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.) Join your neighbors during the Holiday Light Celebration this Saturday night, December 6th 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, Evanston Folk Choir, NU Community Singers, and Soul4Real Acapella.
2.) Partake in the Evanston Parks & Recreation Department’s Flapjacks & Flannels, on Saturday, December 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 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 $25 for non-resident). Register today. You can’t participate without registration and tickets are going fast.
3.) 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 11. 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.
4.) Enjoy extended shopping hours and dining specials until 7 p.m. on Central Street during “Late-er Night Central” on Thursday, December 11!
5.) The Main Dempster Mile Holiday Shop & Sing on Main St. is coming Friday, December 12th from 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Come celebrate the holidays by strolling through shops in the Main Dempster Mile and enjoying caroling and other treats too.
6.) Celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa at the Evanston Children’s Choir Holiday Concert, featuring the Pop Hits Choir and the Pope John XXIII School Choir, Friday on December 12th at 7:00 p.m. at the Alice Millar Chapel (1870 Sheridan Rd., Evanston, IL). Admission is free.
7.) Attend the Nutcracker on Ice at the Robert Crown Community Center and Library, 1801 Main Street, Dec. 12th through the 14th. Celebrating its 50th year with four performances this holiday season, this beloved winter ice show features hundreds of skaters of all ages telling the familiar tale of Clara and her musical holiday adventures. Enjoy exquisite costumes, Tchaikovsky’s classic music, and exciting special effects. It’s the perfect family show to spread holiday cheer. General admission; $12.
8.) Explore unique, locally made holiday gifts at the Art Makers Outpost Handmade Holiday Market on December 13th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. located at 609 South Blvd. This festive marketplace will be featuring talented local makers, creative artisans, and one-of-a-kind items perfect for holiday gifting. This event is free to attend, making it an easy stop for anyone looking to support local artists while shopping in Evanston.
9.) 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 TJC Choral Group (plus Santa and his elves) is on Sunday, December 14th starting at 3:00 p.m.
10.) Join the Evanston community for the Menorah Lighting Ceremony on Tuesday, December 16th at 5:30 p.m. to celebrate Hanukkah by igniting a public 15-foot menorah at Fountain Square. The celebration will feature greetings from Mayor Biss, live music, an LED robot dancer, Hanukkah treats, and more.
11.) Santa is returning to Evanston this holiday season on the iconic CTA Holiday Train! This festive, fully decked-out train will make scheduled stops along the Purple Line on December 17th, 19th, and 20th, offering riders a fun and family-friendly way to experience the magic of the season.
If you want to plan your visit, be sure to look up the CTA Holiday Train Purple Line timetable to find the arrival time at your closest Evanston stop.
12.) Watch the Chicago Ballet Arts Winter Showcase, Saturday, December 20th 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 $17 for ages 5+ and free for children under 5. Additional processing fees may apply.
13.) Explore the 5th Annual Evanston Made Holiday Market Pop-Up, now through December 21st! Hours are Thursdays & Fridays from 12:00-8:00 p.m. and Saturdays & Sundays from 10:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Located at 1710 Maple Ave. 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.
14.) Help us Light the Night, January 24th 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.
