# Yorkville Holiday Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting

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

- When: Fri, Nov 20 · 6:00 PM
- Where: Riverfront Park, 131 E Hydraulic Ave, Yorkville, IL 60560
- Ages: All ages
- Price: Check official pricing
- Organizer: United City of Yorkville Parks and Recreation
- Official page: https://www.yorkville.il.us/FormCenter/Parks-Recreation-3/Parade-Sign-Up-Form-75
- 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/yorkville-holiday-parade-and-christmas-tree-lighting--listing-124dc348e4c965a3beb0d2d4

## About

The United City of Yorkville opens its Holiday Celebration Weekend on a Friday evening at Riverfront Park beside the Fox River. Local performers start the night at 6 p.m. — the Yorkville Performing Arts Center (YPAC) troupe followed by the Yorkville High School Madrigals — and at 6:30 p.m. the Holiday Parade sets off from the corner of East Hydraulic Avenue and Mill Street, heading west along Hydraulic Avenue to Route 47. Floats are encouraged to light up because the parade runs after dark. Right after the parade YPAC's Dancing Santas perform, and at about 7 p.m. the mayor lights the 22-foot Christmas tree in the center of Riverfront Park. The city asks spectators to watch from the north side of Hydraulic Avenue along the park sidewalk, so arrive early for a curbside spot, bring something warm to drink and dress small children in layers. Community groups, businesses and families can enter a float by filling in the city's parade sign-up form.

## Similar picks in Chicago

- [Flossmoor's Holiday Glow Tree Lighting with Santa](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/flossmoor-s-holiday-glow-tree-lighting-with-santa--listing-0d1318eed8d432253d655da6) — Fri, Nov 20 · 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Flossmoor Park · checked Oct 30. The Village of Flossmoor's annual tree lighting: the Fire Department delivers Santa to the park, followed by photos with St. Nick. Kids can explore emergency vehicles decked out…
- [Illuminate 900: Holiday Tree Lighting at 900 North Michigan Shops](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/illuminate-900-holiday-tree-lighting-at-900-north-michigan-shops--listing-5d017d764f51220deb046137) — Thu, Nov 19 · 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM · 900 North Michigan Shops · All ages · From $5 · checked Oct 21. On Thursday, November 19, 2026, the shopping center at 900 North Michigan Avenue hosts Illuminate 900, an indoor holiday tree lighting at the north end of the Magnificent Mile…
- [Light Up the Holidays Festival & Parade — Downtown Joliet](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/light-up-the-holidays-festival-and-parade-downtown-joliet--listing-288159c760385c4c72e3fe75) — Fri, Nov 27 · 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM · Downtown Joliet (Chicago Street) · All ages · checked Oct 30. An afternoon of holiday fun downtown on the day after Thanksgiving, ending with the tree lighting and fireworks at 5:00 pm and the lighted parade at 5:30 pm. Kids 11 and under…
- [Libertyville Cook Park Tree Lighting](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/libertyville-cook-park-tree-lighting--listing-388c7d8754e1b555dae1bb5c) — Fri, Nov 27 · 6:30 PM · Cook Park, Libertyville · All ages · checked Oct 21. The Village of Libertyville starts its holiday season with the annual tree lighting in Cook Park, the green in the middle of downtown along Milwaukee Avenue, on Friday, November…
- [Elk Grove Village Holiday Tree Lighting with Fireworks and Santa](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/elk-grove-village-holiday-tree-lighting-with-fireworks-and-santa--listing-3b67ff9358b6162aeb70c2f3) — Fri, Nov 27 · 4:00 PM · Elk Grove Village Green (Municipal Complex) · All ages · checked Oct 30. Refreshments, storytime with the Village Board, Elk Grove Express rides and carolers on the Village Green from 4 pm, then the tree and more than 500,000 lights go on at 5:30 pm…
- [Lake Forest Tree Lighting Holiday Celebration (42nd Annual)](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/lake-forest-tree-lighting-holiday-celebration-42nd-annual--listing-675f86fb4d926f0dfd5476d3) — Fri, Nov 27 · 3:00 PM · Market Square, Lake Forest · All ages · checked Oct 30. Market Square fills the day after Thanksgiving with kids' activities from 3 pm, visits with Santa 3:15–6 pm, carolers, brass and orchestra music and a dance performance before…

## More for families

- [Things to do with kids in Yorkville, IL](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/towns/yorkville-il) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/towns/yorkville-il.md)
- [Christmas lights and holiday events for kids in Chicago](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/christmas) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/christmas.md)
- [This weekend in Chicago](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/this-weekend.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Chicago](https://grassyknees.com/chicago) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago.md)