The annual La Grange Hometown Holidays, a month of events celebrating the season, begins Nov. 30 with the Small Business Saturday Flash Sale, where La Grange businesses will hold a sale between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., offering special offers and “deep” discounts for the limited time.
Hometown Holidays is sponsored by the La Grange Business Association and the village of La Grange.
“I think it’s important that we’re going to do our best to continue the tradition, and eventually get it even better,” said Dan Mulka, executive director of the LGBA, said. “It’s fun for the kids, fun for the families. That’s our goal, to keep that holiday magic alive and to grow it.”
Mulka said that the lineup for the festivities were basically the same as in previous years, but noted that LGBA was committed to streamlining the process.
The 33rd Annual La Grange Holiday Walk will kick off at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.
Traditionally, people start gathering at Village Hall around 4 p.m., with choirs and themed characters entertaining the crowd until Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive via fire engine at 5 p.m. to light the village Christmas tree.
New this year, a trolley will be available for shoppers, making a continuous loop through the downtown business district and the burgeoning West End business district from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., prior to the tree lighting.
The festivities that night will include a petting zoo, pony rides, kiddie train rides, oversized light displays, ice sculptures throughout the downtown area, and open houses at several businesses.
The “Twelve Days of Holiday Joy,” promotion starts Dec. 1, and has Santa and Mrs. Claus visiting retail shops throughout La Grange, and retailers will post profile videos for 12 consecutive days.
Also starting Nov. 30 will be “Ho-Ho Holiday Cocktails” in which restaurants will serve classic holiday cocktails, from eggnog to toddies.
“Selfie” photo spots are offered throughout the month in settings including Village Hall and the village water fountain.
Coinciding with Hometown Holidays this year is the 150th Anniversary of the historic Vial House, La Grange Area Historical Society’s home at 444 S. La Grange Rd.
Built by Samuel Vial in 1874, the home was purchased by the Historical Society in the 1980s for use as a museum and research center.
“One of the things we’re doing for the celebration is giving the house a nice, fresh coat of paint so the community will see that we have spruced up the exterior for the anniversary,” said Sarah Parkes, executive director of the historical society.
There won’t be an event planned to celebrate the Vial House birthday until the Spring of 2025, but Parkes said the Society would be busy over the holidays, including a “big open house” event from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 8.
“We definitely invite the community to come out and see the house and enjoy the decorations and refreshments, and we’ll have a bake sale going on,” Parkes said.
She said the society would also have a “Holiday Sips and Sweets Tour,” Dec. 15, where visitors could enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks in four historic homes in La Grange.
Space for the tour is limited and those interested should visit the web site lagrangehistory.org. More information on the 2024 La Grange Hometown Holidays is at lgba.com.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
