A Dozen (Plus) Ways to Make the Holidays Even Happier in Evanston

Dec 3, 2024

Evanston truly becomes Heavanston during the holidays, especially with the many breathtaking displays throughout the city. But what makes Evanston even more wonderful are all the seasonal activities you can find this time of year. In fact, from shopping to celebrating, here are more than a baker’s dozen ways to help you get more out of the holidays:

1.) The Main Dempster Mile Hometown Holiday Celebration and Stroll (and tree decorating contest) is coming Thursday, December 5th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Come celebrate the holidays by strolling through shops in the Main Dempster Mile and enjoying hot cocoa, hot cider, caroling and other treats too.

2.) Join your neighbors during the Holiday Light Celebration this Saturday night, December 7th from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. The event features the city’s annual tree lighting ceremony, Santa, and holiday music by the Evanston Children’s Choir, NU Community Singers, and Soul4Real Acapella.

3.) Partake in the Evanston Parks & Recreation Department’s Flapjacks & Flannels, on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center. Wear your flannel, bring your family, and enjoy some freshly made flapjacks! A full breakfast and all activities are included in the registration ($15 each for residents and $20 for non-resident). Register today. You can’t participate without registration and tickets are going fast.

4.) Savor a holiday mug filled with warm bevvies as you stroll between our local shop during the Downtown Evanston Warm Bevvy Walk from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 12. You will find unique local gifts for loved ones on your holiday shopping list. Tickets are $10/person with $5 of every ticket sale benefiting the Rotary Club of Evanston.

5.) Enjoy extended shopping hours and dining specials until 7 p.m. on Central Street during “Later Night Central” on Thursday, December 12!

6.) Celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa at the Evanston Children’s Choir Holiday Concert, featuring the Youth Chorale Pops and the Pope John XXIII School Choir, Saturday, on December 14th at 4:00 p.m. at the Alice Millar Chapel (1870 Sheridan Rd., Evanston, IL). Admission is free.

7.) Did you know that elves are on the loose and are hiding around the City of Evanston community centers and parks! Help track them down during The Great Elf Hunt, December 2ndto December 15th When you find an elf, snap a photo with them and to be entered into a raffle for a chance to win gift cards to a wide variety of Evanston businesses as well as other prizes, send them to kgrundin@cityofevanston.org to. Winners will be announced on December 18th.

8.) Experience the Evanston Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert featuring appearances by the Chicago Ballet Arts, Evanston Children’s Choir, North Shore Choral Society, Evanston Dance Ensemble, and The Evanston Symphony Gospel Choir (plus Santa and his elves) is on Sunday, December 15th starting at 3:00 p.m.


9.) Watch the Chicago Ballet Arts Winter Showcase, Saturday, December 21st at 4:00 p.m. at Loyola’s McGrath Family Performing Arts Center for their Winter Showcase! This family-friendly event will feature their Junior, Senior, and Adult Ensembles performing excerpts from classical ballets and new works created by their Ensemble directors. With open seating, tickets are $16 for ages 5+ and free for children under 5. Additional processing fees may apply.

10.) Explore the 4th Annual Evanston Made Holiday Market Pop-Up, now through December 22nd! Located at 924 Davis Street, the holiday market features original art, jewelry, ceramics, home goods, wearables, stationery, textiles, and much more as well as workshops and special events hosted by some of the Evanston Made artists.

11.) Check out the Evanston Holiday Window Decorating Contest November 30 through December 23rd! You’ll see the incredible creativity of Evanston businesses by their seasonal displays and window decorations!

12.) Hosted by the City of Evanston, join your neighbors for the Kwanzaa Celebration at the Robert Crown Community Center and Library, 1801 Main St. on Thursday, December 26th at 6:00 p.m. Several hundred community members and their families are expected to attend this annual event. Enjoy this year’s Legacy Kwanzaa Celebration featuring NAJWA Dance Corps and S.O.U.L. Creations with Dr. Gilo Logan. This FREE event will conclude with the traditional Kwanzaa Ceremony.

13.) Join the Evanston community for the Menorah Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, December 26th, at 5:30 p.m. to celebrate Hanukkah by igniting a public 10-foot menorah at Fountain Square. The celebration will feature greetings from Mayor Biss, live music, an LED robot dancer, Hanukkah treats, and more.

14.) Help us Light the Night, January 25th from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Tallmadge Park (corner of Noyes and Colfax). For one night only, experience solar and battery-powered works by local artists to light up the park! Sip hot cocoa and wander through the magical lights in this free event that’s open to the public!

Of course, this list is just the beginning. If you know of a seasonal event we missed, please let us know and we can update this post.

And from my team at Jackie Mack & More, we hope you fully enjoy the season!

If there are any questions we can answer about Evanston, home maintenance, and/or home-selling or buying, please reach out to us. After all, we want you to get the most out of your Evanston home.

We can be reached at Jackie@JackieMack.com and/ or 847-274-6676.

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