A crowd gathers on the south side of Flossmoor Public Library during the 2021 holiday festival and tree-lighting ceremony. (Chronicle file photo)
Feature, Local News

Flossmoor kicks off holiday season with festivities on Saturday 

If your holiday season is not complete without seeing a performance from a strolling trombone choir, Flossmoor’s first holiday event of the season on Saturday, Nov. 26, will check that box, according to Flossmoor Events Manager Stephanie Wright.

“This will be our second year having the tree lighting the same day as Small Business Saturday,” Wright said. “It is intentional. We’re so grateful for all the work they do all year long. This is one day we can really shine a light on them.”

The event downtown will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Then the crowd will stroll to Flossmoor Park for caroling and the annual tree-lighting ceremony about 5:30 p.m. presided over by Mayor Michelle Nelson and Santa Claus.

The Cheung kids get their photo taken with Santa Claus at the 2021 Flossmoor holiday festival. (Chronicle file photo)
The Cheung kids get their photo taken with Santa Claus at the 2021 Flossmoor holiday festival. (Chronicle file photo)

In addition to trombone music, Santa will be on hand in front of the Flossmoor Public Library to greet children. 

Visitors will be sustained by cookies and cocoa prior to the tree lighting. The lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. will be preceded by a performance from Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s Viking Ensemble. 

Many stores will be open, offering an opportunity to get a jump on holiday shopping. 

Nov. 26 also will be the launch of a window-decorating contest among Flossmoor businesses, downtown and in Flossmoor Commons. People will get to vote online for their favorite window decorations, probably about Dec. 8.

The holiday bucket list will be back. The first version provided a wide range of fun activities to do during the season.

A crowd gathers on the south side of Flossmoor Public Library during the 2021 holiday festival and tree-lighting ceremony. (Chronicle file photo)
A crowd gathers on the south side of Flossmoor Public Library during the 2021 holiday festival and tree-lighting ceremony. (Chronicle file photo)

“That was a real hit last year,” Wright said.

One of the bucket list items will be to participate in the Great Flossmoor Puzzle Swap. Wright said people can donate puzzles they no longer want to the Flossmoor Public Library. Everyone who contributes a puzzle will receive one that someone else has donated.

New this year will be a pickup truck photo-op from noon to 4 p.m. in Flossmoor Park. Jim Knetl is loaning his 1967 Chevrolet C10 pickup truck for the occasion. The truck will sport holiday decorations. Candi Helsel-Wilk will be taking photos.

Santa Claus and his entourage make their way through the tunnel from downtown Flossmoor to Flossmoor Park for the tree-lighting ceremony. (Chronicle file photo)
Santa Claus and his entourage make their way through the tunnel from downtown Flossmoor to Flossmoor Park for the tree-lighting ceremony. (Chronicle file photo)

Wright said truck photos are something of a trend, and she heard local families were driving to Indiana for the opportunity. She decided to save people the trip and fill the demand locally.

More events to come in Homewood and Flossmoor:

  • Dec. 1, 5 to 7 p.m.: Downtown business open house sponsored by Flossmoor Business Association. There will be sponsored luminaries in Flossmoor Park as part of the Flossmoor Service League fundraiser. 
  • Dec. 2, 5 to 9 p.m.: Holiday Lights in Homewood, including the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District’s annual tree-lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. in Irwin Park.
  • Dec. 3, 3 to 6 p.m.: Tour of Janet Gustafson’s gingerbread village display. Registration required at flossmoor.org.  
  • Dec. 8, 5 to 7 p.m.: Flossmoor Commons business open house sponsored by Flossmoor Business Association.
  • Dec. 10, 11 a.m.: Holiday musical performance with Nanny Nikki at Flossmoor Public Library.
  • Dec. 12-14: Santa drive-throughs sponsored by the H-F Park District. 
  • Dec. 15, 4:30 p.m.: Flossmoor’s holiday parade of decorated public works, police and fire vehicles.
  • Dec. 18 through 26: Menorah lighting at 5 p.m. each night in Flossmoor Park to celebrate Hannukah.
  • Dec. 26 through Jan. 1: Kinara lighting at 5 p.m. each night in Flossmoor Park to celebrate Kwanzaa.
  • Dec. 27 through 29, Jan. 3 through 5: Camp Frosty for kids at Irwin Center.

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