We hope this festive season brings you joy, peace, and prosperity. As we reflect on the past year, we are grateful for the support and collaboration of our community members and local businesses. Your dedication and hard work have been instrumental in making New Lenox a vibrant and thriving place.
As we move into the new year, we look forward to continuing our efforts to foster growth and build strong connections within our community. May your holidays be filled with warmth, laughter, and cherished moments with loved ones.
Happy Holidays & a Prosperous New Year
from all of us at the New Lenox Chamber of Commerce!
The Village of New Lenox and the New Lenox Chamber of Commerce are passionate about supporting local businesses. We invite you to “Shift Your Shopping” this holiday season by supporting our local retailers on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday! Details on this year’s shop local promotion are available online: www.newlenox.net www.newlenoxchamber.com
Experience holiday magic in your hometown...
The Village of New Lenox again invites you to experience the magic of the holiday season with our 2024 Christmas in the Commons celebrations. Every Saturday and Sunday from November 30 through December 22, the New Lenox Village Commons will be alive with activities and entertainment, all set against the backdrop of a dazzling display of holiday lights.
The light display includes many fun features, like a giant snowman!
The holiday light display can be viewed nightly beginning November 30. In addition to the lights draping the buildings and trees throughout the Commons, guests will find life-sized displays that provide the perfect holiday photo opportunities, along with one decidedly not-so-life-sized display –the largest lighted Santa Claus in the United States. Santa stands as the highlight of the display at nearly 40 feet tall, and he is covered in 18,500 LED lights. A special mailbox to the North Pole sits at his feet, and all letters mailed by December 18 will receive a response from St. Nick. Those familiar with the Commons light display will also find several fun new features this year!
Guests strolling through the spectacular lights will find no shortage of entertainment during their time in the Commons. The holiday market will return with oneof-a-kind crafts, décor, jewelry, confections and more to satisfy even the pickiest people on your shopping list. The New Lenox Community Park District’s two synthetic ice skating rinks will also return, with skate rentals available on select dates. Santa will be available for photos and visits on each day of Christmas in the Commons (as will his reindeer), and horse-drawn wagons will be ready for rides around the venue.
Skating rinks are open any time for those who have their own skates.
Along with all the activities taking place every weekend, there will also be variety of special events happening on select dates. Some of these elements include visits from princesses and other favorite holiday characters, a rotation of food trucks offering delicious fare, ice carving demonstrations, visits from Santa’s reindeer, and performances from local groups.
A full calendar of events can be found at newlenox.net/events. Christmas in the Commons is free to attend, and no admission ticket is required. The Village Commons is located at 101 Veterans Parkway in New Lenox.
Whetheryou’re feeding your family or need something to bring to the basketball team potluck, the kitchen at The Pony Express in New Lenox has great meal options for every occasion.
At The Pony Express the focus is crafting delicious lunch and dinner meals for people on the go. The small but carefully crafted menu focuses on well-loved comfort foods from chili, soup and grilled cheese to the customer favorite, a pot roast sandwich stuffed with cheese.
The Pony Express is the latest restaurant by Annette Rizza, who also owns JBD White Horse Inn in New Lenox and she’s excited to bring some of the menu favorites to the new carryout service while adding a few new items like the Pony Smashburger with a crafted sauce.
Feed the entire family for less than $60 with the popular family meals, available seven days a week. The Rotisserie Chicken Dinner features two chickens, Pony mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, sauteed vegetables and a garden salad for $59.
“It’s a meal that will feed six to eight individuals,” Rizza said, adding “People love our Pony potatoes and they will
Pony Express
call and just order the side.” Open every day except Mondays.
Everything is prepared fresh and meal requests should be made 24 hours in advance to allow the kitchen to carefully gather all the ingredients for the meals, Rizza said. The fresh chickens for the rotisserie meals and the ground chuck for the burgers are purchased locally at C.P. Meat Market in New Lenox.
”All of our meat is fresh, never frozen, Rizza said. “We believe in the freshest ingredients.”
The Family Taco Night Meal, features pot roast, grilled chicken with a side of Spanish rice, tortillas and taco ixings. There’s a pasta night with pasta, meatballs, salad and garlic bread and for those hosting friends to watch their favorite sport teams check out the Tailgater which includes wings, Italian beef, bacon mac and cheese and meatballs.
“It’s the perfect solution for a family dinner, hosting friends and team dinners too,” Rizza said.
For larger events, including holiday parties and family celebrations Rizza’s catering team can help craft the perfect meal from salad to dessert.
At K9
Tailshakers Canine Activity
Center discover why dog owners and their precious pups love our facility.
Launched in 2006, owner Jan Flanagan and her incredible team provide educated, experienced, award-winning care for their many services such as Boarding, Daycare and Grooming.
