Shya, alongside his mom Sarah Leekha sit on Santa’s lap during last year’s Riverside Holiday Stroll.
Though last year’s Riverside Holiday Stroll emerged from its pandemic hibernation on a smaller, outdoors-only scale, in 2022 the village’s beloved tradition of community, camaraderie and Christmas cheer returns to its full-blown glory, marking Riverside’s official start of the holiday season with the same fanfare it’s brought to the downtown district for nearly five decades.
The Holiday Stroll turns 47 this year and the Riverside Chamber of Commerce plans to welcome Riversiders and other area resi dents to its business corridors on Friday, Dec. 2, providing an evening of yuletide cheer
featuring business open houses and seasonal activities for the whole family
Amy Re gan, a Riverside resident and area realtor who is serving as this stroll committee chair, says this event promises to be the fun Riverside tradition locals have come to love
“The village is all lit up, and it’s so pr at night,” she said. “You go from b to business and see all your friends. body is happy and out in downtown Ri side — it’s so festive.”
From 5:30 to 9 p.m., the town will bustle with holiday crafts, seasonal snacks and refreshments, Christmas carols, and of course, the lighting of downtown Riverside’s Christmas tree.
The merriment kicks of f at 5:30 p.m., when Santa and Mrs. Claus travel via fire truck to Centennial Park (Longcommon Road and Forest Avenue), mingling with guests before helping village officials and children illuminate the grand tree. Carolers will also be on hand, setting the mood with classic renditions of holiday favorites.
Following the tree lighting, the Clauses will head across the street to the Riverside Pub lic Library, 1 Burling Road, for family photo ops. While at the library, stop by the crafting tables for ornament and bookmark making, and take a peek at the holiday gift shop
While in the immediate area, pop next door to Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, for yuletide carols from Central Elementary School’s choir from 6 to 6:30 p.m., and fun balloon art by Tommy Twister, an annual Holiday Stroll favorite.
Just up the block, visit First American Bank, 15 Riverside Road, for ornament making and popcorn; Centre Physical Therapy, 1 Riverside Road, for children’s crafts, jewelry sales, refreshments and a performance from the Riverside Brookfield High School choir at 6:30 p.m.; and Sips and Sweets Cafe, 1 Riverside Road, for photos with Anna and Elsa from Disney’s “Fro zen” and music by violin students from Riverside’s Anderson Music Studio
Then, hop aboard the fun train inside Riverside’s Metra station, where you can get your face painted by artist Sheri Winklemann, enjoy music from the RBHS choir at 7:30 p.m. and get a head start on your holiday shop ping by visiting local craft vendors selling greeting cards, artisan soaps, hand-painted ornaments, handbags, crystal wire-wrapped jewelry and one-of-a-kind holiday decor.
Along the Forest Avenue/East Avenue, enter the Riverside Masonic Temple, 40 Forest
Ave., for the return of the fan-favorite model train display. While there, don’t forget to grab the mic and try your hand at some karaoke — or take a pass and opt for a warm mug of hot chocolate instead
Enjoy cookies and cider while getting acquainted with Riverside’s newest restaurant, The Sandtrap Grill & Tap, 31 Forest Ave. and, afterward, head next door to La Estancia, 25 Forest Ave., for some Ponche Navideño — a traditional Mexican hot fruit punch — and a south-of-the-border seasonal sampling of tamales
The animals are back this year at Riverside Garage, 19 East Ave. Enjoy pony rides and the petting zoo — and don’t forget to try the hot chocolate served up by Young Life and s’mores from local Boy Scouts.
Right outside in a popup tent will be Riverside Little League, offering a Chicago Cubs tickets raffle and holiday treats. Right outside the downtown water tower, visit the Riverside Parks and Recreation booth to build your own marshmallow snowman.
Popping back on the east side of Centenni al Park, enjoy Christmas cookies and candy treats at Riverside Plumbing Heating and Cooling, 3 Longcommon Road, and holiday treats and a kids movie at Salon Elia, 5 Long common Road
As always, Burlington Street businesses will be bustling all evening
Old-fashioned Christmas vibes will abound as horse-and-wagon rides will convey visitors throughout the evening up and down picturesque Burlington Street. Take advantage of the opportunity to celebrate the season like Riverside’s first residents did in the late 1800s. Rides begin and end at Riverside Foods, 48 E. Burlington St.
