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DESTINATIONS MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2015
SEASON’S BEST
let there be
By carly a. mullady
More Content Now
The sun shines less this time of year,
but the holiday spirit is bright in
southern Illinois.
In Belleville, for example, enlightening merriment abounds from
late-November through Christmas. “With our unique downtown that
was completely renovated in 2007 to provide year-round boutique
shopping and dining and the historic Lincoln Theatre, combined with
the Christkindlmarkt, Santa and the free trolley in December, Belleville
is definitely a destination,” said Sharon Strausbaugh, manager of
marketing for the city. “You can top off the day with a drive through
the National Shrine’s (of Our Lady of the Snows) Way of Lights, enjoy
the various displays inside and outside, and eat in the restaurant.”
Lightsfestsandotherholidaydisplaysopensoon
Christkindl
ukraine booth
Christkindl
dancers
lights

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DESTINATIONS MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2015
The downtown has a canopy of lights,
lighted wreaths and a lighted fountain,
edible gingerbread displays in storefronts
and a horse-drawn trolley.
After a parade Nov. 27, Santa will see
visitors at his house on the square until
Christmas Eve. On Dec. 5, 19 and 20, his
reindeer will be in town as well with the
Christkindlmarkt.
Christkind – the traditional European
giver of gifts – makes a market-opening
proclamation Nov. 27 and, from that day on,
children can find a hidden “Gustav” elf on
Main Street to acquire stamps on a passbook
making them eligible for a $100 in Main
Street Dollars drawing on Dec. 23.
Appealing to all ages, the German-style
marketplace is in its second year in Bel-
leville’s town square, hosting international
vendors with Russian and Ukrainian items
like stacking dolls, amber jewelry and hand-
carved items as well as Irish goods, Polish
pottery and German lace, nutcrackers and
more holiday and craft items.
gingerbread dragon
belleville horse trolley

Visitors can enjoy tastes of Germany from
traditional foods and beer to guhlwein (warm
wine) in addition to other global treats.
“The best part is that this is wonderful for
everyone of all ages — families, singles, couples —
something for everyone,” said Christkindlmarkt
Director Carole Piontkowski. “And it’s all free
to come and have fun, take a trolley ride, see the
reindeer, take pictures, listen to music and just
get together with friends or family.”
The free-admission market includes a
heated tent in Belleville town square.
Nearby, at the National Shrine of Our Lady
of the Snows, visitors can take in more of the
meaning of Christmas, the birth of Christ, with
the annual Way of Lights — which features mil-
lions of twinkling bulbs in a free drive-through
display.
The Shrine also hosts a Christmas tree dis-
play;awreathdisplayandauction;camel,donkey
and pony rides; a petting zoo; puppet shows and
Lego displays and children’s play areas, some of
which require a nominal fee.
Not too far away in Du Quoin, the Du Quoin
State Fairgrounds hosts an annual Holiday Lights
Fair nightly from Thanksgiv-
ing to New Year’s, according to
ILLINOISouth Tourism.
It boasts a three-mile
drive-through display and 30
exhibits using more than 2 mil-
lion lights. On the first three
weekends of December, the
Expo Hall hosts vendors with
baked goods, crafts, children’s
activities and Santa Claus.
In Central Illinois, the
Illinois Tourism Board rec-
ommends East Peoria’s
Festival of Lights and Folepi’s
Wonderland, which includes
lighted swans, peacocks, boats,
trains, prehistoric land, candy
cane lane and a downhill ski
jumper. Activities including a
fun run and an ornament hunt
are part of East Peoria’s holiday
experience.
Illinois is merry and bright
this holiday season. For more
information on the above cel-
ebrations, see below. Or, to find
others, the tourism board rec-
ommends visiting http://www.
enjoyillinois.com/events.
Nearby, at
the National
Shrine of
Our Lady of
the Snows,
visitors
can take in
more of the
meaning of
Christmas, the
birth of Christ,
with the
annual Way
of Lights
Belleville reindeer
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DESTINATIONS MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2015

• Belleville Christkindlmarkt:10a.m.to
7p.m.Sundays-Thursdays,10a.m.to9
p.m.FridaysandSaturdaysNov.27-Dec.
23,www.bellevillechristkindlmarkt.com
•NationalShrineofOurLadyof
theSnows:WayofLights,5to9p.m.
Mondays-Thursdays,5to10p.m.Fridays,
SaturdaysandSundaysNov.10-Jan.1
withclosuresThanksgiving,Christmas
Eve,ChristmasandNewYear’sDay
(outdoorlightdisplaywillremainopen),
http://snows.org/events/way-of-lights/
•Belleville’sSantaHouseopensNov.
28andendsDec.23.Forhoursand
information,visit:http://www.bel-
levillesantahouse.com/
•DuQuoinAnnualHolidayLightsFair:
5:30-9:30p.m.nightlyfromThanksgiv-
ingtoNewYear’s,$10perfamilycarload
or$1perpersoninlargervehicles,
with6to9p.m.ExpoHallevents
Dec.4-6,11-13and18-20,http://
www.duquointourism.org/default.
asp?nc=1961&id=412
•EastPeoriaFestivalofLightsand
Folepi’sWinterWonderland:Parade
ofLightsNov.21,HolidayLightShow
from5:30a.m.to10p.m.Mondays-
Thursdays,5:30a.m.to9p.m.Fridays;
6a.m.to6p.m.Saturdays,and7a.m.
to5p.m.SundaysNov.26-Dec.31.
Itwillbeopen until noon Christ-
mas Eve and 3 p.m. New Year’s
Eve, http://www.cityofeastpeoria.
com/festival-of-lights/displays/
folepis-winter-wonderland/
photo courtesy of
bellevillesantahouse.com
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DESTINATIONS MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2015
IF YOU GO