltimore City, Maryland, and the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, California.

Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Some to catch in Illinois are:

• Aurora Festival of Lights, open Nov. 25 through Dec. 25 at Phillips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive in Aurora.
• Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo, happening Nov. 30, Dec. 1-4, 7-11, 14-18 and 26-31.
• Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum, open Nov. 19 through Jan. 7.