Step into a winter wonderland with our ultimate holiday guide for Joliet! Whether Joliet is your home base or your holiday escape, our guide maximizes your yuletide potential.
Popular events during this festive season include the charming “Home for the Holidays at the Rialto,” where you can enjoy local performances and embrace the spirit of the holidays. The dazzling “Light Up the Holidays Festival & Parade” showcases a vibrant array of lights and festive floats that illuminate the city. And the “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical” is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a delightful experience for families and fans of the beloved holiday classic. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Joliet
- Light Up the Holidays Festival & Parade
- Home for the Holidays at the Rialto
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
- Holiday Lights in Homewood (Homewood)
- Kris Kringle Market (Palos Heights)
- Breakfast with Santa (Alsip)
- Belleville Weihnachtsmarkt (Belleville)
- Geneva Steeple Walk Market (Geneva)
- Miracle on 34th Street
- The Polar Express
See these and even more events listed below!
Joliet Holiday Light Displays
Holiday Lights in Homewood
What to Expect:
Annual tree lighting ceremony with unique stores and boutiques.
Description:
Holiday Lights in Homewood is a treasured event capturing joy, excitement, and traditions of the season with unique stores, boutiques, and restaurants filled with gifts and recipes you won't find in any mall. Watch Santa flip the switch for the annual tree lighting ceremony, enjoy an ice sculpture demonstration, antique car parade, and grand holiday carousel.
Where: Homewood | More Info: Holiday Lights in Homewood
Joliet Holiday Markets and Shopping
Light Up the Holidays Festival & Parade
What to Expect:
Unique blend of holiday activities and festive entertainment.
Description:
The Light Up the Holidays Festival & Parade in Downtown Joliet features a North Pole Market, North Pole Park with an artificial ice skating rink and kiddie ferris wheel, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a spectacular parade with a firework show.
Where: Joliet | More Info: Light Up the Holidays Festival & Parade
Kris Kringle Market
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday market with local vendors and activities.
Description:
The Kris Kringle Market is a two-day holiday celebration featuring local vendors, food, and activities in Palos Heights, IL.
Where: Palos Heights | More Info: Kris Kringle Market
Belleville Weihnachtsmarkt
What to Expect:
Authentic German market with unique European and handcrafted items.
Description:
The Belleville Christkindlmarkt is an authentic, outdoor German Christmas Market featuring unique European and handcrafted items, delicious food and beverages. Located on Public Square in Belleville, Illinois, it offers a genuine German holiday experience with various vendors and entertainment.
Where: Belleville | More Info: Belleville Weihnachtsmarkt
Evanston Winter Craft Fair
What to Expect:
Showcasing diverse, high-quality handmade crafts by local artisans.
Description:
The Evanston Winter Arts and Crafts Expo features over 140 selected artisans showcasing original, handmade works in various mediums, including jewelry, ceramics, fiber, metal, glass, painting, and photography.
Where: Evanston | More Info: Evanston Winter Craft Fair
Joliet Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Home for the Holidays at the Rialto
What to Expect:
Diverse lineup of family-friendly holiday entertainment.
Description:
Home for the Holidays at the Rialto Square Theatre features a lineup of family-friendly shows, including classic titles, holiday favorites, and performances by well-known artists. This event offers entertainment options for the whole family, including holiday shows, concerts, social gatherings, and movies throughout the holiday season.
Where: Joliet | More Info: Home for the Holidays at the Rialto
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
What to Expect:
Heartwarming tale of self-acceptance and teamwork.
Description:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical tells the heartwarming story of a misfit reindeer who saves Christmas with his glowing nose and newfound friends.
Where: Joliet | More Info: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
Breakfast with Santa
What to Expect:
Interactive breakfast event with Santa and holiday activities.
Description:
Join Santa Claus for a morning of jolly festivities and great food at the Alsip Park District. Enjoy all the usual breakfast foods as well as some holiday surprises. A photo opportunity with Santa, game corner, and craft station will also be available.
Where: Alsip | More Info: Breakfast with Santa
Geneva Steeple Walk Market
What to Expect:
Seasonal music concerts at historic churches.
Description:
The Geneva Steeple Walk Market features seasonal music concerts at four Geneva churches, live performances, and festive food stalls offering hot cocoa and mulled wine.
Where: Geneva | More Info: Geneva Steeple Walk Market
A Very Rialto Christmas
What to Expect:
Christmas tree lighting ceremony and concert.
Description:
A Very Rialto Christmas is a holiday concert featuring a special Christmas tree lighting ceremony and a concert focused on making the holiday season merry and bright.
Where: Joliet | More Info: A Very Rialto Christmas
Teddy Bear Tea
What to Expect:
Special appearance by St. Nick and keepsake teddy bear.
Description:
Join the Rialto Square Theatre for a family tradition featuring a delicious brunch buffet, family fun, and a special appearance by St. Nick himself, complete with a keepsake teddy bear.
