Here are 12 reasons to consider a new holiday tradition: a visit to Chicago's western suburbs and Fox River valley, courtesy the team at the Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (enjoyaurora.com). From downtown Aurora, Geneva to the north, and Yorkville on the south, the greater Aurora area is a quick, convenient holiday day-trip, and a fun and affordable weekend stay offering small town charm, urban appeal, and these seasonal delights:
Aurora Area CVB
See why CNN just named Aurora’s Christkindlmarket one of the top German-style holiday markets in the world
Christkindlmarket Aurora
RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, downtown Aurora, across from the Metra Station
November 22 - December 24
Thursdays: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Special Hours: Thanksgiving, November 28; and Christmas Eve, December 24, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday, December 16 - Wednesday, December 18, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Monday, December 23, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
christkindlmarket.com/aurora
Now entering its third year in downtown Aurora, this German-style outdoor market “has become a hugely popular market,” says CNN, providing “live entertainment alongside a multitude of stalls selling everything from bratwurst and hot spiced wine, to hand-crafted ornaments.” Christkindlmarket Aurora is the suburban counterpart to Christkindlmarket in downtown Chicago, and it’s getting bigger every year.
Arendelle in Aurora: Paramount Theatre’s Disney’s Frozen the Broadway Musical a top 10 holiday show, #1 for families
Frozen the Disney Broadway Musical
Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., downtown Aurora
Eight shows a week, Wednesday through Sunday
Through January 19, 2025
paramountaurora.com
Aurora’s Paramount Theatre is the largest subscription theater in the nation. See why when you experience its blockbuster new staging of Disney’s Frozen the Broadway Musical, now delighting tens of thousands of audience members with its winter magic. The Chicago Tribune hailed its "level of spectacle I'm not sure I've ever seen from a production by a Chicago-area theater,” adding “you can score a good seat for $48, and that’s a seasonal godsend for folks with kids.”
Picture yourself in a Hallmark Christmas Special at Geneva's Christmas Walk
Geneva’s Christmas Walk and Holiday House Tour
Christmas Walk: Friday, December 6, 6 p.m.
Holiday House Tour: Friday, December 6, 10 a.m. to -8 p.m.; Saturday, December 7,
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
genevachamber.com/community-events
Imagine strolling hand-in-hand through a historic downtown marketplace, serenaded by carolers, sharing fresh-roasted chestnuts, and slipping into brightly lit shops and romantic storefront restaurants.
Nope, it’s not a Hallmark Christmas Special, but Geneva’s Christmas Walk and Holiday House Tour is just as picture-perfect. Friday’s festivities start at 6 p.m. with Bob’s Candy Cane Parade and the unveiling of Graham’s Chocolates’ first candy cane of the season. Santa Lucia, the Swedish symbol of the season, will make her annual appearance, offering Swedish cookies to merry makers. See the Christmas tree get lit, watch as the county courthouse lawn becomes aglow, check out All Chocolate Kitchen’s record-breaking candy cane, all while Santa arrives to open his home for visits with children.
And thanks to the diversity of homes and the creativity of local designers, the five homes on display in Geneva’s 2024 Holiday House Tour will be decked to the nines with holiday cheer, but filled with unexpected treats. Sign up for tours on Friday and Saturday.
Co Co Co Crazy at downtown Aurora’s Cocoa Crawl
Cocoa Crawl 2024
Friday, December 6, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
auroradowntown.org/cocoacrawl2024
Enjoy a festive stroll through Aurora’s charming downtown district, sampling delicious hot cocoa from all sorts of local businesses. This family-friendly event is a cozy and cheerful way to kick off the holiday season. Mugs are $10 and available at popular downtown Aurora locations like Sergio Furniture, 36 N. Broadway; Off Beat Thrift & Vintage, 7 N. Broadway; Wyckwood House, 80 S. River and Society 57, 100 S. River.
Come for modern architecture, stay for holiday events
Edith Farnsworth House
14520 River Rd., Plano
Holiday House Tours: 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., weekends, Friday November 29 through December 29
Star Party and Edith Farnsworth House Grounds Tour: Tuesday, December 3, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Mod & Merry events: Saturday, December 7, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
edithfarnsworthhouse.org/upcoming-events
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s world-famous Edith Farnsworth House will be specially decked out for the holidays. Sign up for guided tours on weekends, or enjoy a ground pass for a winter stroll through the property to take in the beauty of this architectural gem.
Holiday events include a Star Party and Edith Farnsworth House Grounds Tour on Tuesday evening, December 3. Join fellow astronomy enthusiasts at twilight for light snacks, experts from the Fox Valley Astronomical Society, and viewing the night sky through their high-powered telescopes. For an indoor soiree setting, enjoy seasonal bites, a silent auction and shopping in the Museum Store at two Mod & Merry events on Saturday, December 7.
Drive through the Chicago area’s largest free outdoor holiday drive through light show
Festival of Lights in Phillips Park
1000 Ray Moses Drive, Aurora
November 29 - December 25
Nightly, 5 p.m. - 9p.m.
