Join the Grayslake Area Chamber of Commerce for their annual Festival of Lights & Holiday Marketl! Enjoy the family fun that kicks off the holiday season on the day after Thanksgiving! See the lights and experience all the great event offerings!

There is nothing like kicking off the holidays the Friday after Thanksgiving in the Grayslake Village Center!

The Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum opens at 12 pm - 7 pm with their annual Grayslake Giving Trees Display. Stop by and visit the most cheerful room in Grayslake and take in the spectacular variety of trees from area non-profit organizations. You can event vote for your favorite! Votes are $1 per ticket and the organization with the most votes keeps the entire profit from their tree. The remaining organizations split the proceeds with the Grayslake Historical Society. Learn more here.

While you’re downtown, stop by the variety of retailers open for holiday shopping during the day and evening!

Then, the Festival of Lights begins at 2 pm with the following activities:

• Photos with Santa (2 pm - 4 pm)

• Reindeer (2 pm - 4 pm)

• Holiday Street Market (2 pm - 7 pm)

• Food Vendors (2 pm - 7 pm)

  • Food trucks at the Hawley & North Whitney Streets Parking Lot (Dog’n’Suds, 3Legged Coffee Brewery, and The Lumpia Lady)

  • Food/Beverage Vendors including Yhana Boba Cafe, Tasty Vending, and Glunz Family Winery & Cellars

  • Local bars/restaurants including Charlie’s, Emil’s Tavern on Center and The Vine Martini & Wine Bar out on Center Street

• Parade featuring area high school marching band (4:30 pm)

• Tree lighting directly following the parade

• Grayslake Arts Alliance Holiday Fine Arts Show & Sale (5 pm - 8 pm) at Village Hall including a kids’ craft

• Horse Drawn Carriage Rides at Village Hall (5 pm - 7 pm)