Oswego To Kick Off Holiday Season With Christmas, Cookie Walks

OSWEGO, IL — The Christmas Walk on Main Street is returning Dec. 2 to usher in the holiday season in Oswego.

Then on Dec. 3, the Cookie Walk is happening once again.

The village's annual tree-lighting ceremony and emergency vehicle light parade will both happen during the Christmas Walk. From 4:30-8:30 p.m. in downtown Oswego, guests can enjoy a variety of activities: live ice sculpting, the Toyland train, Santa's reindeer and an inflatable sled hill.

Festive food, games and songs — plus a visit from Santa Claus — are on the docket for the Friday event.

"Christmas Walk is a great holiday tradition for families in downtown Oswego," Village President Troy Parlier said in a statement. "It provides a chance for everyone to come together as a community and celebrate the beauty of the holiday season in their hometown."

The tree lighting is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. at the corner of Main and Jackson streets, and the parade will make its way down Main Street starting at 8:10 p.m. In addition to decorated trucks and cars, characters including Cinderella, Prince Charming, Aladdin, Jasmine, Batman, Superman and Supergirl will walk in the parade.

Traughber Junior High School and Oswego East High School’s Spotlight choir will sing live choral music, and Oswego High School's Standing O Theatre Club will dress up as holiday characters, both at the Main Stage on Jackson Street. Various Oswego dance troupes and other choirs will also perform at three different live entertainment venues during the event.

The full entertainment schedule can be found on the village's website.

For those who want to avoid traffic congestion, organizers are offering a shuttle bus service from the north parking lot of Oswego High School, 4250 Route 71, to Byline Bank, 36 Monroe St.

The following day, residents and visitors can return to downtown Oswego for the annual Cookie Walk. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., participants can buy a tin and collect cookies from participating businesses.

Additional details about the Cookie Walk, including which shops and restaurants are participating, have not yet been released.

Officials prompted residents to follow the Village of Oswego's Facebook page for updates.