Brookfield’s beloved Holiday Celebration — an annual event that unites residents, village officials and business owners in yuletide merriment – returns to kick off the season this Saturday.
But beforehand, this year kicking off the yuletide fun will be the inaugural Kris Kringle Market at the parking lot of Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., check out more than 30 different local vendors selling holiday goods — a great way to get some Christmas shopping done while supporting local entrepreneurs and business owners selling jewelry, home goods, bakery and more. There will be a giant inflatable snow globe for families to hop inside and take photos, face painting for the kids, a letters-to-Santa writing workshop, and live holiday music by students from S.E. Gross Middle School’s band (1:30 to 2 p.m.) and choir (2:30 to 3 p.m.)
And, just like the Chicago-area Christkindlmarkets, Brookfield’s Kris Kringle Market will feature its own personalized mug. Mugs will be for sale at the market while supplies last, and throughout the village, other businesses are planning on selling the mugs as well with their own specialty drinks or gifts inside.
“Brookfield’s Holiday Celebration is a very family-oriented event, and we’re super excited to add this as an attraction,” said Gina Sharenow, a Brookfield resident and Kris Kringle Market organizer. “The idea is to promote local vendors as well as have a great family environment where everyone can intermingle with their children while having fun.”
Sponsored by both the village and Brookfield Chamber of Commerce, this year’s Holiday Celebration will take place Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. along the Grand Boulevard and Broadway Avenue business corridors.
Luke Gunderson, Brookfield’s director of Parks and Recreation, says Brookfield’s celebration showcases everyone’s shared love for Brookfield.
“This is always a very good community event with a lot of involvement from businesses and residents, and it’s a great local program to get everyone in the holiday spirit,” he said. “This event is a festive way to show both Brookfield residents and others from the western suburbs everything our village has to offer.”
Throughout the event, two courtesy trolleys will run continuously throughout the Grand Boulevard and Broadway Avenue business districts, with trolley stops closest to activities.
At the historic Grossdale Station and Museum, 8820 ½ Brookfield Ave., pop in for a quick visit before making your way across the street to Irish Times, 8869 Burlington Ave., where visitors can enjoy a holly jolly photo op and share Christmas wish lists with Santa Claus.
Along the Grand Boulevard business district, drop in to the various restaurants and businesses for open houses, complimentary drinks and treats, and camaraderie. Catch live wood carving demonstrations at Sebastian’s Ale & Whiskey House, 8900 Fairview Ave.; make your own funky hot cocoa bombs with the Grinch at Daisy’s Treats & Bakery, 3748 Grand Boulevard; decorate sugar cookies at Gosia’s Coffee Shop, 8836 Brookfield Ave.; and stop in for a photo op and meet and greet with Olaf, Elsa and Anna from Disney’s “Frozen” at Fill My Jar, 3726 Prairie Ave. While there, kids can also make their own reindeer food to take home and leave on their lawns on Christmas Eve.
In between Broadway and Grand, stop in the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., where you can stay warm inside while making crafts and paying a quick visit to friendly library staff.
Many of the businesses across the east and west Broadway Avenue corridor will have their doors open, ready to greet visitors with samples, treats, crafts and conversation.
Inside the gymnasium S.E. Gross Middle School, 3524 Maple Ave., skaters of all ages can twirl and glide on the indoor roller rink. Holiday crafts and games for kids will also be sponsored at the school, which is conveniently located right down the block from Progress Park, where the Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be held later in the day.
Check out live ice sculpting outside The Compassion Factory, 9210 Broadway Ave., and find new furry friends at the petting zoo at Progress Park, the little slice of park at Eight Corners located at the west corner of Washington and Broadway.
Of course, make sure you don’t miss the evening’s grand finale — the Christmas tree lighting at Progress Park. At 5 p.m., student carolers from S.E. Gross and Riverside Brookfield High School will set the mood with holiday tunes in anticipation for Santa and Mrs. Claus’ arrival via firetruck to Progress Park at 5:45 p.m., where they will merrily lead the crowd in a countdown to light the tree promptly at 6 p.m.