Activities & Special Events
Crete Country Christmas™ is packed with special events and activities all weekend long!
Thursday, December 4th
CRETE COUNTRY CHRISTMAS™ SPECIAL EVENTS
Waiting for Santa PJ Party
Thursday, December 4th @ 6-8PM
Waiting for Santa PJ Party is a free, family-friendly dance party featuring DJ Smackdown, a photo backdrop with props, and more!
Location: Christmas Lodge (heated tent between Main and Wood)
Lighted Wands will be available for purchase!
Visits with Santa
Thursday, December 4th @ 6-8PM
Visit with Santa at the Waiting for Santa PJ Party!
Location: Christmas Lodge (heated tent between Main and Wood)
Friday, December 5th
CRETE COUNTRY CHRISTMAS™ SPECIAL EVENTS
Hayrides
Friday, December 5th @ 6-9PM
Pick-up & Drop-off on the corner of Cass & Wood
Gaines Farm will once again provide hayrides throughout the neighborhood. Loading and unloading on the corner of Cass & Wood streets.
Friday: 6-9 PM
Saturday: 1-3 PM
Cocoa & Cookie Crawl: Friday, December 5th @ 5-7 PM
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Participants will be able to stroll around beautiful downtown Crete to participating businesses to enjoy a warm cup of cocoa and/or cookies in your limited edition 2025 Crete Country Christmas™ mug! Each business will offer something different!
Friday, December 5th, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Check-in is at Crete Park on Main, 4:45 - 5:45 PM
Participating Businesses:
- Main Street Optical (1364 Main Street)
Serving Hot Cocoa & Cookies - Edward Jones (501 W. Exchange St.)
Serving Gingerbread Men & Apple Cider - Milestones Counseling Center (534 First St. Suite A)
Build a Marshmallow Masterpiece - The Ice Cream Shoppe (1390 Main St.)
Serving Grinch Drinks, Hot Cocoa, and Sweet Treats - Chuck's Tavern (1358 Main St.)
Ages 21+: Serving Peppermint Shot with monetary donation to the Crete Food Pantry
Pre-registration is required for this event. Tickets go on sale at 9:00 a.m. Friday, November 14.
Tickets: $10/ea
Max Participants: 120
Saturday, December 6th
Community Activities
Community Activities are hosted by various Crete businesses and organizations. Please visit the links provided for more information from the activity hosts.
'Gnome for the Holidays' Gift Bag/Ornament Hunt
Begins at 9:00 AM
Ornaments will be hidden in Crete during Crete Country Christmas! Are you clever enough to find one? Photo clues will be posted to the CUMC Before & After School Program Facebook page
Search around town to find an ornament and bring it to Crete United Methodist Church (1321 Main St. - Fellowship Hall) to claim a gift bag filled with donated items from merchants and organizations.
Photos, Holiday Crafts & More
9:00 AM - NOON
Crete United Methodist Church Before & After School Program (1321 Main St. - Fellowship Hall)
- Santa Visits & Family Photos
- Face & Hand Painting
- Snacks & Drinks
- Holiday Craft Project
Make a Christmas Ornament
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Crete Fire Department - Station #1 (524 W. Exchange Street)
Come make a Christmas ornament with us! More information...
Pet Pictures with Santa
9:00 AM- 3:00 PM
Most Feed & Garden (1742 S. Dixie Hwy)
Bring your pets for a picture with Santa! More information...
Crete Woman's Club Cookie Sale & Make Your Own Ornament
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Crete Township Hall (1367 Wood St.)
Annual homemade cookie sale with packaged homemade holiday treats, treats, including dog & cat treats, candy, cookies, decorated boxes and trays.
Kids - make your own Christmas Ornament to take home!
More information...
Trinity Boutique
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Trinity Lutheran Church (1393 Elizabeth Street)
Woman's boutique with gently used and new items for sale.
More information...
Art Market & Craft Fair
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Crete United Methodist Church (1321 Main Street)
Art Market & Craft Fair.
More information...
Make a Christmas Ornament
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
The Edge Coffeehouse & Roasting Co. (1366 Main Street)
Children under 12 can make a Christmas ornament. More information...
9th Annual Regional Showcase
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Crete Creative Gallery (1177 Main St. - Crete Library 2nd Floor)
Visit our Ninth Annual Regional Showcase featuring 20 local artists. More information...
Grinch Mani for Kids
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Nails by Kasha (1334 Main St. - Salon 22)
- $10 Mini Grinch Express Mani for Kids
- $10 Paraffin Dips
Hot Cocoa Bar
10:00 AM-1:00 PM
The Finishing Touch Florist (563 W Exchange Street) with Burnham Concrete
Cozy up in our delightful Cocoa Corner. You'll get to whip up your hot cocoa masterpiece that will keep you toasty warm from head to toe!
More information...
Decorate Your Own Bank
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Old Plank Trail Bank (700 W Exchange St)
Decorate your own wooden bank!
More information...
Family Identification Program
10:00 AM- 2:00 PM
Crete Masonic Lodge 763 (1419 Main Street)
Family identification program for children, adults, and seniors, including fingerprinting, photos, video, and height & weight. More information...
