Downtown rockton christmas walk
December 6, 2025 | 6:00 p.m.
Start the holiday season with Downtown Rockton’s Christmas Walk! For more than 40 years, this annual weekend event offers something for everyone, including fun activities for the whole family and special events for adults. Don’t miss two major highlights: the Lighting of Village Green Park and the Lighted Parade. In addition, there will be various other festive events throughout the weekend.
The parade runs the length of downtown Main St., starting at Race St. and ending at Hononegah Community High School.
2025 activities
Holiday Used book Sale
Join the Friend of the Library as they host their annual Holiday Used Book Sale! Items include used books, DVDs, books on CD, and other miscellaneous items.
When: 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Friday, December 5
Where: Talcott Free Library, 101 E. Main St.
Cost: Free to attend, but cost to purchase items in used book sale.
Settlers Park ChristMas Tree Lighting
Join the Willowbrook Middle School Choir as they treat us to some delightful holiday carols before we light the Settlers Park Christmas tree and lighted displays at 6 p.m.
When: 5:30-6 p.m., Friday, December 5
Where: Settlers Park, 150 E. Hawick St.
Cost: FREE
Lighted Displays at settlers Park
Thanks to local businesses and organizations for stepping up and helping create local holiday cheer by decorating displays at Settlers Park. Walk the path to see festive lighted creations! The displays will remain lit evenings through January 6.
When: 6 p.m., Friday, December 5
Where: Settlers Park, 150 E. Hawick St.
Cost: FREE
Ugly Chrismtas Sweater Pub Crawl
The easiest pub crawl you’ll ever participate in. Grab your friends, grab your family, put on those ugly Christmas sweaters, and bop around downtown Rockton for the ugliest fun all year.
When: 7 p.m., Friday, December 5
Where: Various bars in downtown Rockton
Cost: FREE
Dueling Pianos
A new Christmas Walk favorite! Dueling pianos is back for friendly, musical competition that you can dance to!
When: Doors open at 7 p.m., Friday, December 5
Where: American Center, 221 W. Main St.
Cost: Tickets are required and will be available soon. Visit the website for updates.
Pancake Breakfast with Santa
The Rockton Lions Club annual pancake breakfast with special guest – Santa!
When: 7-11 a.m., Saturday, December 6
Where: American Center, 221 W. Main St.
Cost: No ticket purchase required, but free-will donations accepted.
Holiday USed Book Sale
Join the Friends of the Library as they host their annual Holiday Used Book Sale! Items for sale include used books, DVDs, books on CD, and other miscellaneous items.
When: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday, December 6
Where: Talcott Free Library, 101 E. Main St.
Cost: Free to attend, but cost to purchase items in used book sale.
Bake Sale & Christmas Decor Sale
Join the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rock Valley for their annual bake and gifts sale and gently used Christmas decorations sale.
When: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday, December 6
Where: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rock Valley, 329 School St.
Cost: Free to attend, but cost to purchase items in the sale.
main street market
A little mini market of vendors to help you find the perfect holiday gifts and decor!
When: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday, December 6
Where: Main Street Market, 100 West Block of Main St.
Cost: Free to attend, but cost to purchase items from the vendors.
Pictures with Santa
Santa will be at Village Hall to visit with children and adults alike. Our Christmas Walk Santa is a much loved, patient, and calm Santa with a soft-demeanor – perfect for all children!
When: 12-4 p.m., Saturday, December 6
Where: Village Hall, 110 E. Main St.
Cost: FREE
Horse Drawn Carriage Rides
The tradition continues. Horse drawn carriages will be at the Christmas Walk in the afternoon. You can board your free ride at Lighthouse Speech Therapy.
When: 12-4 p.m., Saturday, December 6
Where: Lighthouse Speech Therapy, 203 W. Main St.
Cost: FREE
Letters to Santa
Stop by Christmas Walk sponsor Edward Jones Financial Advisor – Brenda Brugger’s office to write your letters to Santa and mail them off to the North Pole!
