THE OFFICIAL START TO CHRISTMAS IS ONLY
AWAY
TRADITIONAL EVENTS
OUR 3 MAIN EVENTS THAT YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS
Christmas Tree Lighting
Friday, Dec. 6th
Settlers Park, 6 pm
Join us for caroling and then a very special lighting of the Rockton Christmas tree! Then stroll the paths at Settlers Park to enjoy lighted displays created by our local businesses and organizations.
Lighting of Village Green Park
Saturday, Dec. 7th
Village Green Park, 4:30-5 pm
Watch the park turn into a holiday wonderland with carols from the Whitman Post choir and the lighting of Katie’s Tree!
Lighted Parade
Saturday, Dec. 7th
Main Street, 6 pm
The most beautiful part of Christmas Walk, the lighted parade returns to Main Street! The parade begins at the intersection of Main St. and Center St. and continues east along Main St., concluding at Hononegah High School.
EVENTS & SHOPPING SPECIALS
ALL THE GREAT EVENTS AND SPECIALS AVAILABLE DURING THE WALK.
*PLEASE NOTE* EVENT DETAILS ARE PLACEHOLDERS FROM 2023’S EVENTS AND ARE UPDATED AS CONFIRMED. KEEP CHECKING BACK!
FRIDAY EVENTS – Dec 6th
Holiday Used Book Sale
Join the Friends of the Library as they host their annual Holiday Used Book Sale!
Talcott Free Library 101 E. Main St. 9 am – 5:30 pm
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 Jan. 6.
Settlers Park, 150 E. Hawick St. 6 pm
Ugly Christmas 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.
Downtown Rockton, 7pm
Dueling Pianos
A new Christmas Walk favorite! Dueling pianos is back for friendly, musical competition that you can dance to! Purchase tickets here. . *2023 attendees – don’t worry, we went back to the original company we used in 2021 and 2022. You’ll want to dance again this year.
American Center, 221 W. Main St., Doors open at 7pm
Generously sponsored by Gary J. Bach Agency and the RDM Foundation.
SATURDAY EVENTS – Dec. 7th
Pancake Breakfast with Santa
The Rockton Lions Club annual pancake breakfast with special guest – Santa! $5
American Center, 221 W. Main St. 7 am – 11 am
Holiday Used Book Sale
Join the Friends of the Library as they host their annual Holiday Used Book Sale!
Talcott Free Library, 101 E. Main St. 9 am – 3 pm
Pictures with Santa
Photos with Santa. Free! 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!
Village Hall, 110 E. Main Street 12 pm – 4 pm
Generously sponsored by Dairyhaus.
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 Design Elements.
Design Elements, 122 S. Prairie St. 12-4pm
Generously sponsored by Design Elements.
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!
Edward Jones – Brenda Brugger, 167 Hawick Street, Noon – 4 pm
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 the Village of Rockton is proud to host them at Village Hall!
After the Vine, 163 E. Hawick St. 1 pm – 2 pm
Caroling at Village Green Park
The Whitman Post Choir will be treating us to Christmas carols at the park, right before the Lighting of Village Green Park.
Village Green Park, 100 E. Chapel St. 4:30 pm – 5 pm
Lighting of Katie's Tree
Come and enjoy the lighted decorations at Village Green Park as well as a touching tribute to Katie Cronin, whose family gathers from across the country every year to light a special tree in her memory.
Village Green Park, 101 E. Chapel St., 5 pm
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.
Downtown Rockton, 6 pm parade start
Rockton Lions Wimpy's Fund Auction
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. Click here for the full Wimpy’s Fund history.
In person at the American Center, 221 W. Main St. immediately following the Lighted Parade conclusion.
SUNDAY EVENTS – Dec. 8th
Hot Cocoa Crawl
Hot Cocoa Crawl – Family-friendly! Take your keepsake mug with spoon 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! $12/mug. Click here to buy tickets.
Village Hall, 110 E. Main St. 1 pm – 4 pm
Generously sponsored by First Northern Credit Union and Rockton Food & Spirits.
Scavenger Hunt
Pick up your scavenger hunt sheet at Village Hall and complete this family-friendly, all ages scavenger hunt. Prizes for the first 500 participants! No cost to participate.