Make a Bird Feeder
10:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Crete Rural Park District (1419 Main St. - Masonic Lodge)
Make a bird feeder using pine cones (separate tables to accommodate peanut allergies).
Snacks, Games, Raffles, and 2 Decorated Warehouses
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Reid & Pederson Drainage (1762 S Dixie Hwy)
Two decorated warehouses with games, prizes, crafts, raffles, snacks & a photo booth
More information...
The Ice Cream Shoppe
10:00 AM-3:00 PM
The Ice Cream Shoppe (1390 Main Street)
Enter to win free ice cream for a year (children 16 and younger). More information...
Indoor Snowball Fight
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Crete Park on Main (1374 Main Street)
Let's have a snowball fight, indoors! This is not a drop-off program; parents/guardians must stay with their child. More information..
Country Christmas Museum Holiday Social
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Crete Area Historical Society (550 W Exchange St)
Christmas at the Museum: Old-fashioned Christmas Tree of Hope with Angels on Assignment, activities for kids, cookies & hot chocolate, s'mores by the fire pit. More information...
Hot Apple Cider & Raffle
10:00 AM-3:00 PM
Vintage Oak (1392 Main Street)
Hot apple cider, extra "hot" for 21+. Adults 21 and over can enter a raffle for a chance to win a bottle of Blanton's. More information...
Make Your Own Reindeer Food
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Polaris Martial Arts (1336 Main Street)
Make your own Reindeer Food for kids (4-12 years old). Organic, animal and environmentally friendly project for kids to attract Santa and his reindeer to their home on Christmas Eve!
More information...
Sensory Mobile
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Behind Crete Park on Main (1374 Main Street)
Lincolnway Special Recreation Association Sensory Mobile - a fully-equipped mobile sensory room located behind Crete Park on Main. More information..
Guessing Game
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Vintage Treasures (507 W Exchange Street)
Stop in and guess the number of nickles in a jar! Free gifts to all children 16 and younger (while supplies last). More information..
Christmas Photos & Decorate Your Own Picture Frame
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Lens Narrative LLC (1395 B Main Street)
Free Christmas photos & decorate your own picture frame. More information...
Marshmallow Bomb Bar & Crafts for Kids
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Milestones Counseling Center LLC (534 First Street, Suite A)
Build your own masterpiece at our famous Marshmallow Bomb Bar. We'll also have Crafts for Kids, Free Hot Cocoa, Coffee & Tea.
More information...
Paint an Ornament
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Independence Physical Therapy (1397 Main Street)
Come paint an ornament!
More information...
Sucker Pull
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Crete Country Store (1390 Main Street)
Sucker Pull and a Free gift for kids 16 and younger (while supplies last).
More information...
Haircuts with the Grinch, Letters & Calls to Santa
11:00 AM- 1:00 PM
Salon 22 (1334 Main Street)
- $10.00 Haircuts with the Grinch (kids under 10).
- $5 Red & Green Tinsel
- Letters & Phone Calls to Santa
- Refreshments
Kids Make Your Own Cheese Pizza
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Crete Aurelio's (1372 Main Street)
Kids, 12 & under, can make their own "free" individual pizza! 2 children with each adult food purchase of $10 or more. More information...
Bellezza Salon
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Bellezza Salon (1395 C Main Street)
Hair Tinsel, Simple Braids, Eyebrow Waxes
Cookies & Kiddie Cocktails
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Chuck's Tavern (1358 Main Street)
Kiddie Cocktails & Cookies. More information...
Free Pictures with the Grinch
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Fitness Premier (1379 Main Street)
Free pictures with the Grinch!
More information...
Face Painting & Craft
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Smokey Jos (475 W Burville Rd)
Get your face painted and make a craft. More information...
Live Nativity
NOON - 2:30 PM
Trinity Lutheran Church (1393 Elizabeth St.)
Enjoy a Live Nativity with live animals. Refreshments available. More information...
Blood Drive
NOON - 2:30 PM
Trinity Lutheran Church (1393 Elizabeth St.)
Give the gift of life at our Blood Drive. Refreshments available. More information...
Cookie Decorating
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Evil Horse Ale House & Spirits (1338 Main Street)
Come decorate a cookie!
More information...
Enduring Strings Performance
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Crete Public Library (1177 N Main Street)
Join us for the Enduring Strings performance by the fireplace at 2:00 p.m. More information...
Warming Station
5:00 PM- 30 minutes after the parade
Crete Masonic Lodge 763 (1419 Main Street)
Warming Station! Come to the Lodge to warm up. Open from 5:00 p.m. until 30 minutes after the parade ends. More information...
Saturday, December 6th
CRETE COUNTRY CHRISTMAS™ SPECIAL EVENTS
Grinch 5K Run
Saturday, December 6th
Get ready! The Annual Crete Country Christmas 5K will be run on Saturday, December 6, 2025. Register by November 28, 2025, to get the discounted rate!
Check-in Begins: 7:00 AM
Pre-Race Warm Up & Stretch led by Fitness Premier Crete
Race Start: 8:00 AM
Race End: 9:30 AM
Start and Finish will be Division and Wood Street.