Enter at the intersection of Smith Blvd. and Fifth Ave. and drive down Smith Blvd into Phillips Park
No tickets or registration needed
Gather the family, jump in the Family Truckster and make holiday memories at the largest free outdoor drive-thru holiday light show in the Chicago area. At Aurora’s Festival of Lights, you’ll drive through a mile of spectacular lighted displays from the comfort of your car. Dial up the festival’s closed circuit radio station, and sing along to the show’s holiday soundtrack along the way. More than 50,000 vehicles visited the festival last year. Voluntary donations at the end of the drive support dozens of non-profit and youth organizations in Aurora.
Over the river and through the woods to a Christmas Walk We Go!
Oswego Christmas Walk
Friday, December 6, 4:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. - rain or shine!
oswegochristmaswalk.com
Oswego’s annual Christmas Walk boasts performances by local choirs, Santa’s reindeer, live ice sculpting, an inflatable sled hill and the Village’s annual tree lighting. Kids should bring their wish list, ready to tell Santa if they’ve been good or bad. Stay for the Oswego Fire Protection District’s illuminated emergency vehicle parade, with popular children’s characters aboard. Downtown stores will open their doors to show off holiday décor and gifts of the season. Look for games, crafts and giveaways for all ages, too.
Bells on bobtails ring
Making Spirits Bright
North Aurora, on the riverfront
Saturday, December 5, starting at 5 p.m.
northaurora.org/event/making-spirits-bright-2/
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song at North Aurora’s annual festival, known for its community spirit. The evening kicks off with a Holiday Vehicle Parade, a procession of residents and businesses that have decorated their own vehicle with holiday lights, wreaths, inflatable snowmen, anything holiday-themed and appropriate. Watch the mayor pick the winner, then see the beautiful holiday lights and decorations get lit, make an ornament to decorate North Aurora’s new community tree, and take pictures with Santa and real live reindeer.
All aboard the Holiday Express!
Blackberry Farm
100 S. Barnes Rd., Aurora
Friday, December 6, Special Needs Night
Saturday, December 7, Opening Day
Open weekends through December 22
blackberryfarm.info
Treat the family to a magical experience, just like the North Pole. Blackberry Farm is a winter wonderland amid thousands of twinkling lights, festive decorations and happy holiday music. Take the kids on a ride on the Holiday Express train for a charming tour around scenic Lake Gregory. Enjoy a hay wagon ride, too. Back in the historic pioneer village, families enjoy crafts, a reindeer food bar, story readings at the one-room schoolhouse and a special visit with Santa. Check the farm’s website for special appearances by the World’s Tallest Toy Soldier, Olaf and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
Dancing Santas in Yorkville!
Yorkville Holiday Celebration Weekend
Friday and Saturday, November 22 and 23
yorkville.il.us
Take a break from the daily grind and let your family experience a small town’s seasonal charms at Yorkville’s annual Holiday Celebration Weekend. Friday’s entertainment starts at 6 p.m. with the YHS Madrigal Singers, a holiday parade, Yorkville’s Dancing Santas, and a tree lighting. Saturday’s fun includes visits with Santa at the American Legion, 9054 E. Veterans Parkway, a Jingle Jog Fun Run, a Rudolph Run 5K, and fireworks.
Drive through a top U.S. golf course, transformed into a winter wonderland
Holiday Lights at Rich Harvest Farms
2330 Granart Rd., Sugar Grove, IL
November 24-December 31
Daily, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.
richharvestfarms.com
Scenic Rich Harvest Farms will glow once again with the lights of over 40 different illuminated holiday displays. Starting at the little red schoolhouse near the Granart and Dugan Road Roundabout, all the way to St. Katharine-Drexel Catholic Church, the one-mile drive down Dugan Road is a veritable winter wonderland. Santa driving a golf cart, a dolphin jumping out of a pond, a reindeer taking flying lessons...you never know what you might see!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good buy!
Chicago Premium Outlets
1650 Premium Outlet Blvd, Aurora
premiumoutlets.com/outlet/chicago
Fox Valley Mall
195 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora
shopfoxvalleymall.com
Whether you’re planning ahead, or looking for last-minute deals, the greater Aurora area has two must-visit holiday shopping destinations. Chicago Premium Outlets is one of the Midwest's largest outdoor outlet malls, offering exclusive deals on designer goods. Fox Valley Mall is packed with the brand names you know and love, plus fun murals to photograph and on-site entertainment venues.
Of course, the Aurora Area CVB’s 12 charming downtowns dotting the picturesque Fox River Valley are home to hundreds more hidden gems, ideal for holiday shopping, including museum shops, farm-fresh markets, specialty stores, and a host of boutiques, mom-and-pop shops, and antique markets.
Visit enjoyaurora.com to map out all your 2024 holiday shopping options and learn more about all of the special events, new restaurants, unique destinations and places to stay in Chicago’s beautiful Fox River Valley.
