DuPage County is home to fresh-air and festive ways to celebrate the holidays. Our top picks for can’t-miss holiday events take place outdoors and are all family-friendly. If you’re new to the area or are thinking about buying a home in Naperville, Hinsdale, Downers Grove, or a community in or around DuPage County, bundle up and enjoy one or more of these activities—and bring the whole family!

All dates are for 2018.

Illumination: Tree Lights at Morton Arboretum

Where: Lisle, IL

When: November 17 through January 1, 2019

Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum is an outdoor event that spans one mile of illuminated trees that wind through 50 acres of Morton Arboretum. New for 2018, visitors can interact with the tree-like sculptures created exclusively for the Morton Arboretum by collaborative installation arts collective HYBYCOZO. Much of the paved path is accessible to those using mobility aids. Visitors can also find concessions, seating, and warming tents.

Planning Tip: Illumination is closed on Mondays, except for December 31. It’s also closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Advance ticket purchases are recommended. Ticket prices vary. Choose dates carefully—tickets are good for a specific date and time and cannot be refunded.

Naper Lights and Christkindlmarket Naperville

Where: Naperville, IL

When: November 23 through December 24, Thursdays through Sundays

Head to Naper Settlement at 523 Webster Street in Naperville starting on November 23. There, you can immerse yourself—and your holiday shopping list—in Christkindlmarket Naperville, a large open-air holiday shopping market in the classic German and European tradition. Stay to stroll through annual Naper Lights holiday lighting displays. This free event provides an opportunity for businesses and other sponsors to give back to the community. Naper Lights is open Thursday through Sundays from November 23 through December 23.  Christkindlmarket Naperville is open select days from November 23 to December 24.

Planning Tip: Special Christkindlmarket hours are December 17 through 21 from 11 AM to 8 PM, plus December 24 from 11 AM to 4 PM. Great for last-minute shoppers and college students home for the holidays.

Naperville Little Friends Holiday Parade of Lights

Where: Naperville, IL

When: December 1 at 7 PM

Join Little Friends and the Downtown Naperville Alliance as they partner to bring the Little Friends Holiday Parade of Lights to downtown Naperville. The parade will start at 7 PM to kick off a festive evening of live entertainment, brightly-lit floats, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.  There’s great viewing all along the parade route.

Be sure to look for john greene Realtor!  We’ll be participating in the holiday parade, too!

Planning Tip: The parade main stage will be at Jackson Street and Webster Avenue. After the parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit with kids inside the Santa House at Jackson and Webster on the Riverwalk. Per the event website, the best parking choices are City Deck, Central Parking Deck, Van Buren, or the new Water Street parking decks.

Snow Tubing at Blackwell Forest Preserve

Where: Warrenville, IL

When: December 1 through February 24, 2019, weekends and school holidays

Head to Blackwell Forest Preserve to enjoy a host of outdoor activities like snow tubing a whopping 800 feet down Mount Hoy. Typically, snow tubing is allowed once there are three or more inches of snow on the hill. The hills is open on weekends and school holidays from December 1 through February 24, 2019 from 10 AM to 4 PM.  The tubing hill is closed on Christmas Day.

Planning Tip: Snow tubers can use only those inner tubes provided by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. You can rent rubber inner tubes for $5 per day or a tube with a nylon cover for $7 a day.

Need more information about the above events? Interested in learning more about homes for sale in Chicago’s western suburbs?  Contact us today and we’ll be glad to help!