Registration
Gather your Christmas spirit and chase down the Grinch in our Crete Country Christmas™ Grinch 5K. Runners, Walkers, and Strollers are all welcome to dress for the occasion in Grinch Green and come out for fun. The race will benefit the Crete Food Pantry. We ask all participants to bring a nonperishable food item to donate on the morning of the race.
Included in your 5K registration:
- Grinch 5K Race Shirt
- Fruit, water, granola provided in runner's tent
- Satisfaction of completing a 5K in December
Registration will be accepted until 7:45 AM on the morning of the race. We encourage participants to register early to ensure that they receive all the goodies included in registration.
Breakfast with the Grinch
Saturday, December 6th
Pre-registration Required
Join all the other Who's in Whoville for this breakfast with the Grinch. You will be entertained by the comedic antics of the Grinch while you dine! Crafts for the kids and photo ops are included. Each person eating the breakfast must be registered. This event is for both adults and children. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Location is the Crete Country Christmas Tent on Cass and Main Streets.
Multiple seating times from 9 AM - 10:30 AM are available for Saturday. In order to register, participants MUST create an account through Crete Park District with their online system.
Food catered by Smokey Jo's. Proceeds from this fundraiser will be used by the Park Pals to fulfill our pledge to the park district to fund $50K of the new outdoor Fitness Court that was installed at Swiss Valley Park.
Kris Kringle Market
Saturday, December 6th @ 9 AM - 3 PM
NEW Location: Crete Elementary School (435 North Street, Crete)
The Kris Kringle Market is a favorite of Country Christmas visitors and features many local vendors. The Market is a great place to find unique gifts for yourself and those on your Christmas list.
Reindog Contest @ Evil Horse
Saturday, December 6th @ 11 AM
Dress up your dogs, dress up yourselves, dress up your family and join in the fun. Special prizes are given to the top 5 reindog winners, and every pooch receives a special treat.
Registration begins at 11:00 a.m. at Evil Horse Brewery (1338 Main St, Crete, IL 60417)
Judging begins at Noon.
Pet Blessings will immediately follow the contest.
Questions? Contact debbie@cretechurch.com
Special thanks to our Reindog sponsors: Evil Horse Brewing Co., The Edge Coffee House, Countyline Pet Hospital, VCA Forest South Animal Hospital, and Most Feed
Hayrides
Saturday, December 6th @ 1-3PM
Pick-up & Drop-off on the corner of Cass & Wood
Gaines Farm will once again provide hayrides throughout the neighborhood. Loading and unloading on the corner of Cass & Wood streets.
Friday: 6-9PM
Saturday: 1-3PM
Visits with Santa
Saturday, December 6th @ 2-5PM
Visit with Santa by the gazebo!
Saturday, 2-5 PM
Parade of Lights
Saturday, December 6th @ 6PM
Don't miss this great family fun event! The Parade Grand Marshall will lead the parade North down Main Street from Burville to First Street. A holiday tradition to entertain the whole family!
Interested in entering the parade?
The registration deadline is November 24. Visit Parade of Lights Registration for more information.
Sunday, December 7th
CRETE COUNTRY CHRISTMAS™ Lodge (heated tent between Cass & Wood)
Bloody Mary BINGO
Sunday, December 7th @ 10 AM - 2PM
Come and try your luck while having a great time! Games will be played in the Christmas Lodge from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The Crete Lions Club will also be serving up Bloody Mary drinks!
Annual Christmas Concert & Singalong
Sunday, December 4th @ 3PM
An hour-long program of festive music with Paul Blievernich. There is no charge for the event, but a freewill offering will be taken to support the church's ongoing expenses. www.creteumc.org
December 8th & 9th
Crete Santa Sleigh Parade
Monday, December 8 & Tuesday, December 9
Santa will be parading around Crete in his sleigh, collecting non-perishable food pantry donations, monetary donations (please make checks payable to Crete Food Pantry), and new, unwrapped toys for Angels on Assignment. Please leave donations on the curb for collection.
Santa's Sleigh Parade Routes
Routes begin at 5:00 p.m.
Monday, December 8, Zone 1 (In-Town Crete): Zone 1 Parade Route
Tuesday, December 9, Zone 2 (Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire East Areas): Zone 2 Parade Route
Is Santa not going down your street?
Please go to the nearest intersection or highlighted street.
Special Events
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Light Up Crete for the Holidays!
ALL HOMES WITH A CRETE ADDRESS ARE ELIGIBLE TO ENTER
Lights must be on from 6:00 - 9:00 PM for the month of December.
Make it whimsical, make it classic, use the highest wattage, or create the most animated display -- your imagination is limitless! Every decorated entry is eligible to win a raffle prize!
Enter by December 8th. Winners will be announced by December 30th.
TO ENTER
Stop by Crete Country Store at 1390 Main St. and fill out the form with your name, address, & phone number. Pick up your festive YARD SIGN to display that you are Lighting Up Crete for the Holidays! If you have a sign from previous years, please reuse it.
