Check out these holiday traditions in Illinois

Did you know that Illinois has rich holiday traditions that have been celebrated for years? The holiday season, for many people, is a time to enjoy gatherings and festivities with family and friends. Here are a few holiday traditions throughout Illinois to celebrate the season.

• Holidays at the Dawes House in Evanston – The Dawes House, located in Evanston, overlooking Lake Michigan, is an extravagant Chateauesque mansion. It was the home of Charles Gates Dawes, the former United States vice president under Calvin Coolidge and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. There are tours at the house as well as walking tours of Evanston neighborhoods, downtown and lakefront.
• Home for the Holidays in Oak Park – Celebrate the holidays the old-fashioned way by visiting downtown Oak Park. Home for the Holidays, an annual free event, offers horse-drawn sleigh rides, visits from Santa, hot chocolate, carolers singing holiday favorites, and a holiday classic movie showing at the Lake Theatre. The entire event and all the activities are free.
• Santas around the World: Exploring Winter Holiday Traditions in Naperville – At the Naper Settlement in Naperville, celebrate the holidays by learning about the origins of several holiday traditions, and the lore surrounding the celebrations of the holiday season.
• Holiday Lights at Bunker Hill Historic Area in Bunker Hill – Enjoy a large display of thousands of lights at the Bunker Hill Historic Area.
• Winter Nights at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Featuring “The Nutcracker” in Springfield – Enjoy ballet performances, craft tables for children, ice skating in Union Park, a display of lights and special effects, and free admission and free parking during special hours.
• Vintage Holidays in Long Grove – Celebrate the magic of the season in Long Grove. Experience a holiday walk with shopping, lights, photo stations, carriage rides, visits with Santa and caroling around town.
• Old Capitol Holiday Walks in Springfield – Enjoy the festivities of the holiday season in Downtown Springfield. Take in dazzling lights, local shops, and holiday magic.

Do any of these holiday traditions sound fun? Celebrate the season by considering attending one of these events!

Best holiday markets and festivals in Illinois

Do you still have more presents to get for your family and friends? Holiday markets and festivals in Illinois are a fantastic option to shop for holiday presents, to enjoy a heartfelt experience with loved ones, and to find unique items and gifts. Illinois has several holiday markets and festivals throughout the state. Here are some of the best of the best:

• Christkindlmarket Chicago – With market locations in Aurora, Chicago and Wrigleyville, this German-themed outdoor holiday market is fun for all ages. The market has both international and local vendors. There is lots of shopping, live entertainment, and unique food and beverages.
  • The Aurora and Chicago market locations are open from Nov. 17 – Dec. 24.
  • The Wrigleyville location is open from Nov. 17 – Dec. 31.
• Belleville Christkindlmarket - This market is similar to the Chicago Christkindlmarket, featuring European and handcrafted items, food, and beverages. This year is the market’s 10^th anniversary in Belleville.
  • It is open on weekends from Nov. 24 – Dec. 23.
• Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light – The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago holds an annual celebration with a grand tree, a forest display of more than 50 trees, and displays to represent the holiday traditions from cultures across the globe.
  • The event is open now until Jan. 7, 2024.
• Old Capitol Holiday Walks – In downtown Springfield, celebrate the holiday season by taking a walk around and seeing lights, shops and holiday magic.
  • This event is open from Nov. 25 until Dec. 23.

With a variety of options available, we hope you take the time to visit a holiday market or festival in Illinois this year!

Shop local for holiday gifts this season

Have you begun your holiday shopping yet? If you’re considering shopping local for presents this month, you could help out a small business in Illinois by making a purchase.

Here are some gift options, all made in Illinois, which can be shipped:

• A holiday box from Lexington Betty Smokehouse, Chicago – Any grill masters in your life will highly appreciate this LBS holiday box with andouille beef sausage, seasoning, and sauce ($69.99).
• Galena gift basket from Galena Canning Company, Galena – Get seven flavors of dips, sauces, and flavors ($69.99).
• An inspirational sign from Farmhouse Signs & Co., Taylorville – Remind your loved ones of how much they mean to you with an inspirational sign ($34).
• A “Be Jolly” candle from Wooden It Be Lovely, Springfield – Gift your loved ones the scent of baked cookies this holiday season. All proceeds go toward helping women in the program gain work experience and heal from poverty and addiction ($29.50).
• Essential oil blends from Einnim, Oak Park – It offers a variety of aromas, like sweet and spicy, and fresh and calming ($15).
• All-natural dog treats from Bear’s Bites, Peoria – It offers a Monthly Bite Box for dogs with flavors like chicken, beef and pumpkin ($39).

For more gift options, check out https://www.enjoyillinois.com/illinois-made/illinois-made-holiday-gift-guide/

Celebrate National Illinois Day by learning about Illinois’ history

Dec. 7 is National Illinois Day! To celebrate, let’s take a look at some of Illinois’ rich history.

National Illinois Day is celebrated annually every Dec. 7 to commemorate one of the nation’s most enchanting states.

Illinois is known for its prominence in the Midwest, is associated with many remarkable politicians in U.S. history, and has many great museums, food, entertainment, and other points of interest.

Illinois has the sixth-largest population of the states. It has the 25^th largest land area. It also has the fifth-largest gross domestic product.

Known for its agricultural productivity, dairy products, manufacturing, soybean production, food and meat processing, and cattle production, Illinois is nicknamed “The Prairie State.”

Illinois is also a major transportation hub, with road networks and routes that connect to international ports, due to its proximity to Lake Michigan.

When farmers began their settling of the Illinois prairie, they had trouble sowing seeds into the thick soil. Luckily, a Vermont blacksmith named John Deere invented the steel plow, which made for much more efficient farming. Railroads and shipping lines grew with farms in the rich prairies as settlers spread across the state.

There are a number of past U.S. presidents that considered Illinois their home: Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant and Barack Obama. However, of these presidents, Reagan was the only president born in Illinois.

Here are some FAQs and “Did you know?” statements about Illinois and its history.

Has Springfield always been the capital of Illinois? – No, before it was Kaskaskia from 1809 to 1819, and Vandalia from 1819 to 1839.

Did you know that in 1693, French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet arrived in the region that became Illinois? They were exploring the Mississippi River, searching for a route to the Pacific Ocean.

Did you know that three rivers form part of the boundary of Illinois? The Mississippi River, the Ohio River, and the Wabash River.

Did you know that they changed the flow of the Chicago River to prevent epidemics of diseases like cholera? On January 1, 1900 they reversed the river to empty into the Mississippi instead of the Michigan. It took eight years and 8,500 workers.

Did you know that the official language of Illinois was known as the American language? This fact lasted from 1923 to 1969, before it was changed to English.

Did you know that Chicago is the third largest city in the U.S., by population?

Illinois has a magnificent history, and today is the perfect day to become more acquainted with it!