Ice Skating
Beginning winter of 2021, the Village Center was excited to offer an ice skating rink in Gelatin Park. With much popularity, the ice staking rink was doubled in size in 2022 and remains that size in 2026. Temperature controlled, the ice can stay frozen up to 50 degrees for skating opportunities in all types of winter weather. This recreational option features ample seating with benches and picnic tables surrounding the rink for spectators interested in taking in skating or impromptu hockey games. The ice staking rink also features string lights around the perimeter, on from dusk until dawn. Simply bring your own skates and enjoy hours of fun out on the rink!

Sledding
The winter fun continues; this time snow-dependent. The cardio hill in Gelatin Park, just east of the skating rink, turns into a sledding hill during the winter months. Grab your sled and enjoy excitement with friends and family as you soar down the hill! If you don’t have a sled, the Village of Grayslake has you covered. In partnership with the Scouts BSA Troop 96 and 1996, who did the design and construction work, we have a Little Free Sled Library available. Simply borrow a sled from the library and return it when you’re done so others can enjoy it too!

Trails
There are miles of trails throughout the Village of Grayslake that connect to the Village Center. Enjoy a cold-weather walk, bike ride or run into the Village Center and enjoy trails found in Central and Gelatin Parks. Learn more about all the trail options.

New in 2024 and completed in 2025 is the Village Center Nature Trail located on the south side of Center Street across from Library Lane and Dog n Suds. Here you’ll find an additional area of trails, featuring two boardwalk bridges and two trail loops in a peaceful setting.

Village Center Lights
Take a winter stroll and enjoy the magic of the season. Each year, on the day after Thanksgiving, the Village Center gets transformed when the lights get turned on at the annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Festival brought to you by the Grayslake Area Chamber of Commerce. The current 2025/2026 season has brought nearly 300,000 lights to the Historic Downtown Grayslake!

Be met with the sparkle and shine of the lights, and decorated storefronts for the holidays (Late November – End of December) during the annual Holiday Window Competition brought to you by Visit Grayslake. You can also stop by the Grayslake Heritage Center and vote for your favorite tree during the annual Giving Trees display that also begins the day after Thanksgiving and extends through the holiday season. This year, the theme is “Movies”!

While the red bows that adorn the light poles come down in February, the rest of the lights stay up into March. Beginning in 2023, the strands of lights on the light poles have remained, keeping the warm glow year-round for visitors and residents to enjoy. 

Village Center Hearth
Step into Centennial Plaza found at the heart of the Village Center. Here you’ll find the hearth – the perfect place to warm up by the blazing fire while you take in the beauty of the lit-up tree. Enjoy a cup of coffee or cocoa while you’re here.   

Shopping & Dining
In addition to the diverse menu offerings found in the Village Center, many of the restaurants also feature special winter food and beverage specials for those looking to experience the flavors and tastes of winter including hearty dishes and hot beverages. And much like the seasonal options found at the restaurants, coffee shops and bakeries, visit the specialty retail options for holiday and winter-centric finds during the cold-weather months.

Learn more:

• Dining in the Village Center

• Shopping in the Village Center