Start your Burlington adventure at La Barra, 2 E. Burlington St., for live holiday music by singer/songwriter Matt Scharpf. Then, stroll along the street and visit the pop-up tents outside of 10 E. Burlington St. featuring holiday crafts, Christmas candy and whole bean coffee
Try the hot dog dinner fundraiser for eighth graders at St. Mary Church/St. Paul VI Parish, 40 E. Burlington St.; travel to the Hawaiian islands with a Tiki Christmas room serving hot chocolate and spiced cocktails at Riverside Foods; participate in painting a community art project at Salon D’Amore, 52 E. Burlington St.; feast on cotton candy at A&G Mortgage Solutions, 5½ E. Burlington St.; refill your cups with hot choc
olate at Empanadus, 7 E. Burlington St.; pick up turtle Beanie Babies (while supplies last) from Riverside Bank, 17 E. Burlington St.; sing along with the Frozen Robins carolers at Burlington Realty, 21 E. Burlington St.; re
fill that hot chocolate mug (for a third time!) at Let Hair Go, 23 E. Burlington St.; stop in for delicious holiday treats at Aunt Diana’s, 29 E. Burlington St.; stop in to see the new kitchen display and indulge in a holiday
wine tasting at Landmark Kitchen Design, 39 E. Burlington St.; and squeeze in another character photo op with the Minions at Athletico Physical Therapy, 51 E. Burlington St
Lastly, along East Quincy Street, visit Magos Styling Cafe, 6 E. Quincy St., for holiday music and candy; be wowed by Indianabased Northern Exposure Chainsaw Carving’s custom wood carvings and hop aboard a pony cart ride at Jeff ’s Auto & Truck Re pair, 20 E. Quincy St.; savor churros and Mexican hot chocolate at Black Book Studio, 33 E. Quincy St.; swig a hot apple cider (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions) at Quincy Street Distillery, 39 E. Quincy St.; and keep the kids entertained with crafts, music and holiday activities at Riverside’s Parks and Recreation Community Center, 43 E. Quincy St.
Before heading home, indulge your ar tistic side by exploring the pop-up holiday shop, art exhibition and open artist studio at the Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., and purchase new works from painters and photographers at Skills Tutoring Center, 39 E. Quincy St
“Our community has its own unique set of stores, and it’s a nice way to see what makes Riverside unique and what the village has to offer,” Regan said.
By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter
North Riverside, the village known for host entertaining and engaging events for the whole family, is ready to ring in the holiday season with year two of its combination tree lighting/holi day party extravaganza.
The North Riverside WinterFest returns to town on Wednesday, Dec. 7, promising an evening filled with carols, hot cocoa, Christmas cheer and the neighborly camaraderie on which villagers pride themselves.
From 6 to 8 p.m., visit the front lawn of the North Riverside Village Commons, 2401 Desplaines Ave., for the sixth annual lighting of North Riverside’s holiday tree and second year of the town’s winter fest celebration.
Nicole Collier, recreation coordinator with North Riverside’s Parks and ation Department, says the tree lighting and WinterFest has turned into a highly anticipated tradition and the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit before the hustle and bustle of the season sneaks in.
“The amount of people who come out each year for a two-hour event to kick their holiday season is just great,” she said.
“There’s just something about the holiday season that makes everybody feel so good inside. It’s a free event, and it’s our way of
See WINTER FEST on pa ge 17
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• Three prizes valued at $100 will be awarded.
• Winner will be chosen at random at the Tree Lighting at Brook eld’s Annual Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 3rd (tree lighting at 5:30pm).
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giving back — both to North Riverside residents and those from out of town.”
Visitors are encouraged to attend as early as possible, as Santa and village officials will be ready to flip the switch and light up the tree at 6:30 p.m.
Throughout the evening, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be around for photo ops and mingling with guests. This year, kids can write out their own letters to Santa before dropping them of f at the special mailbox located at the Village Commons.
The fun for kids doesn’t stop there — in true North Riverside crafting fashion, WinterFest will include a reindeer food station, where kids can create bags of reindeer food (oats and glitter) to leave out on their front lawns on Christmas Eve to keep the guides of Santa’s sleigh well-fed. Another table will also be set up with small holiday craft kits in take-home bags.
Speaking of Santa’s reindeer, two of his be loved Christmas guides will be onsite at the Reindeer Petting Zoo. Guests can also enjoy comfortable “sleigh rides” in front of Village Commons — this year, aboard a festively decorated trolley led by two trusty horses.
Leading guests in song with an old-fashioned holiday vibe will be carolers from
the American Caroling Company, featuring a trio of singers dressed in Victorian costumes who will sing everyone’s favorite tunes of the season.
To keep warm, visitors can gather around two outdoor fire pits and make s’mores and enjoy a warm cup of cocoa from the hot chocolate station.
New to this year’s event will be a vendor selling pre-bagged roasted cashews and almonds and a face-painting artist to give your kids the holiday makeup they’ve always wanted.
Back this year for North Riverside residents is the village’s Winter Home Decorat ing Competition.