Village Hall, 110 E. Main St. 12 pm – 3 pm
SPONSORSHIP & EVENT FORMS
You can download the packet that contains all the forms you will need by clicking the button below. Return it to the Village through email, mail, or dropping it into the water payment box at Village Hall by the listed deadlines.
Sponsors
2024 Sponsors
Grand Marshall Sponsor
Benchmark Exteriors: Benchmark Exteriors is a Veteran Owned remodeling company that’s committed to quality—and that shows in every result we provide and every interaction we have with customers! Our dedication to excellence helps us to stand out from the competition in all the right ways.
Our remodeling company uses only premium materials from top brands, including LP SmartSide, Owens Corning, CertainTeed, and James Hardie. We’re proud to be elite contractors for CertainTeed and Owens Corning and to maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
It only takes a look at images of our past work and our customer reviews to get an idea of the results and service you’ll enjoy when you work with us for your next remodeling project.
Presenting Sponsors
Dueling Pianos Presenting Sponsors
Gary J. Bach Agency Every individual and family has their own specific insurance needs. It is our job to take your needs and put them into customized insurance quotes that offer competitive premiums and competitive or superior products. We strive to do so while still providing professional and friendly service with 50 years of combined insurance experience.
The RDM Foundation was established in memory of Corporal Ryan D. Masters with the mission of positively impacting veterans through fundraising and awareness campaigns focused on suicide prevention and the transition back to civilian life for servicemen and servicewomen.
If we can prevent one veteran suicide, we will have done what we set out to do. We will not stop working until veterans have access to adequate services and resources that support their needs.
Horse Carriage Rides Presenting Sponsor
Rockton Food & Spirits – 121 W. Main St. General convenience store with a wide selection of bourbon, rye, beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails.
Hot Cocoa Crawl Presenting Sponsor
Design Elements, Inc. Full service residential and commercial remodeling company.
First Northern Credit Union We’re a not-for-profit organization, governed by a board of unpaid volunteer members. Our members are more than just an account number — they’re part owners. All profits are returned to you, our members, not to investors. Members benefit from lower or non-existent fees, higher deposit rates, and more competitive loan rates. As a credit union, we’re driven by the “People Helping People” philosophy.
Our goal is to provide the highest level of service at competitive rates. Our Loan Officers are only a phone call away if you need help. Contact us at 888-328-8677.
Metronet Coming soon to the Rockton, IL area, Metronet is 100%fiber internet. Metronet delivers the best possible experience for your entire household.
Luminaria Sponsor – The family of Katie Cronin.
Candy Cane Sponsors
Rockton Lions Club The Rockton Lions of Rockton, IL have been serving the state-line area since 1938 , and we aren’t slowing down any time soon! With a membership of 75+ we have many local fund-raisers and service projects such as Candy Day, Flower Day, Christmas Auction, delivering Wimpy’s Fund gifts, hearing screening, blood drives, providing eye glasses to area children, downtown planting projects, and Old Settlers Days to name a few. The profits from the fund raisers are funneled directly back into our community serving the needs of other organizations and individuals, while focusing on sight and sound related disabilities. The Rockton Lions Club of Rockton Illinois is a 501(c)3 organization.
Stenstrom Companies Stenstrom was founded in 1953 by Robert R. Stenstrom, who built his company from the ground up with the help of handpicked, highly qualified people who shared his dedication and standards. Under his leadership, our employees were known for their pride and dedication to the job. This tradition continues today under the leadership of his son, Robert W. Stenstrom, and grandchildren, Robert J. Stenstrom and Christie Stenstrom Jarrett.
Mistletoe Sponsors
Dairyhäus Homemade Ice Cream from Our Family to Yours. One Little Shoppe, with One Big Heart. Curbside and carryout as well as find in your local Woodmans and Schnucks grocery stores.
Lighthouse Speech Therapy ighthouse Speech Therapy, PLLC is a private practice speech and language clinic serving the Northern Illinois area. Our mission is to provide functional, individualized speech and language services using evidence-based assessment and treatment methods. Our focus is to improve the communication of our clients in order to help them perform, participate, and excel in their daily lives.
Gallery
Pictures from previous Christmas Walks
GET IN TOUCH
Contact information
Contact form
Headquarters
Village Hall
110 E. Main St.
Rockton, IL 61072