October is nearly done, and the calendar ahead turns the corner into the holiday season: one last Halloween weekend, then the tree lightings, craft markets and parades begin in earnest. I went back through the village calendars, park district pages and event listings this week and verified everything below, so you can plan with confidence. As always, give each host a quick check before you head out, since dates and hours can shift.
Halloween night, October 31, town by town
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and most towns have set their hours. Orland Park runs 2 to 8 p.m., Frankfort 3 to 7 p.m., Tinley Park 2 to 6 p.m. and New Lenox 3 to 8 p.m., though New Lenox's village FAQ lists weekend hours of 3 to 7 p.m., so give the village a quick check before you plan the route. Mokena's ordinance sets 1 to 5 p.m. when the 31st lands on a weekend, with the town's 2026 listing still posting, so confirm there too. On the Indiana side, Crown Point, Munster, Schererville and Highland generally leave the evening to neighborhoods and downtown businesses, so your town's page is the best source for the exact window.
The first half of November is already shaping up
Frankfort's 33rd Annual Holiday Craft Show returns Saturday, November 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Founders Community Center on Oak Street, a town tradition and a lovely way to start the gift hunt while the season is still quiet.
One honest correction: the Candlelight celebration some calendars list for November 12 through 14, complete with Polar Express experiences and carriage rides along St. Clair Street, belongs to downtown Frankfort, Kentucky, not Frankfort, Illinois. Our Frankfort lights Breidert Green for the Lighting of the Green in December and holds Midnight Madness for holiday shopping, with dates verified in the posts ahead.
Orland Park switches on the World of Illumination drive-through light show at Orland Square Mall on Friday, November 13, running nightly through January 3, 2027. From the warmth of your car, it works in any weather. And Tinley Park's REACH program runs Calls from the Clauses, the Santa-letter event for kids at the Tony Bettenhausen Recreation Center, from November 15 through November 30.
New this week: the Thanksgiving stretch
Tinley Park lights its village tree Friday, November 20 at 6 p.m. at Harmony Square, with a holiday sing-along at 5:30 and a 44-foot tree going up downtown. It is an honest, uncomplicated way to start Thanksgiving week.
Valparaiso's Winter Lights at Sunset Hill Farm runs November 23 through 29, a walkable light display out on the farm grounds that feels a world away from town.
Orland Park's Turkey Trot is Thanksgiving morning, November 26, 8 to 10 a.m., with registration through the village's recreation page, so you can earn the pie and still make the table on time.
Crown Point lights the historic Lake County Courthouse on Friday, November 27 at 6:30 p.m. on Courthouse Square, one of the region's most photographed traditions.
Saturday, November 28 is the biggest night of the stretch. Orland Park's Christmas Parade, Tree Lighting and Festival runs 5 to 8 p.m.: the Holiday Lights on Ravinia parade steps off at 5 p.m., the tree lights up at 6 p.m., and a holiday market with Santa and live entertainment follows. Valparaiso holds its free Winter Fest and Tree Lighting the same evening, 5 to 7 p.m. at Central Park Plaza, with caroling, Santa photos and hot cocoa.
December is on the calendar now
Tinley Park's Holiday Happenings weekend is Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6: the Holiday Market at Harmony Square with a heated tent, local vendors, live holiday music, horse-drawn carriage rides and Santa, plus the 28th Annual Parade of Lights stepping off at 5 p.m. along Oak Park Avenue on Saturday. Munster's Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair runs the same weekend, December 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Munster High School, a full day of local makers.
Frankfort lights up Breidert Green on Thursday, December 3 for its Lighting of the Green, and keeps the season going with Holiday on the Green on Saturday, December 12 at the downtown green. Tinley Park Park District's Jingle Bell Rock family dance with Santa is Friday, December 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Tony Bettenhausen Recreation Center.
A little music for the season: the South Shore Orchestra's Holiday Pops concert lands December 17, and Crown Point hosts Photos with Santa at the Historic Lake County Courthouse on Saturday, December 19 at noon. Orland Park closes the year with its Children's New Year's Celebration on December 31.
A few dates are still firming up. Schererville's Christmas Tree Lighting at Town Hall is the town's Black Friday tradition, yet the 2026 date had not been confirmed on the town calendar when I checked, so keep an eye on that page. New Lenox's Christmas in the Commons at the Village Commons typically opens the first weekend of December with the big lights display, Santa visits, wagon rides and the skating rink; official 2026 dates were still pending at the time of writing, so the village page is the place to watch.
Make the most of the season
You do not need a big production to feel the holidays arrive. A tree lighting on a Friday night, a parade on a Saturday, a craft fair on a December weekend: these traditions are what make a place feel like home. And if you are weighing a move, this is the perfect stretch to come visit and test the fit. Wander the market, watch the tree light up, feel the town gather. That is when you know. When you are ready, I would love to be in your corner. You Can With Joanne!™