Winter Break in Lake County 2023
By: Stephanie Wylie 12/21/2023
It is the magical time of year when the kids have winter break, are playing with their holiday gifts and looking for something to do with their day.
Whether enjoying the holiday light displays, catching a theatre performance, buying last-minute deals or just enjoying the Holiday Your Way, use this guide and plan out your schedule during winter break in Lake County 2022.
- Embrace the vintage Christmas spirit with Historic Downtown Long Grove for carraige rides. From the twinkling covered bridge to the storefront Christmas trees, see the beauty of Long Grove. INFO»
- On select nights, step into the park after your drive-through experience to enjoy Carousel Lights and Market at Six Flags Great America. Enjoy delightful holiday treats, photo ops and decor in Carousel Plaza and Orleans Place. INFO»
- Take the little ones to meet the jolliest man of the season, Santa, at Hawthorn in Vernon Hills. Now through Christmas Eve, Santa is around to hear everyone's wishes. INFO»
- Ring in 2024 at Kristof's Entertainment Center with each lane includes two hours of unlimited bowling with shoe renter with up to five people per lane, one large topping pizza and a pitcher of soda or domestic beer. INFO»
- Enjoy family play at Timberjaxe Axe Lounge in Libertyville. Book your lane for a 15% discount on family play day. INFO»
- Celebrate the New Year with your little one at Noon's Year's Eve at Grayslake Area Public Library. Little ones will enjoy crafts, dancing and more. INFO»
- Ring in 2024 family style at New Year's Eve Family Party at Sullivan Community Center in Vernon Hills. A DJ will lead the party with games, the gym will be open for play and don't miss the balloon drop! INFO»
- Don't miss "Marked by the Sea: Tattoos in the U.S. Navy" exhibit at the National Museum of the American Sailor. Discover a history of attoos with one-of-a-kind artifacts and artwork. INFO»
- Train and garden enthusiasts, enjoy the delightful sights and sounds of the miniature trains handcrafted with natural materials at the Chicago Botanic Garden Model Railroad Garden. INFO»
- Stroll along the 1.25-mile pathway adorned with artistic installations, a myriad of radiant lights, and vibrant hues harmonized by musical trees at the extraordinary Lightscape within the Chicago Botanic Garden. Secure your time slot by purchasing tickets early, as this illuminated spectacle is known to sell out quickly. Lightscape runs until January 8, 2024. INFO»
- Embark on an adventure with "The Snow Queen" at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. Join Gerda on a dangerous and whimsical quest to save her best friend before he is trapped forever in the Snow Queen's palace. INFO»
- Don't forget to take some holiday photos at Mellody Farm in Vernon Hills. INFO»
- Have fun with the whole family at Whirlyball New Years Eve in Vernon Hills. Celebrate the new year, starting at noon with access to the Pivot room lunch, whirlyball, laserTag and pop-up games. INFO»
- Spend New Year's Eve at Top Shelf with open skate, kid-friendly buffet and a balloon drop. INFO»
- Celebrate New Year's with O'Toole's Libertyville, Gurnee and Lake Villa. Featuring a kids themed dinner party, goodie bags, crafts and more. GURNEE, LAKE VILLA & LIBERTYVILLE»
- Experience a fun-filled night for the entire family at Half Day Brewing Co.'s New Year's Eve for Kids event. Enjoy sparkling cider for the kids and drink specials for adults. INFO»
- It's that time of year to tell old Kris Kringle what you want for Christmas at Gurnee Mills. Visit Santa and his elves until Christmas Eve. INFO»
- Enjoy Antioch's 3rd Annual Christmas Musical Light Show at the Antioch Bandshell. With shows lasting 20 minutes long, you and the family can drive onto Skidmore and follow the trail of lights. INFO»
- Join a series of art classes at Dandelion Art Gallery introducing different mediums of art from paint to clay. Each session is something new and fun to learn and get creative with friends and family. INFO»
- Visit the Grayslake Giving Trees at the Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum where local organizations decorate trees to illustrate their mssion or celebrate a theme. This year's theme - a splash of color! INFO»
- Stop by the Citadel Theatre and experience musical holiday adventure for the whole famiy, "Eleanor's Very Merry Christmas Wish: The Musical," follows Eleanor, a rag doll who wishes for a best friend. INFO»
- Explore the Sock Monkey Museum in Historic Downtown Long Grove and introduce the kids to the trends of yesteryears. Wander through the gift shop, delve into the rich history of classic dolls, and engage in the fun of crafting your own creation. INFO»
