Holiday Happenings
Freeport & Stephenson County are excited to bring holiday cheer to our residents and visitors. Please see the great list below of ways to celebrate the season safely.
For a complete brochure to download, click here!
December 1 – 23: Pro Shop Talk at Park Hills Golf Course Plenty of great gifts for golfers including 2021 golf season passes, clearance pricing on all merchandise, and gift certificates for any amount. After Thanksgiving, store hours are Monday – Friday from 7 am-4 pm.
December 9-12: Swank and Mercier Holiday Open House 1 E. Spring St., Freeport. Stop by for great holiday merchandise and gift ideas Wednesday 11-5, Thursday 12-6, Friday 11-5, and Saturday 10-2. (815-238-5088)
December 12: Breakfast with Santa Lena Fire Station, 405 Railroad Street, Lena. Enjoy a pancake and sausage breakfast with Santa and get a chance to take your own photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Sponsored by the Lena Park District (815-369-5351)
December 10: Virtual Story Time with Santa Freeport Public Library. Listen to a holiday story or two from Santa. Please contact 815-233-3000 for more information.
December 10: Holiday Beverage Showcase The Rafters Restaurant is hosting its favorite Holiday Party! Join us in our spacious loft where we invite our distributors to sample this season’s tastiest holiday beers, wine, and spirits. This event costs nothing and if you find something you like, you can purchase it at our cost, pick it up the next week and be stocked for the holidays! We will be limiting the number of guests in the room at a time to ensure appropriate social distancing! For more questions, you can email jaime@lenabrewing.com
December 12: CHOM Christmas in a Party Bag Children’s Hands on Museum, Lincoln Mall, 1223 W. Galena Ave. 10 am-2 pm. Each party bag will contain a Christmas craft, coloring pages and holiday treats. For questions, email sarah@chomnwil.org
December 12: 12th Annual Tri-County Christian School Holiday Market Park Hills Church, 2525 W. Stephenson St., Freeport. For more information and to see a list of current vendors go to tccsfundraising.org/holiday-craft-fair. (815-233-1876)
December 12: Pictures with Santa Friends Forever Humane Society, 966 Rudy Rd, Freeport. 9 am–1:30 pm. Bring your cats and/or dogs and some holiday cheer and have your pictures taken with Santa. 5 x 7 photo for $10. Stop by our silent auction. All proceeds benefit our shelter animals. Please visit www.friendsforever.org as event gets closer. (815-232-6141)
December 19: 1st Annual Holiday Drive-By Local businesses coming together to spread holiday cheer around the Freeport area! Click the link for the full route around Freeport. Stay in your vehicle along the route or find a spot on the sidewalk along the route to wave to Santa and other local businesses. Parade begins at 3 pm.
December 19: Virtual Story Time with Santa Freeport Public Library. Listen to a holiday story or two from Santa. Please contact 815-233-3000 for more information.
December 19: Free Touchless Photos with Santa Santa will pose for photos from inside our office window and you can safely have your photo taken while remaining outside. Bring your child’s letter to Santa and let them drop it in Santa’s Mailbox! Visit our Re/Max Property Source Office on the corner of Stephenson & Chicago in Freeport at 2 W. Stephenson St., Freeport.
December 20: Santa Visits the Rafters On Sunday December 20, 11 am–1 pm, we’ve made a special call to the Big Guy at the North pole to come visit The Rafters for a couple hours. Stop in for our tasty breakfast menu offered 10 am–2pm and Santa will come visit your table to wish you a Merry Christmas!
December 20: Winter Solstice Yoga Come spend an hour exploring your internal balance, releasing into that dichotomy to find your own equilibrium. Hosted via Zoom with Your Core Being at 5:30 pm. Click the link above to register.
December 23 1st Annual Parade of Lights Find a spot along almost any street in Pearl City at 6 pm for a parade of over 45 vehicles. For a complete parade route, click the link above.
December 23: Toy Drive Giving Back to Freeport/Rockford Community 4 pm-6 pm Freeport Public Library hosted by Freight Management. Please bring a new unwrapped toy to a drop-off locations. Toys for ages 3-12 are the most needed. For more information, email t3pllogistics@gmail.com, (815-599-9695) Cashapp: $Tensleycorp
December 24: Elks Milk at Lena Brewing Co. This old Vehmeier Family tradition is coming back to LBC. Before you head to your family gathering for Christmas, join us on our patio for a tasty brew and some Elks Milk on Christmas Eve from 12 pm–4 pm.
December 31: The End of 2020 Celebration 2020 was a tough year, celebrate NEW beginnings at The Rafters with a delicious New Year’s Eve Dinner! Reservations are a must as seating is limited. Call us at 815-369-5330. Visit us on raftersonline.com or Facebook for our New Year’s Eve Menu!
January 1, 2021 HAPPY NEW YEAR! Celebrate 2021 a little too hard? We’ve got you covered at Rafter’s Restaurant! Stop in from 10 am–2 pm on January 1st for our breakfast menu. Wash it down with a tasty Bloody Mary or Jumbo Mimosa!
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