The Peoria area comes to life around the holidays. Check out these fun community events. Grab your friends and family and go celebrate the season!
Christmas in the Park (Alpha Park) 
Alpha Park’s “Christmas in the Park” is a series of events that take place over several nights in late November and early December. The Family Festival is an opportunity to purchase food, see Santa, view the trees, and enjoy festive music on November 29th from 4-7 p.m.
On December 5th at 6:30 p.m., you can register to participate in LGSA’s Snowball fun/walk. The LGSA Snowball run/walk is a run throughout the park. Registration is required; visit lgsasoftball.org to register.
Enjoy a trolley ride on December 9-11th, from 5-8 p.m. Ride on a trolley throughout the park to visit the trees and Santa! Register at limestonetownship.org/christmas
Get pet pics on December 10th with Santa Claus! Bring your pet and camera.
Trees are lit from November 29th to December 31st.
Pekin Winter Wonderland Festival
Since 1987, Pekin has celebrated a fun holiday festival at Mineral Springs Park!
On November 25th, Pekin will start to light its Christmas trees.
On November 30th, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Mineral Springs Park, you can enjoy lighted trees, a vibrant parade, live entertainment, and a fireworks show.
Breakfast with Santa
Several area grade schools will host Breakfast with Santa events. Enjoy a fun morning and support a local school.
Bartonville Grade School’s annual Breakfast with Santa will be held December 6th from 8:30 am-10:30 am.
Limestone Walters’ annual Santa Breakfast is on Saturday, December 13th, from 9 am to 11 am.
Oak Grove is hosting a Merry Grinchmas Breakfast on Saturday, December 13th, from 8:30 am to 10:30 am. They will also have vendors, food, drinks, a choir performance, and pictures with the Grinch.
Christmas in the Bass Pro
Christmas in Bass Pro is the time to bring your children or even yourself to a winter wonderland of Christmas and good prices. Bass Pro invites Santa Claus from November 1st through December 24th. Gather your friends or family and make a reservation for photos with Santa!
FoLEPI Winter Wonderland 
The Festival of Lights, (also known as Folepi) is an annual event that showcases a multitude of holiday light displays. This year, the Folepi drive thru begins on Friday, November 28th, and runs nightly until Sunday, January 4th. It’s located at 123 Par 3 Lane, East Peoria. Admission is $10 for regular vehicles, such as trucks, cars, and vans, They are open from 5 – 9 pm Sunday through Thursday and 5 – 11 pm on Friday and Saturday. Fridays and Saturdays can be really busy, so if you plan on going on one of those days, make sure to be early, or you’ll be stuck in a long line. Don’t miss out on this awesome Christmas event!
Krampus Christmas – Aura Haunted House 
On December 6th and 13th, get ready for a holiday experience like no other! Bartonville’s Aura Haunted House will be getting its own terrifying winter wonderland twist. Krampus has taken over the building. Step inside and experience the dark side of Christmas. Tickets are $33 each, and spots are sure to go fast. So grab your friends, holiday spirit (and courage!) for a night you won’t forget. Don’t miss this annual celebration. Buy tickets online or in person.
Santa Claus Parade 
This year, Peoria is hosting its 138th Annual Santa Claus Parade with the theme “Decades of Holiday Celebrations”. The parade is scheduled to step off in downtown Peoria on November 28, 2025 at 9:15 am and includes features such as costumed characters, novelty walking units, decorated floats, marching bands, and, of course, the parade’s namesake: Santa Claus. If you’re interested in watching the parade but don’t want to face the frightful weather outside, it will be broadcast live on WMBD-TV.
Christmas in the Village 
Christmas in the Village is a community Christmas event hosted on the Peoria riverfront just outside the Peoria Riverfront Museum. It features many jolly events, including local food trucks and vendors, hot chocolate and holiday cocktails, horse-drawn carriage rides, a holiday laser light show, carolers, live animals, the Peoria Ballet Nutcracker ballerinas, holiday movies in the Giant Screen Theater, museum exhibitions, some special exciting surprises, and Peoria’s largest live Christmas tree! If you’re looking to visit, the Village is open December 5th from 4-8 pm and December 6th from 12-8 pm. Tickets are priced at $60 for a family and $25 for an individual, with all proceeds going to the Museum’s Every Student Initiative.
