Westmont, Illinois - Date Issued: November 10, 2022
Holly Days is a month-long celebration of fun for the whole family hosted by a variety of Westmont organizations and public agencies. The highlight of the season is the Frosty & Friends Parade along with the tree lighting and pictures with Santa on Saturday, December 3 in downtown Westmont. Check out the Holly Days schedule below.
ANNUAL HOLIDAY CRAFT BAZAAR
Sunday, November 13, 9AM to 4PM
Westmont Community Center, 75 E. Richmond Street
The Annual Holiday Craft Bazaar on Sunday, November 13 at Westmont High School. All your Christmas gifts can be purchased under one roof at our annual Holly Days Gift Bazaar! You will be able to purchase everything from beautiful handmade items and one of a kind ornaments, to holiday decorations, homemade goodies and specialty gifts. With a wide variety of crafters as well as homebased businesses, there is something for everyone on your list. Don’t miss a chance to “spin the wheel” for our hourly cash drawing. Event admission is free.
FAMILY ORNAMENT DECORATING
Westmont Public Library, 428 N. Cass Avenue
Thursday, December 1, 9:30AM – 7:30PM
Use stamps, markers, and paint to decorate two tree slice ornaments—one for yourself and one for the Library’s community tree! Visit the Westmont Public Library website for more info.
SNOW MUCH FUN
Friday, December 2, 5 to 8PM
Veterans Memorial Park, 75 E. Richmond Street
Whether there is snow or no snow, you are bound to have a fun time celebrating the frosty spirit of winter. Enjoy some holiday cheer when you take selfies in Santa’s sleigh or in the giant snow globe. Slide down the inflatable slide for a nominal fee. Take a mule-drawn wagon ride around the park. Stroll along the pathway and be enchanted by all the twinkling lights on the community decorated Christmas trees. The Green Valley Dog Sled Drivers and their rescue Huskies will be demonstrating dog sledding on the baseball field. There will be a flurry of outdoor fun and games for everyone. Refreshments will be available from a local food truck. You can even make s’mores at the Gregg House. Be sure to bundle up because this is an outdoor event. Bring your family and friends and delight in a most enchanting winter experience.
31st ANNUAL WESTMONT HIGH SCHOOL BAND CRAFT SHOW
Saturday, December 3, 9AM to 3PM
Westmont High School, 909 Oakwood Drive
Westmont High School Band Boosters of CUSD 201 will hold their 32nd Annual Craft Show the first Saturday in December. The event will feature over 100 booths offering handmade arts and crafts. The craft show is the band’s largest fundraiser and offers shoppers a little bit of everything from pottery, woodworking, jewelry, crocheted/knitted & sewn items, jellies, jams and more. Live music performances by the band students add to the experience. The 2021 show welcomed over 2500 attendees. Proceeds from booth rentals, concessions and the raffle support the band program, which includes the Sentinel Marching Band, Westmont High School Symphonic Band, Basketball Pep Band, Spring Musical Pit Band and Westmont High School Jazz Ensembles. Event admission and parking are free.
HOLLY DAYS PARADE, TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
Saturday, December 3, 5PM
Downtown Westmont
Bring your family, friends and neighbors to help ring in the holiday season at the one and only Holly Days Winter Festival! We officially kick off the month-long festival on Saturday, December 3 with our Opening Ceremonies in Downtown Westmont. The Frosty & Friends Parade will step off at 5PM and proceed down Cass Ave. from Chicago Ave. to W. Quincy St. Entertainment, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, downtown business open houses, treats and more will also be part of this festive, fun-filled night! The Holly Days Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place in Addington Plaza, 1 S. Cass Avenue. Then, everyone is invited to join Santa for the opportunity to take outside pictures.
HOLLY DAYS FOOD DRIVE
Various Drop-off Locations
The Holly Days Committee will be collecting non-perishable items to be donated to the local food pantries. Various locations will accept donations during business hours Monday, November 7 through Friday, December 16 including Westmont Public Library, Westmont Police and Fire Departments, Westmont Centre and the Westmont Park District Community Center. Visit westmontparks.org for more info.
PHONE CALLS FROM SANTA
Westmont Park District Community Center, 75 E. Richmond Street
Santa is very eager to speak to all good little boys and girls before the big day. Have you been good? If so, have Mom or Dad stop by the Community Center to fill out our very special form to send to Santa. He has set aside Tuesday, December 6 to call all of the boys and girls. Calls will be made between 5:30 and 8:00 p.m.. Santa must have all forms by Friday, December 2. Visit westmontparks.org for more info.
HOME DECORATING CONTEST
Locations Throughout Westmont
Show your holiday spirit and sign up your decorated home for our Holly Days Home Decorating Contest. Sign up and send in a picture of your home, then we will post the photos and participant locations online to encourage the public to come out and see the decorated homes in person as well as vote for their favorite entries. All entries must be received by Monday, December 12. Sign up at westmontevents.com.
