# Lighting of the Square — Woodstock

> Event for families in the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin area (IL / IN). Times are Central Time.

- When: Fri, Nov 27 · 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Where: Park-in-the-Square (Woodstock Square), 121 W. Van Buren St, Woodstock, IL 60098
- Ages: All ages
- Price: Check official pricing
- Organizer: City of Woodstock
- Official page: https://www.woodstockil.gov/1059/Lighting-of-the-Square
- Last checked: Tue, Oct 27

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 2, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-01), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/lighting-of-the-square-woodstock--listing-408f8f6b59d56ced1ca9b8d9

## About

Woodstock's holiday season officially begins on the Friday after Thanksgiving, when the City of Woodstock switches on tens of thousands of lights in the trees of the Park-in-the-Square and on the buildings around the historic Square. Activities start at 4 p.m.: holiday carolers and band performances, food trucks, music and children's activities, plus a Toys for Tots drive where families can donate a new, unwrapped toy at the police department across from the Opera House. Santa makes a grand entrance before the lighting ceremony, which begins at 7 p.m. in the park. Around the Square, the Opera House shows its Christmas Tree Walk of trees decorated by local groups, the Old Courthouse Center hosts a Gingerbread House Walk, and the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who greet visitors upstairs in the Old Courthouse from 4 to 6:30 p.m. The city invites families to bundle up and come early; the page lists no tickets or registration and no admission price.

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