Discover the festive season in St. Charles at a glance. Our guide has all the essential holiday events and activities. Whether you're a familiar face in St. Charles or a new visitor, our guide shows you the season's highlights.
This year’s St. Charles Holiday Homecoming welcomes guests with seasonal music and local crafts, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. The enchanting Lighting of the Lights Ceremony captivates audiences with its dazzling displays, marking the official start of the holiday festivities. And the Electric Christmas Parade is something you definitely don't want to miss, as it features vibrant floats and lively performances that light up the streets. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around St. Charles
- St. Charles Holiday Homecoming
- Electric Christmas Parade
- Lighting of the Lights Ceremony
- Santa Parade
- Opening Day Ceremony
- Santa's House
- Free Holiday Movie
- Sounds of the Season: A Celebration of Caroling History
- Holiday Photo Opportunities
- Santa Send-Off
See these and even more events listed below!
St. Charles Holiday Light Displays
Lighting of the Lights Ceremony
What to Expect:
Community-driven lighting ceremony with a special guest from the North Pole.
Description:
The Lighting of the Lights Ceremony is a festive event where the community comes together to kick off the holiday season with a spectacular display of holiday lights in the 1st Street Plaza.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Lighting of the Lights Ceremony
Holiday Photo Opportunities
What to Expect:
Lighted photo installations throughout the holiday season.
Description:
Brighten up your holiday season with lighted photo opportunities at the Municipal Building, perfect for capturing family Christmas cards.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Holiday Photo Opportunities
St. Charles Holiday Markets and Shopping
Kane County Flea Market
What to Expect:
Large-scale indoor and outdoor market with hundreds of vendors.
Description:
The Kane County Flea Market is a premier shopping event featuring over 600 dealers each month, offering a wide variety of items including refurbished furniture, holiday decorations, sports collectibles, antiques, and more. Located an hour west of Chicago, the market is held on the first Sunday and preceding Saturday of every month from March to December.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Kane County Flea Market
St. Charles Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Free Holiday Movie
What to Expect:
Free holiday movie screening with early seating and snack options.
Description:
Enjoy a free screening of "Home Alone" at the Arcada Theatre, where doors open at 9 a.m. for seating and snacks before the movie begins at 10 a.m.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Free Holiday Movie
Opening Day Ceremony
What to Expect:
Iconic Santa Parade and tree lighting ceremony.
Description:
The Opening Day Ceremony of Saint Charles Christmas Traditions marks the official start of the holiday season with a festive Santa Parade, featuring Victorian Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, followed by the ceremonial ribbon-cutting at Frontier Park. The event includes a tree lighting ceremony and welcomes all legends and holiday folklore to historic Main Street.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Opening Day Ceremony
Santa Parade
What to Expect:
Iconic Santa figures in cultural attire, accompanied by Victorian carolers and global gift givers.
Description:
The Santa Parade is a spectacular event where beloved holiday figures march down historic Main Street, accompanied by Victorian carolers and an international delegation of global gift givers. The grand finale features the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus via a horse-drawn carriage.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Santa Parade
Sounds of the Season: A Celebration of Caroling History
What to Expect:
Musical timeline featuring traditional Victorian carols and holiday standards.
Description:
Join a musical journey through time as Saint Charles' own Cobblestone Wassailiers sing traditional Victorian carols, while USO Evergreens and Mistletoe Misses cover favorite holiday standards from the 1940s and 1950s. Participate in joyful antics with a trio of singing Cockney chimney sweeps and enjoy beautiful music from unique groups like the Stone Row Chorus and Maple Leaf Trio.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Sounds of the Season: A Celebration of Caroling History
Jolly Stop
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with Santa visits and festive activities.
Description:
Join us at Jolly Stop for a holiday celebration featuring Santa visits, holiday crafts, and Christmas carols. Enjoy cookies and cocoa while creating festive memories with your family.
Where: Carpentersville | More Info: Jolly Stop
St. Charles Other Holiday Activities
St. Charles Holiday Homecoming
What to Expect:
Spectacular holiday light displays and festive community activities.
Description:
St. Charles Holiday Homecoming is a two-day event featuring the Lighting of the Lights Ceremony, a free holiday movie screening, and the Electric Christmas Parade. The event includes holiday photo opportunities and visits with Santa Claus.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: St. Charles Holiday Homecoming
Electric Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Spectacular parade with lighted floats and live music.
Description:
The Electric Christmas Parade in St. Charles features beautifully lighted parade floats, high school marching bands, and a special guest appearance by Santa Claus, all taking place on Main Street between 6th Street and 4th Avenue.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Electric Christmas Parade
Santa's House
What to Expect:
Interactive visits with Santa Claus.
Description:
Santa's House is a festive gathering spot where children can drop off their letters and share their holiday gift wish lists. Youngsters can take pictures with Santa Claus, the North Pole's most popular resident, in a cozy and inviting setting.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Santa's House
Where Christmas Past Comes to Life
What to Expect:
Historical exhibit showcasing festival history and character artifacts.
Description:
Explore an exhibit featuring costumes and artifacts from Saint Charles Christmas Traditions' history, including a behind-the-scenes documentary and a display of every character trading card ever produced.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Where Christmas Past Comes to Life
Time Capsule Activity
What to Expect:
Write a message for a future holiday celebration.
Description:
Write a message that may be placed in a time capsule to be opened for Saint Charles Christmas Traditions' 100th anniversary.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Time Capsule Activity
Santa Send-Off
What to Expect:
Interactive exploration of Santa's workshop and Reindeer Hall of Fame.
Description:
Witness Santa's final preparations before his journey, exploring his workshop, mailroom, and the Reindeer Hall of Fame at the Historic KATY Depot.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Santa Send-Off
Flashlight Candy Cane Hike
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday hike with puzzle-solving and goody bags.
Description:
Explore the woods and prairie on a winter's eve with a candy cane decorated path. Solve a puzzle to receive a goody bag and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Flashlight Candy Cane Hike
Letter from the North Pole
What to Expect:
Interactive letter-writing experience with Santa.
Description:
Letter from the North Pole is a special event where participants can write letters to Santa Claus, fostering a sense of holiday tradition and community.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Letter from the North Pole
Christmas in the Square
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday activities and festive decorations.
Description:
Lockport's Central Square transforms into a holiday celebration with Santa, Mrs. Claus, live reindeer, and festive activities like ice skating, snowball fights, and ice sculpture demonstrations.
Where: Lockport | More Info: Christmas in the Square
Scarecrow Weekend
What to Expect:
Unique scarecrow displays and family-friendly activities.
Description:
The 39th annual Scarecrow Weekend in downtown St. Charles, Illinois, features over 110 handmade scarecrows showcased around town. Visitors can view and vote for their favorites, enjoy live entertainment in the Family Zone and Activity Zone, and participate in festive photo opportunities. The event also includes the Autumn Fox Craft Show at Pottawatomie Park.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Scarecrow Weekend
2024 St. Charles Fairy Walk
What to Expect:
Interactive fairy houses with QR codes revealing uplifting messages.
Description:
Explore downtown St. Charles and discover 15 fairy houses, each with a QR code linking to a special message from participating businesses.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: 2024 St. Charles Fairy Walk
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
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- Woodstock (29 miles)
- Northbrook (29 miles)
- Mundelein (29 miles)
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- McHenry (29 miles)
- Joliet (29 miles)
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