When: 12-4 p.m., Saturday, December 6
Where: Edward Jones – Brenda Brugger, 167 Hawick St.
Cost: FREE
Caroling with the Whitman Post Choir
The Whitman Post Choir is serenading Christmas Walk attendees with their favorite carols!
When: 12-12:30 p.m., Saturday, December 6
Where: Settlers Park, 150 E. Hawick St.
Cost: FREE
make ‘N Take Ornaments
Paint chubby bird ornaments made of paper mache. There are perfect for your tree or as a gift!
When: 12-3 p.m., Saturday, December 6
Where: Jill Rae Finally Art 210 W. Main St.
Cost: $8/ornament
River City Sound Chorus Sweet Adelines
Based out of Belvidere, the River City Sound Chorus are now the 14th place Sweet Adelines chorus in the world. There’s close to 500 choruses worldwide, and After The Vine is excited to host such a world-class chorus!
When: 1-3 p.m., Saturday, December 6
Where: After The Vine, 163 E. Hawick St.
Cost: FREE
3D Print Ornament
Receive a free 3D printed ornament with any purchase!
When: 1-5 p.m., Saturday, December 6
Where: Buckets n Blooms, 647 S. Blackhawk Blvd.
Cost: Purchase item to receive ornament.
Lighting of Katie’s Tree
Come and enjoy the lighted decorations at Village Green Park as well as touching tribute to Katie Cronin, whose family gathers from across the country every year to light a special tree in her memory. A men’s quartet will treat us to some delightful Christmas carols starting at 4:30 p.m.
When: 5 p.m., Saturday, December 6
Where: Village Green Park, 101 E. Chapel St.
Cost: FREE
Lighted Christmas Parade
The return of the Lighted Parade down Main Street! The parade will begin at the intersection of Main and Center St. and continue east along Main St., finishing at Hononegah High School.
When: 6 p.m. parade start, Saturday, December 6
Where: Downtown Rockton
Cost: FREE
Rockton Lions Wimpy’s Fund Action
Join the Rockton Lions Club in their biggest Wimpy’s Fund fundraiser all year. All proceeds go to purchasing Christmas dinners and presents for area families in need. For the full Wimpy’s Fund history, view more information here.
When: Immediately following the Lighted Parade conclusion, Saturday, December 6
Where: In person at the American Center, 221 W. Main St.
Cost: Varies
Holiday Used Book Sale
Join the Friends of the Library as they host their annual Holiday Used Book Sale! Items for sale include used books, DVDs, books on CD, and other miscellaneous items.
When: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sunday, December 7
Where: Talcott Free Library, 101 E. Main St.
Cost: Free to attend, but cost to purchase items in used book sale.
Hot Cocoa Crawl
This is a family-friendly crawl! Take your keepsake mug with you to one of 5+ downtown locations within walking distance of each other to enjoy delicious hot cocoa. After you’ve finished, stop by Village Hall to vote for your favorite flavor!
When: 12-3 p.m., Sunday, December 7
Where: Downtown Rockton & Village Hall, 110 E. Main St.
Cost: $12.50/mug
Historic Homes for the Holidays Tour
Do you ever pass by some of the beautiful, historic homes in downtown Rockton during Christmastime and wonder if they are as gorgeous on the inside as they are on the outside? Here’s your chance!
To cap off the 40th annual Rockton Christmas Walk weekend, four homeowners are generously opening their homes to the public for tours:
- 703 Green St.
- 428 N. Cottage St.
- 417 W. Chapel St.
- 316 N. Blackhawk Blvd.
When: Sunday, December 8
Where: See location addresses above.
Cost: Tickets for the home tours will be available soon. Check back to purchase tickets on the website.
For more information, view Downtown Rockton’s Christmas Walk website here.
Categories: December • Fall & Winter Ideas • Food & Drink • Getaway for Adults • Getaway for Families • Guest Blogs • Shopping
