The second annual Kris Kringle Market in Peoria Heights will be held on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3, at Tower Park.
Santa Claus will make his traditional visit to the Heights the evening of Friday, Dec. 2, his and Mrs. Claus’ appearance highlighted by the lighting of the Tower Park Christmas tree. The event kicks off at 3 p.m. and runs until 7 p.m., with some 25
vendors selling holiday-themed, handmade gifts and crafts, food and drink. There also will be live music from the Peoria Barber Shop Chorus.
The event returns from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 with about a dozen vendors from the night before and a new and different slate of another dozen selling their unique wares. Hot chocolate, decorative mugs, t-shirts, lighted necklaces and more will be available at the Peoria Heights Chamber of Commerce hut. Live music will again be provided, this time by James Herr Acoustic. A Grill ‘Em All food truck will be on site, with beverages, both holiday-themed and otherwise, served up by Clink Bar.
Meanwhile, Santa will do a reading for the kids in attendance, and the latter also will be able to write a letter to St. Nick expressing their holiday wishes, with that jolly old elf himself promising to correspond with them in kind. A large Christmas sleigh also will be on the premises for photo opportunities.
What’s different this year, said event co-organizer Barb Milaccio, is that it’s a two-day event rather than one. Meanwhile, another three Christmas huts have been built and purchased just for this event as the Chamber continues to add to its collection, with significant expansion plans for the future.
“It’s going to be awesome,” promised Milaccio. “This is my season.”
Not to be outdone, the annual Holiday in the Heights events will be held the same Saturday, Dec. 3, with Santa making his way throughout the village, so feel free to explore the Village beyond Tower Park. The shops and restaurants will be open, decorated to the hilt, and beckoning visitors who are in a festive mood.
Finally the annual Chocolate in the Heights will be on Saturday, Dec. 10, with participating shops and restaurants offering unique cocoa treats as visitors stroll from place to place.
Don’t miss Christmas in the Heights!