ADULT TAKE & MAKE CRAFTS
Westmont Public Library, 428 N. Cass Avenue
Monday, December 5, 9:30AM – 7:30PM
Stop by Adult Services to pick up a kit containing basic supplies and instructions to make a button tree, then take it home to create. Visit the Westmont Public Library website for more info.
ELF TRYOUTS
Wednesday, December 7, 6 to 7PM
Westmont Park District, 55 E. Richmond Street
Help Wanted! Santa has a lot of presents to deliver and he needs the help of all the Elves he can get. Come to this Holly Days event and become an official Elf for Santa! Applicants will be put through several tests to see if they can earn the privilege of their own Elf hat. To determine if you are Elf material, you will have to pass Woodworking 101, Candy Cane target practice, Chimney Toss, Snowball Stomp, North Pole Push-ups, Jingle Bell Jumping Jacks, Rudolph relay race, and lastly you must pass the Naughty or Nice test! If you pass all of the tests you will earn your Elf hat and be able to take a picture with Santa on his sleigh. Registration is $30 for Residents and $40 for Non-Residents. Visit westmontparks.org to register.
KRIS KRINGLE PUB TOUR
December 10, 2 to 6:00PM
Locations Throughout Westmont
This event provides an opportunity for adults to celebrate the season while supporting the Westmont business community. Guests will travel throughout Westmont and visit participating pubs and restaurants. Each location will have food and beverage specials as well as a fun activity. Participants are encouraged to dress as their favorite holiday character or wear an ugly holiday sweater. For more info and to sign up, visit westmontevents.com.
NEW! HOLLY JOLLY JAMBOREE
Saturday, December 10, 1 to 4PM
Westmont Park District, 75 E. Richmond Street
Let the excitement begin! Mrs. Claus loves baking and eating cookies! She will show you how to decorate your very own cookie. Meanwhile, Santa will be getting his red suit ready so he can make your family photo extra special. (Free digital family photo.) He will also be reading his favorite holiday stories to you from the comfort of his chair in the Gregg House Museum parlor. We will have a jolly good time when we sing some Christmas songs and listen to the joyful sounds of holiday music from our local performers. Don’t forget to make a very special holiday ornament and string some popcorn. Our face painter will have you looking festive for today’s jamboree. You will even have time to play some reindeer games. Before heading home, visit our hot chocolate bar. Choose whip cream, chocolate chips, candy canes or sprinkles to create your own unique and delicious cup of hot chocolate. This will be a holiday jamboree to remember. Activities are ongoing during the afternoon. Drop in at your convenience. Activity schedule will be available at time of registration. Visit westmontparks.org to register.
Registration is Resident/Nonresident Fee
Kids 2 & under FREE
Kids 14 & under $10/$14
Adults $8/$12
SANTA SLEIGH VISIT
The Santa's Sleigh Visit will deliver presents to Westmont resident homes to surprise their child/ren with a visit from Santa. Parents are asked to deliver a wrapped gift with the child's name on the present and a message for Santa so they can have a conversation with Santa, to the Westmont Community Center by December 9 for staff to give to Santa. For ages 2-13. Santa Sleigh visits for residents are scheduled for December 12 through December 16.
* MUST BE A WESTMONT RESIDENT* Visit westmontparks.org to register.
Registration fee of $35.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA, MRS. CLAUS & RUDOLPH
Sunday, December, 18, 9AM to 11AM
Administration Building, 55 E. Richmond
Welcome Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Rudolf as they make a morning stop to bring us Christmas cheer! Families will gather around to enjoy an all you can eat delicious breakfast of pancakes, sausages, juice, coffee, milk and cookies prepared by the Westmont Lions Club. Save a seat for Santa! He will be around to talk personally to each child and see if they’ve been naughty or nice! A wonderful Holiday show is planned for both the young and the young at heart. Take a moment and pose for pictures in front of our Christmas tree before heading to Santa’s beautiful workshop where each child will be able to tell him what’s on their wish list this year.
Cost $24 to $28 per person. Children 2 years and under are free. You must pre-register. Visit westmontparks.org to register.
WINTER DROP-IN CRAFTS
Westmont Public Library, 428 N. Cass Avenue
WINTER ANIMAL CRAFTS - Wednesday, December 21
SNOWFLAKE CRAFTS - Tuesday, December 27, 9:30AM – 7:30PM
Drop in to get creative and make winter themed crafts. Crafts are designed to appeal to preschool, grade school, and teen audiences. Visit the Westmont Public Library website for more info.
For more information regarding Westmont Holly Days, please visit HollyDaysFestival.com.
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