- Gather the whole family and embark on a festive drive through the illuminated wonderland of Santa's Rock N Lights at the Lake County Fairgrounds and Event Center. Synced with today's top tunes, the dazzling light displays create a vibrant spectacle that captivates all. Don't miss out – the show concludes on January 1. INFO»
- Travel back in time to olde England and stroll through Antioch's Kringle's Christmas and Dicken's Holiday Villages. Dicken's Holiday Village features life-sized wax figurines adorned in Dicken's era clothing. Kringle's Christmas Village features large shadowboxes with holiday village scenes. Both displays run through New Year's Day. INFO»
- Assemble your loved ones and take a bracing plunge into the waters of Lake Michigan during the Polar Bear Plunge at Waukegan Municipal Beach on the first day of the New Year. INFO»
- A winter break is never complete without hitting the sledding hills. Be sure to stretch before taking to the slopes. INFO»
- Experience the dazzling spectacle of the Germann Family Light Show as residential abodes come alive with radiant brilliance. Delighting spectators each year with a refreshed display theme, this luminous showcase runs until January 1, 2024. INFO»
- Embark on a delightful journey through Shiloh Park to explore the Zion Park District's Home for the Holidays - Lighted Christmas Trail. Behold 50 enchanting displays adorned with over 100,000 twinkling bulbs. Immerse yourself in the magic of this dazzling light show, running until January 1, 2024. INFO»
- Explore the wonders of Frosty Fest at Viking Park. This complimentary Gurnee Park District extravaganza offers sleigh rides, candle making, ice skating, s'mores, cocoa, coffee, and a plethora of additional delights for all to enjoy. INFO»
- Embark on a winter wonderland adventure with your family at Great Wolf Lodge Illinois during Snowland. Revel in holiday festivities including games, scavenger hunts, prizes, yoga, bingo and a myriad of joyful activities for everyone to enjoy. INFO»
- Test your skills and experience the thrill of piloting a 737 passenger plane or an F-18 fighter jet at Extreme Flight Simulation in Gurnee. Are you up for the challenge? INFO»
- Explore the Volo Bog State Natural Area during Winterfest, where you can enjoy cozy indoor music, participate in photo contests, engage in kid's winter crafts, join informative bog tours, and embrace the winter outdoors with activities like hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. INFO»
- Visit Volo Museum and the "Titanic: Tribute to the Tragedy" exhibit, an emotional 45-minute experience that pays tribute to the lives and losses on the fateful night of the Titanic's sinking in a completely original way that will captivate both Titanic history enthusiasts and fans who have only seen the movie.. INFO»
- Experience boundless fun as you bounce on trampolines, engage in spirited rounds of dodgeball, dive into foam pits, showcase your ninja skills, try your hand at bowling, and discover a myriad of thrilling activities at Launch Trampoline Park in Gurnee. INFO»
- Watch the classic tale of "The Magic of the Nutcracker" at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan. The show runs for one weekend December 21-22. INFO»
- Sign up for a cooking class and learn how to make a variety of dishes at The Joyful Gourmet in Libertyville. INFO»
- Visit the Dunn Museum in Libertyville to experience "Dinosaurs: Fossils Exposed". Embark on a prehistoric adventure as you view and touch six full dinosaur skeletal molds, featuring giants like the Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor. INFO»
- Explore the captivating "Four Seasons" Art Exhibition at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts, presented by Dandelion Art Gallery & Studios and featuring works by Dandelion Artist Alliance members, alongside the talented community artist, Tobi Star Abrams. Immerse yourself in a series of beautiful artworks capturing the essence of the seasons. INFO»
- Take a tour of some sweets with Long Grove Confectionery Company in Long Grove. Smell the chocolate aroma and finally taste a sample of the gourmet chocolate before visiting the Factory Store. INFO»
- Slide into "Waukegan's Past-Time" at the Waukegan History Museum in Bowen Park. Waukegan History Museum explores the town's longstanding connection with baseball since 1859. It showcases the town's baseball history, including teams like the Athletic Baseball Club and the Belvidere National and Waukegan Baseball Clubs from the early 1870s. INFO»
Find more experiences to Holiday Your Way in Lake County! Read holiday stories about Lake County around the camp fire.
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