On Friday, Dec. 16, folks from the Parks and Recreation Department will drive through town, ranking residents’ home decor entries and offering prizes to the top winners of each category: Classiest House, Griswold (or over-the-top, “Christmas Vacation”-style) House and Best Christmas Theme.
The decorating contest is free and open to all North Riverside residents, and those interested in participating must call the Parks and Recreation Department at 708442-5515 by Dec. 15 with their family name and home address.
FILE
e conductor from “ e Polar Express,’ aka Brian Conroy, assists visitors aboard the trolley in 2019.
Now safely moving new residents to our small, wooded campus.
Now safely moving new residents to our small, wooded campus.
Now safely moving new residents to our small, wooded campus.
Choosing a community you can trust has never been more difficult.
Choosing a community you can trust has never been more important.
Choosing a community you can trust has never been more difficult.
Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.
Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.
Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.
We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.
We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.
We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.
Brookfield’s beloved Holiday Celebration — an annual event uniting residents, village officials and business owners in yuletide merriment – returns to kick off the season this weekend.
Sponsored by both the village and Brookfield Chamber of Commerce, this year’s Holiday Celebration will take place on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 2 to 6 p.m. along the Grand Boulevard and Broadway Avenue business corridors.
For Assistant Village Manager Stevie Ferrari, Brookfield’s celebration showcases the connections between residents and the small businesses community and their shared love for Brookfield.
“The event highlights businesses and
culminates in a unique entry from Santa Claus for our tree lighting ceremony that features local musical groups, the Polar Express Conductor, and a large community gathering to kick of f the holiday season,” she said. “It is an event where you can spend the entire time moving from location to location and still may not get to all of the offerings. [But] you are entertained, fed and can keep as busy as you would like while enjoying the event at your pace.”
Once again, the event will not include any activities at the Brookfield Village Hall due to the ongoing Brookfield Avenue bridge construction and street closures in the area.
But, crafts, games and entertainment will take place inside the gymnasium at S.E. Gross Middle School, 3524 Maple Ave., which is located down the block from Prog ress Park, where the Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be held later in the
Kids can meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Irish Times during the Brook eld Holiday Celebration.
Throughout the event, two courtesy trolleys will run continuously throughout the Broadway Avenue and Grand Boulevard dis tricts, with trolley stops closest to activities.
Kick of f the fun along the Broadway Av enue corridor, where skaters of all ages can twirl on the iceless rink and enjoy music spun by a DJ at First National Bank of Brookfield, 9136 Washington Ave.
Many of the businesses along Broadway will have their doors open, ready to greet visitors with samples, treats, crafts and conversation.
Find new furry friends at the petting zoo at Progress Park, at the west corner of Washington and Broadway. While there, tap into your creative side during free ornament making sessions at The Compassion Factory Art Gallery & Studio, 9210 Broadway Ave.
Don’t forget to stop next door at Palacky Lodge #630, 9234 Broadway Ave., for some fresh popcorn and treats.
Warm up inside S.E. Gross Middle School, where more popcorn, games and holiday crafting stations (cookies, ornament making, wax hand making) will abound. In the gym, check out stations sponsored by Brookfield businesses from Ogden Avenue and 31st Street, which will have freebies and holiday raffles.
A Sound Education, Brookfield’s long time music instrument retailer and music school, will be showcasing interactive music demonstrations in the gym. Mean-
while, area groups including the Brookfield Aging Well Team and Girl Scouts will provide giveaways and host interactive storytelling
Of course, no holiday celebration is complete without music, so while at S.E. Gross, enjoy perfor mances by the Riverside-Brookfield High School jazz band and choir.
In between Broadway and Grand, take some time to stop by the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., where you can warm up yet again with some hot chocolate and pop inside for a quick visit.
While traveling along Grand Boulevard, be sure to check out the unique works of art at the live event painting; drop in to the various restaurants and businesses for open houses, complimentary drinks and treats, and camaraderie; and enjoy a holly jolly photo-op and share your Christmas wish list with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Irish Times, 8869 Burlington Ave.
Throughout the afternoon, keep an eye out for live Disney characters ready for family photo ops, ice sculpting and wood carving demonstrations.
Make sure you don’t miss the evening’s grand finale — the Christmas tree lighting! Setting the mood with holiday tunes will be students from the S.E. Gross School and RBHS choirs. At 5:30 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive via firetruck to Progress Park and merrily lead the crowd in a countdown to light the tree.
Salon D’amore will be featuring a local artist, Erika Vazzana. She will lead a fun and festive community art engagement.
All age participants will have an opportunity to make their artist mark on a one of a kind art piece. 52 E. Burlington Street • Riverside • www.salon-damore.com
