Holiday Train and Holiday Lights
Holiday Lights at Welton Plaza
Thursday, December 7, 2023 from 5:30-7:30pm
‘Tis the season to celebrate all that’s merry and bright! Join the community in kicking off the holidays with the 3rd annual Holiday Lights at Welton Plaza event on Old Grand Ave. There will be fire pits and s’mores to keep you warm, food trucks to keep you full, craft stations to keep you busy, and much more! Special guests include everyone’s favorite holiday duo Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Gurnee Mayor Tom Hood and more!
Staff will also be collecting non-perishable food items for the Warren Township Food Pantry during the event. Please bring your donations to help make a difference in our community.
This FREE event is co-hosted by Gurnee Park District, Village of Gurnee, and Village of Gurnee Chamber of Commerce
2023 Holiday Train
Sunday, December 3rd
Bring the family and celebrate the start of the holiday season with the arrival of the Holiday Train at Viking Park (Depot Rd. side) on Sunday, December 3rd! The Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Holiday Train is anticipated to arrive at Viking Park located at 4374 Old Grand Ave. at 5:10pm on the east side of railroad tracks near Depot Rd. and will feature a holiday concert by Tenille Townes and Breland. The Holiday Train is nearly 1,000 feet long with 14 rail cars, each decorated with hundreds of thousands of technology-leading LED lights and holiday designs.
Parking will be available at Viking Park and Viking Park Middle School located at 4460 Old Grand Ave. or at Warren Township High School located at 500 N. O’Plaine Rd. Although the event is free, staff will be collecting non-perishable food to support the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
About the Holiday Train
The Holiday Train raises awareness of local hunger issues by encouraging attendees to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to a local food pantry. All donations will benefit the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
The Holiday Train program has raised more than $9 million and more than 3.9 million pounds of food since the first Holiday Train ran in 1999. Thousands of people gather trackside at depots, railroad crossings and other unusual venues along CPR’s route to enjoy the arrival of the brightly decorated trains lighting up the winter night. The musicians, who ride in vintage private cars at the end of the 14-car train, hop out and climb aboard a boxcar in the middle of the train that opens to reveal a stage where they perform live holiday concerts and invite crowds to sing along.
For more information, visit the Canadian Pacific Railway's website at www.cpr.ca/holiday-train.