Riverside and Brookfield kicked off the holiday season last weekend, drawing hundreds of people to their business districts during their annual celebrations, sponsored by each village’s Chamber of Commerce and facilitated by the villages.
Kids pose for a photo inside an inflatable snow globe in the S.E. Gross School gym during the Brookfield Holiday Celebration on Dec. 3. | Alex Rogals 
Aaron Pesek (left) and Juan Silva roast marshmallows for S’mores outside Beach Ave. BBQ in Brookfield on Dec. 3. | Alex Rogals 
Elves wave to families from the roof of Beach Avenue BBQ on Dec. 3, during the annual Holiday Celebration in Brookfield. | Alex Rogals 
Guests get their hands molded from Chicago Wax Hands on Dec. 3, during the annual Holiday Celebration in Brookfield. | Alex Rogals 
Storefronts are seen decorated throughout the 8 corners on Dec. 3, during the annual Holiday Celebration in Brookfield. | Alex Rogals 
Chicago Wax Hands makes molds of attendees hands on Dec. 3, during the annual Holiday Celebration in Brookfield. | Alex Rogals 
Kids play holiday games inside S. E. Gross on Dec. 3, during the annual Holiday Celebration in Brookfield. | Alex Rogals 
Attendees check out the petting zoo on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, during the annual Holiday Celebration in Brookfield, Ill. | ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer 
Attendees watch a minature horse walk around 8 corners n Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, during the annual Holiday Celebration in Brookfield. | Alex Rogals 
Kids check out the minature horse and other animals at the petting zoo on Dec. 3, during the annual Holiday Celebration in Brookfield. | Alex Rogals 
Attendees check out the petting zoo at 8 corners on Dec. 3, during the annual Holiday Celebration in Brookfield. | Alex Rogals
Families wait around the tree to get a glimpse of Santa Claus on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, during the Riverside Holiday Stroll throughout downtown Riverside, Ill. | ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer 
kids anxiously await the arrival of Santa at Centennial Park for a tree lighting at the Dec. 2 Riverside Holiday Stroll. | Alex Rogals 
Santa greets the throng as he heads to flip the switch on Riverside’s holiday tree. | Alex Rogals 
Kids cheer as Santa Claus steps out of the fire engine. | Alex Rogals 
Children check out the model train set on Dec. 2, during the Riverside Holiday Stroll throughout downtown Riverside. | Alex Rogals 
Families make s’mores together around a fire in front of Riverside Garage on Dec. 2, during the Riverside Holiday Stroll throughout downtown Riverside. | Alex Rogals 
A child checks out the lights on the tree on Dec. 2, during the Riverside Holiday Stroll throughout downtown Riverside. | Alex Rogals 
Attendees check out the local offerings on Dec. 2, during the Riverside Holiday Stroll throughout downtown Riverside. | Alex Rogals 
Visitors enjoy listening to carolers in Victorian garb outside Burlington Realty during the Holiday Stroll. | Alex Rogals 
The tower is seen lit up on Dec. 2, during the Riverside Holiday Stroll throughout downtown Riverside. | Alex Rogals 
Kids get free cotton candy on Dec. 2, during the Riverside Holiday Stroll throughout downtown Riverside. | Alex Rogals 
The tree and tower are both seen lit up on Dec. 2, during the Riverside Holiday Stroll throughout downtown Riverside. | Alex Rogals
