On the Sixth Day of Christmas, Spectrum Design Group gives you: Six Holiday Activities, Five Before & Afters, Four Holiday Dishes, Three Holiday Cocktails, Two Resolutions, and One Website in a pear tree.
All around central Illinois, there are still many opportunities to celebrate the season responsibly and socially distanced. We see this as an opportunity to experience the events we may not have had time for in the past due to our other traditions. Who knows? Some of these opportunities may be the traditions to which we look forward in the coming years.
Here is our roundup of our favorite six. For more activities, visit chambanamoms.com and check out their up-to-date event calendar.
1. Santa’s Drive-Thru Workshop
Crisis Nursery’s Annual Holiday Shop isn’t happening this year. Instead, they’re offering families the opportunity to drive through the fairgrounds to take a photo with Santa and visit the Giving Tree. Santa’s helpers have hidden golden tickets for a lucky few to find throughout the weekend as well.
When: December 11 – 13
Where: Champaign County Fairgrounds in Urbana, IL
2. Luminaries of Hope & Live Nativity
The Cunningham Children’s Home campus will be lit with 777 Luminaries of Hope, representing each of the youth, adults, and families served this year. Along with a live nativity, luminaries will be lit throughout the campus at 1301 N. Cunningham Avenue in Urbana, from 6–8 p.m., December 5th, 12th, and 19th. When guests arrive, they will receive a program featuring the names of all who have purchased luminaries of hope and the names for whom they are honoring or memorializing.
When: December 12, & 19 from 6 – 8pm
Where: 1301 N. Cunningham, Urbana, IL
Some say this is the best display of holiday lights in Champaign. You be the judge and let us know if you find someplace better! To view the display, enter Greencroft Drive from Kirby Avenue then exit onto Prospect Avenue. Be sure to tune your radio to 106.5FM.
When: 4:30 – Midnight every day until January 6, 2021
Where: 22 Greencroft Drive, Champaign, IL
4. Santa at Bass Pro & Festival of Lights
This is Kara’s yearly tradition. She and the boys head to East Peoria to visit Santa at his workshop then they drive through the Festival of Lights. This year is a little different because you have to make a reservation to meet Santa and he’ll be behind a plexiglass barrier, but you’ll still get a free picture and the chance to enjoy the big aquarium and animal displays (and maybe do a little Christmas shopping while you’re there).
The Festival of Lights is a 2020 Season 8 contender for The Great Christmas Light Fight on ABC TV! 2020 also marks the 36th year of lighted holiday cheer. This display never disappoints.
When: Bass Pro: November 7 – December 24
Festival of Lights: November 26, 2020 – January 3, 2021
5. Winter Nights at Porter Park
Champaign Park District will light up the trail around the pond in Robert C. Porter Family Park for families to enjoy until January 3, 2021! There will be plenty of photo opportunities along the lighted path that leads to a mailbox where children can mail their letters to Santa.
When: November 27th to January 3rd from 4 – 9pm
Where: 2310 S Rising Road, Champaign, IL
6. Griswold House
Don’t let the season end without a visit to the Griswold’s in Mahomet. If Christmas Vacation is on your holiday must-watch list (stay tuned for our list), then you’ll certainly appreciate this spectacular 100,000+ light display created by George and Dixie Schoonover. They’ve been providing holiday magic to Mahomet residents for over 40 years.
When: Throughout December
Where: 701 N Timberview, Mahomet, IL