Where: Joliet | More Info: Teddy Bear Tea
The Polar Express
What to Expect:
Immersive theatrical re-creation of the classic holiday story.
Description:
The Polar Express is an immersive theatrical re-creation of the classic holiday story, where passengers embark on a train ride to the North Pole. They enjoy hot chocolate and sweet treats while listening to the Polar Express book. Santa Claus visits each coach, handing out the first gift of Christmas—a silver sleigh bell—to each passenger.
Where: Joliet | More Info: The Polar Express
Miracle on 34th Street
What to Expect:
Believable portrayal of Santa Claus in modern-day New York City.
Description:
A heartwarming tale of a department store Santa Claus who claims to be the real deal, bringing joy and skepticism to those around him.
Where: Joliet | More Info: Miracle on 34th Street
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Crest Hill (2 miles)
- Lockport (5 miles)
- New Lenox (6 miles)
- Romeoville (8 miles)
- Homer Glen (9 miles)
- Plainfield (9 miles)
- Bolingbrook (12 miles)
- Orland Park (14 miles)
- Woodridge (15 miles)
- Tinley Park (16 miles)
- Darien (17 miles)
- Oswego (18 miles)
- Naperville (18 miles)
- Oak Forest (18 miles)
- Lisle (19 miles)
- Westmont (20 miles)
- Downers Grove (20 miles)
- Aurora (20 miles)
- Oak Lawn (21 miles)
- Park Forest (21 miles)
- Burbank (21 miles)
- Blue Island (23 miles)
- Chicago Heights (23 miles)
- Harvey (23 miles)
- Wheaton (24 miles)
- Glen Ellyn (24 miles)
- Morgan Park (24 miles)
- Ashburn (25 miles)
- Lombard (25 miles)
- South Holland (25 miles)
- West Lawn (25 miles)
- Batavia (25 miles)
- West Chicago (26 miles)
- Villa Park (26 miles)
- Dolton (26 miles)
- Chicago Lawn (26 miles)
- Auburn Gresham (27 miles)
- Elmhurst (27 miles)
- Carol Stream (27 miles)
- Glendale Heights (27 miles)
- Berwyn (27 miles)
- Gage Park (27 miles)
- Maywood (27 miles)
- Geneva (28 miles)
- West Englewood (28 miles)
- Cicero (28 miles)
- Lansing (28 miles)
- Brighton Park (28 miles)
- Melrose Park (28 miles)
- Addison (29 miles)
- Chatham (29 miles)
- Englewood (29 miles)
- South Lawndale (29 miles)
- Greater Grand Crossing (29 miles)
- Oak Park (29 miles)
- St. Charles (29 miles)
- Calumet City (29 miles)
- New City (29 miles)
- Munster (30 miles)
- North Lawndale (30 miles)
- Bloomingdale (30 miles)
- Kankakee (30 miles)
- Woodlawn (31 miles)
- South Shore (31 miles)
- Bridgeport (31 miles)
- South Chicago (31 miles)
- Grand Boulevard (31 miles)
- Lower West Side (31 miles)
- Hyde Park (31 miles)
- East Garfield Park (31 miles)
- Chicago (32 miles)
- Roselle (32 miles)
- Douglas (32 miles)
- Belmont Cragin (32 miles)
- Schererville (33 miles)
- Highland (33 miles)
- Bartlett (33 miles)
- Hanover Park (33 miles)
- Near South Side (33 miles)
- Wasco (33 miles)
- West Town (33 miles)
- East Chicago (33 miles)
- Elk Grove Village (34 miles)
- Logan Square (34 miles)
- Chicago Loop (34 miles)
- Portage Park (34 miles)
- South Elgin (34 miles)
- Avondale (34 miles)
- Irving Park (35 miles)
- Near North Side (35 miles)
- Streamwood (35 miles)
- Lincoln Park (35 miles)
- Hoffman Estates (36 miles)
- Albany Park (36 miles)
- Park Ridge (36 miles)
- North Center (36 miles)
- Des Plaines (37 miles)
- Elgin (37 miles)
- Niles (37 miles)
- Lincoln Square (37 miles)
- Uptown (38 miles)
- Crown Point (38 miles)
- Mount Prospect (38 miles)
- Edgewater (38 miles)
- Gary (38 miles)
- West Ridge (38 miles)
- Rolling Meadows (39 miles)
- Morton Grove (39 miles)
- Merrillville (39 miles)
- Skokie (39 miles)
- Rogers Park (40 miles)
- Palatine (41 miles)
- Glenview (41 miles)
- Wilmette (42 miles)
- Carpentersville (42 miles)
- Hobart (43 miles)
- Wheeling (43 miles)
- Northbrook (44 miles)
- Buffalo Grove (44 miles)
- DeKalb (44 miles)