10DESTINATIONS MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2015

SEASON’S BEST

let there be

By carly a. mulladymore content Now

ThE SuN ShINES lESS ThIS TIME Of yEAR, BuT ThE hOlIDAy SpIRIT IS BRIGhT IN

SOuThERN IllINOIS.

In Belleville, for example, enlightening merriment abounds from late-November through Christmas. “With our unique downtown that

was completely renovated in 2007 to provide year-round boutique shopping and dining and the historic lincoln Theatre, combined with

the Christkindlmarkt, Santa and the free trolley in December, Belleville is definitely a destination,” said Sharon Strausbaugh, manager of

marketing for the city. “you can top off the day with a drive through the National Shrine’s (of Our lady of the Snows) Way of lights, enjoy

the various displays inside and outside, and eat in the restaurant.”

Lights fests and other hoLiday dispLays open soon

Christkindl

ukraine booth

Christkindl

danCers

lights

11DESTINATIONS MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2015

The downtown has a canopy of lights, lighted wreaths and a lighted fountain, edible gingerbread displays in storefronts and a horse-drawn trolley.

After a parade Nov. 27, Santa will see visitors at his house on the square until Christmas Eve. On Dec. 5, 19 and 20, his reindeer will be in town as well with the Christkindlmarkt.

Christkind – the traditional European giver of gifts – makes a market-opening proclamation Nov. 27 and, from that day on, children can find a hidden “Gustav” elf on Main Street to acquire stamps on a passbook making them eligible for a $100 in Main Street Dollars drawing on Dec. 23.

Appealing to all ages, the German-style marketplace is in its second year in Bel-leville’s town square, hosting international vendors with Russian and ukrainian items like stacking dolls, amber jewelry and hand-carved items as well as Irish goods, polish pottery and German lace, nutcrackers and more holiday and craft items.

gingerbread dragon

let there be

belleville horse trolley

Visitors can enjoy tastes of Germany from traditional foods and beer to guhlwein (warm wine) in addition to other global treats.

“The best part is that this is wonderful for everyone of all ages — families, singles, couples — something for everyone,” said Christkindlmarkt Director Carole piontkowski. “And it’s all free to come and have fun, take a trolley ride, see the reindeer, take pictures, listen to music and just get together with friends or family.” 

The free-admission market includes a heated tent in Belleville town square.

Nearby, at the National Shrine of Our lady of the Snows, visitors can take in more of the meaning of Christmas, the birth of Christ, with the annual Way of lights — which features mil-lions of twinkling bulbs in a free drive-through display.

The Shrine also hosts a Christmas tree dis-play; a wreath display and auction; camel, donkey and pony rides; a petting zoo; puppet shows and lego displays and children’s play areas, some of which require a nominal fee.

Not too far away in Du Quoin, the Du Quoin State fairgrounds hosts an annual holiday lights

fair nightly from Thanksgiv-ing to New year’s, according to IllINOISouth Tourism.

It boasts a three-mile drive-through display and 30 exhibits using more than 2 mil-lion lights. On the first three weekends of December, the Expo hall hosts vendors with baked goods, crafts, children’s activities and Santa Claus.

In Central Illinois, the Illinois Tourism Board rec-ommends East peoria’s festival of lights and folepi’s

Wonderland, which includes lighted swans, peacocks, boats, trains, prehistoric land, candy cane lane and a downhill ski jumper. Activities including a fun run and an ornament hunt are part of East peoria’s holiday experience.

Illinois is merry and bright this holiday season. for more information on the above cel-ebrations, see below. Or, to find others, the tourism board rec-ommends visiting http://www.enjoyillinois.com/events.

Nearby, at the National

Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows,

visitors can take in more of the meaning of

Christmas, the birth of Christ,

with the annual Way

of Lights

belleville reindeer

12DESTINATIONS MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2015

• Belleville Christkindlmarkt: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. fridays and Saturdays Nov. 27-Dec. 23, www.bellevillechristkindlmarkt.com

• National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows: Way of lights, 5 to 9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 5 to 10 p.m. fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Nov. 10-Jan. 1 with closures Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New year’s Day (outdoor light display will remain open), http://snows.org/events/way-of-lights/

• Belleville’s Santa House opens Nov. 28 and ends Dec. 23. for hours and information, visit: http://www.bel-levillesantahouse.com/

• Du Quoin Annual Holiday Lights Fair: 5:30-9:30 p.m. nightly from Thanksgiv-ing to New year’s, $10 per family carload or $1 per person in larger vehicles, with 6 to 9 p.m. Expo hall events Dec. 4-6, 11-13 and 18-20, http://www.duquointourism.org/default.asp?nc=1961&id=412

• East Peoria Festival of Lights and folepi’s Winter Wonderland: parade of lights Nov. 21, holiday light Show from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. fridays; 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays Nov. 26-Dec. 31. It will be open until noon Christ-mas Eve and 3 p.m. New year’s Eve, http://www.cityofeastpeoria.com/festival-of-lights/displays/folepis-winter-wonderland/

photo courtesy of

bellevillesantahouse.com

13DESTINATIONS MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2015

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