“I am really fortunate to have such a great team that really cares about their work and really loves animals,” Flanagan said.
The team is comprised of Canine Care Providers, Specialists and Manager certified from the International Boarding and Pet Services Association and Professional Animal Care Certification Council. These certifications ensure staff understands key elements including illness, spread of disease, group play, kennel environment, dog behavior and is able to recognize signs of stress or illness and much more. In addition, the team is trained and educated by Pet Tech in Canine First Aid and Safety every other year.
When choosing boarding at K9 Tailshakers, our four-legged guests can participate in the Enrichment Program and enjoy activities such as Agility for Fun, Puzzles, K9 Fitness, Treadmills, Private Play Time, Walks and more. Boarding clients can choose from a Canine Café Menu indulging in various dog-friendly treats and meals such as peanut butter pupsicles or a Pea’s on Earth Christmas Meal as well as request puzzle feeders and snuffle matts to keep their feeding times more stimulating and fun.
In the K9 Tailshakers Daycare we maintain the dog-to-provider ratio of 6:1. This allows the providers to focus on a respectful, healthy and safe environment by alternating playtime with rest periods along with enforcing manners such as not bolting through gates or doors,
respectful controlled play and learning self-control through the place command.
The K9 Tailshakers Enrichment Program includes a certified K9 Fitness and Trick instructor who offers activities to keep your dog’s mind and body exercised and stimulated. Some of these activities include puzzles, tricks, K9 Fitness, Treadmills, Obstacles, Agility for Fun, Private Play, Walks and more.
K9 Tailshakers offers various training programs including private lessons, board & train, day training and classes.
“We offer a free consultation for our training programs because we know it’s important to address the dog’s needs and to place them in the training program that will be most effective,” Flanagan said.
For those who need assistance transporting their dog we offer a shuttle service. The custom-built shuttle is equipped with individual Gunner Kennels to provide safe transportation for your dog between your home and K9 Tailshakers. The shuttle has air conditioning and is equipped with camera recording equipment. It is never left unattended. The shuttle service can be reserved if your pet is visiting us for a day of grooming care or to attend doggy daycare or boarding services.
“This is a custom-built shuttle where the dogs are secure and safe,” Flanagan said.
Whether it’s a visit for grooming, our structured day care or a weeklong boarding care, the team at K9 Tailshakers will provide top-rated care for your dog.
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SLetter from The Mayor
ince its incorporation in 1946, the Village of New Lenox has grown into a beautiful, thriving community that more than 29,000 people now call home. New homes, new businesses, new roads and more, have established a whole new look for New Lenox without compromising our small-town feel. What hasn’t changed is the spirit, tenacity and passion of the people who live and work here. As the mayor, I see firsthand just how dedicated our residents are to their community and to their neighbors. Our people are engaged and informed. They want to make sure that the Village remains a safe, enjoyable place to life and raise their families
Our community is thriving and has a great reputation that other towns seek to emulate. We owe a debt of gratitude to those that came before us by providing a great foundation on which to grow. The current Board of Trustees and staff are making the tough decisions daily to provide for and enhance the quality of life for our current and future residents. The Village, in partnership with the school districts, the New Lenox Community Park District, the New Lenox Public Library, the New Lenox Fire Protection District, and the New Lenox Chamber of Commerce, has continued to provide exceptional services to the residents. Our service organizations and veterans’ groups give so much back to the village, and we couldn’t be more proud to have them here. There is a lot to be proud of here in New Lenox, and we believe our future will be just as amazing as our past.
As our community continues to grow, we are also proud to be the home of so many wonderful businesses. In 2024, we welcomed 35 new businesses providing unique products and experiences. On top of that, we are excited to still be on schedule for a June 2025 opening of our Crossroads Sports Complex and to have recently opened KidsWork Children’s Museum this past October, as they will both serve as major economic development catalysts to attract new businesses and residents to the Village. Both of these exciting projects will serve the Village and surrounding communities for years to come.
Over the course of the year, we are delighted to be able to offer many free family activities for our residents, and the holiday season is no exception. Christmas in the Commons, an event held each weekend in December, is a fun-filled and festive way for everyone to enjoy the holidays. We hope that you and your family are able to come out and enjoy all that we have to offer. It is because of our amazing Village Staff and sponsors that we are able to make these experiences come to life every year for our residents.
It’s because of you that New Lenox is so successful! Most importantly, it’s because of you that we can continue to call ourselves the Home of Proud Americans!
We wish you all very merry and safe holiday season,
SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS
November 30 - December 22 4:00-8:00 PM New Lenox Village Commons
Featuring visits from Santa, a holiday market, horse-drawn wagon rides, ice skating, food trucks, and much more... all under a dazzling display of lights!
Timothy Baldermann Mayor, Village of
New Lenox
Have a cup of cheer at [grounded]
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