Tree Lighting, Pop Up Shops, Outdoor Market, Musical Trolley Rides, Ice Carvings and More from 6 to 9 p.m.
Holiday Lights in Homewood celebrates the season with an action-packed, family-friendly evening of festivity on Friday, Dec. 5, from 6 to 9 p.m., according to a news release from the village.
The evening features a tree lighting ceremony, outdoor marketplace, ice sculpture carvings, live reindeer petting zoo, antique car parade, the arrival of Santa and his friends on the Homewood fire truck and more.
In addition, visitors can shop the five Homewood Pop-Up Shops featuring 32 indie-artisans as well as experience the “Big Box” opening in the downtown area.
Free musical trolleys will shuttle shoppers through downtown to each shop and activity.
“This is a magical event featuring all the fun family-friendly festivities to start the holiday season off on the right boot,” said Richard Hofeld, village president. “There is something for everyone from the youngest tots meeting Santa and his friends to the older kids watching the ice sculptures to the adults looking to get a start on holiday shopping. The shopping is especially unique this year with even more pop ups as well as the exciting ‘Big Box’ opening in Downtown Homewood.”
This is the second year Homewood is featuring Pop-Up shops and the first time a “Big Box” is opening in its downtown area. The five Pop Ups are in available storefronts at 2023, 2045 and 2049 Ridge Road as well as 18065 Harwood Ave and 18360 Governors Highway in Cherry Creek Plaza.
Unique artisans range from jewelry and clothing to fine arts and vintage offerings. In addition, Homewood is welcoming a unique “Big Box” in the downtown shopping area which will open on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29 and have special holiday hours on Dec. 5 and 6 only.
The event will begin with the outdoor market and Pop-Up Shops opening at 6 p.m.
The tree lighting ceremony is at 7 p.m. when Santa and his friends arrives on a fire engine to flip the switch for the grand tree lighting at Irwin Park, 18120 Highland Ave.
The outdoor market on Martin Ave. features live reindeer, unique shopping and an ice sculpting demonstration by Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures. Ice carving demonstrations will begin at 7:15 p.m.
In addition, Foundation 153, a fundraising non profit organization that provides support for School District 153, will sell premium-grade Fraser Firs and garland from Michigan with easy pick-up and loading assistance. Sales will begin as early as 3 p.m. Free musical trolleys will take shoppers to visit all the Homewood shopping districts to take advantage of the Holiday Lights specials and refreshments.
Holiday Lights in Homewood is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the Village of Homewood, Homewood-Flossmoor Park District, Homewood-Flossmoor Lions Club, Homewood Fire Department, and members of the Downtown Homewood Business Association.
