The city of Joliet is kicking off its holiday season with two community traditions – the annual Santa Send-Off and the 49th Festival of the Gnomes.

Monica Pizano is once again a trailblazer in Kankakee, this time as the first Hispanic parade marshal for the city's annual Christmas parade.

Cary's very merry holiday celebration Merry Cary brought a parade and lots of seasonal mirth to town Sunday after another snow left the village looking that much more like Christmas.

Column: The Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual “Celebrate the Season” from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, in downtown Genoa, writes Krissy Johnson of the chamber.

Celebrations in Montgomery, Oswego, Plano and Sandwich will help you get into the holiday spirit Friday through Sunday.

Santa Claus himself will visit DeKalb County this week in multiple places to ring in the most wonderful time of the year. On Thursday, DeKalb's annual Lights on Lincoln event will move indoors.

No matter the weather or the circumstances, the Bradley Lighted Christmas Parade has been as reliable as Santa Claus.

St. Charles’ annual Electric Christmas Parade has been canceled because of the snow that’s expected to leave at least half a foot of snow on the ground.

Downtown Crystal Lake premiered its season of celebration, shopping and lights with the parade and tree-lighting Friday.

The City of Joliet ushers in the holiday season with the Light Up the Holidays Tree Lighting Ceremony and Parade in Downtown Joliet on Friday, Nov. 28.

The Joliet Police Department noted there will be street closures and detours. Plan for traffic delays and a large amount of pedestrian traffic in the area.

Tree-lightings, parade and festival about this holiday season in the McHenry County area, starting right after Thanksgiving and through Christmas.

Will County communities are getting ready to welcome in the holiday season with these festivals, parades and tree lightings.

Trolley tracks and elevator cars found underground have delayed full opening date to April 1 and pushed up construction costs for square and Chicago Street to nearly $22 million.

The 27th annual Light Up the Holidays Festival & Parade will immediately follow The tree lighting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 28 at Joliet's new City Square.

The St. Charles Business Alliance has identified multiple “fraudulent online event pages” containing incorrect information about the upcoming St. Charles Electric Christmas Parade and Holiday Homecoming.

Through a ComEd grant, the 4th annual Kankakee Christmas Parade has sharply increased the prizes for the top three floats in the Dec. 13 event.

Plans for a centerpiece sculpture were set back this week, but Joliet city officials say downtown square is on schedule for Route 66 anniversary and should be ready for holiday parade.

The Sandwich Freedom Days parade starts at 10 a.m. A map of the two-mile parade route is posted on the Park District’s website, sandwichparkdistrict.org.

The city of Joliet will give Santa Claus an official send-off to the North Pole on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.  

The Festival of Lights Holiday Parade in Crystal Lake on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, officially kicks off the holiday season.

The magic of the season begins with three days of festivities from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1.

Families turn out to downtown Joliet to take in an afternoon of festivities for the annual Light Up the Holidays on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.

The Joliet Light Up the Holidays festival and parade runs all day Friday. The parade will be along Ottawa Street, and the Christmas tree lighting will be outside the Joliet Public Library on Ottawa St.

People enjoy the holiday spirit as they watch the McHenry Toys For Tots Parade on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in McHenry.

A look back at the holiday season around Will County.

Annual Joliet Santa Send-Off starts at 10 a.m. and winds westward through the city ending at the intersection of Ridge and Caton Farm roads.

Light up the Holidays Festival and Parade starts off the season in Joliet with a family feeling.

From community holiday kick off events to quieter outdoor adventures, there is plenty to do in the Will County region this weekend.

The Lighting of the Lights ceremony takes place at 5 p.m. the Friday after Thanksgiving, followed at 5:30 p.m. Saturday by the Electric Christmas Parade.

New features this year include holiday market, horse-drawn carriage rides, and iceless skating and curling rink.

Looking for things to do in DeKalb County this weekend? Check out our weekly list, full of festive family fun:

Santa Claus is coming to town: Here’s where you can spot him in DeKalb County this week and into December.

The community is invited to Santa's small, socially-distant parade