• Forest Homes park off Stanley road
  • Betty Browning Park
  • Riverview Park
  • Haskell Park off Henry Street
  • By the pool/elementary school
  • Between primary school maintenance sheds
  • Van Preter Park

  • Behind Collinsville High School (Kahok Hill)
  • Glidden park off Lebanon Road on the left side, close to the bus garage.
  • Woodland park
  • Jefferson school
  • Small hill by the water tower and log cabin off 162 by Bethany Park subdivision

  • Miner park in Glen Carbon
  • In front of Rendleman Hall at SIUE
  • DO NOT SLED AT Leon Corlew Park (hill is a cemetary site)
  • Airplane park (Edwardsville)
  • Hill behind Sugo's (for little kids)

  • The Levy
  • Cheatuea Island where the old chain of rocks Bridge is that you can walk. As soon as you cross the first bridge over the canal, there is a big sledding spot to the left.

  • Lindendale Park

  • Behind Triad High School
  • By the senior center has a nice little hill

  • Hill across from Walmart
  • Kutter park
  • Behind the soccer complex/skate park
  • Woodriver skate park hill for smaller kids (Wood River)

    • Art hill in forest park (STL)
    • Suson Park (STL)
    • Crestwood Park (STL)

      • Kutter Park (Cottage Hills)
      • St Ellen Mine Park behind the Aldi (O'Fallon)
      • Pleasant Ridge Park (Maryville)
      • Lindendale park (Maryville)
      • Solid Rock Community Church right off 111 (Pontoon Beach)
      • Hidden Valley (Eureka)
      • Deer Creek Park (Maplewood)
      • Sioux Passage Park (Florissant)
      • Blanchette Park (St. Charles)
      • Legacy Park (Cottleville)
      • Faust Park (Chesterfield)
      • Queeny Park (Ballwin)
      • Bluebird Park (Ellisville)
      • Alhambra park (Alhambra)
      • Legend hill Next to the public pool (Carlinville)

Jingle Hike Challenge

Bells are tied to trees in 12 parks throughout southwestern Illinois from Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s Day. Participants are asked to visit as many parks as they can, take a selfie with the bell, and submit the photo evidence using the QR code or link on the tag or map. #JingleHike. You can register for a fee to receive a shirt and a chance to win prizes. Anyone is welcome to find the jingle bells, but you will only be entered to win prizes if you are registered.

Fill a water balloon and add a few drops of food coloring. Let them freeze (either outside or in the freezer). Once frozen, pop the balloon and you’re left with a beautiful ice globe in the color of your choice. Take them outside to decorate or play.

Discover with water while spending some time in nature! Attach yarn to small water bottles filled with different colored water and let it drip down the yarn to created mixed color masterpieces. Hang the bottles in an easy to reach place and enjoy observing as the icicles grow!

Freeze water in different ice cube trays and tupperware. Add a few drops of food coloring. Leave them outside to freeze. Pop them out of their containers and get building with colored ice blocks!

Maple syrup snow candy is made with pure maple syrup and snow! First, carefully heat the syrup before pouring it hot into the snow to solidify. Adult supervision and necessary.

One simple recipe is to take sweetened condensed milk, and combine with clean snow. For a bit more excitement, combine 1 cup milk, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 8 cups clean snow. Add food coloring, sprinkles, and fruit as your heart desires!

Give kids aluminum foil, tissues, popsicle sticks, paperclips, pencils, silverware, or other household items. Allow them to plan, design, and engineer a skier that can stand on skis and make it down a ski slope. Gets kids thinking about physics, engineering, elements, and design.

Calling all kiddos! We have a direct line to Santa. Have the littles write a letter, add your email address and receive a special surprise letter back. When you bring in your letter put it in Santa’s MailBox

at Neighbors Bakeshop and receive a special Christmas TREAT from our bakery elves. We will draw one letter a week that will win a special prize, we will post on Facebook.

Our Letters to Santa gift registry

is out! Kids can look around the store, try out the toys, and make a list of what they love. Then friends and family can shop easily knowing they will pick the perfect gifts! Shop local first this year! We have so many awesome new products coming in the store every day. We try very hard to match or beat Amazon's prices and we carry many things that you cannot find online!

Wintertime sparkles atthe Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows

The drive through display has over one million lights depicting the Journey to Bethlehem. The Visitor’s Center has a quilt raffle, decorated trees, and a Lego display. Additional activities include camel & pony rides, petting zoo, and more. Families can enjoy discounts on these activities on Military Mondays and Family Tuesdays. Visitor Center open 10 am -9 pm and Tree Display open noon – 9 pm. Outdoor Light Display: 5-9 p.m. nightly (Other exhibits are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas & New Year’s Day but lights are still on.) Free for light display although donations are welcome. Free plush animal with donation of $17 or more. Lego Display is $5 for anyone ages 4 and up. Camel rides are $8. Carriage rides are also available for additional charge. Family nights on Tuesdays include discounts on activities.

Rock Springs Park

More than 4 million lights are on view at this drive through display at Rock Springs Park. View cascading waterfalls of lights and lighted trees and displays. Alton is also home to some beautiful old homes and worth a drive through the historic districts to see the grand homes in full Christmas decorations. 2116 College Ave. The popular walk-thru night will be back on Monday, Nov. 28 from 6 – 9pm. No vehicles allowed. Suggested donation is $7 per car or $1 per person for vehicles with 10 people or more. Admission for the walk through night is $1 per person. Nov. 24 through Dec. 27. Monday through Friday the lights will be on from 6-9 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday the lights will be on from 5-9 p.m.

Bethalto Arboretum

Enjoy a half mile walking path through lighted trees and decorated cottages to the sounds of live Christmas music. Step into a winter wonderland at the heart of Bethalto! Our Christmas Village brings the holiday spirit to life with sparkling lights, charming decorations, and a cozy, festive atmosphere for all ages. Stroll through the magical lighted display from Central Park through the Bethalto Arboretum, support local artisans with unique holiday crafts, and indulge in seasonal treats that are sure to warm your heart (and taste buds!). Plus, bring the little ones to visit Santa Claus himself—he’s ready to hear all their holiday wishes! Whether you're making this a new family tradition or returning for more holiday magic, Bethalto Christmas Village is a joyful, free holiday event you won't want to miss. Bundle up, grab your loved ones, and make your way to Bethalto Village Park for a season filled with warmth, cheer, and festive fun!

Highland Square

Beautifully decorated lights, trees, and small homes with window displays. Don't forget to support local business with a stop at the Lory Theater to pick up kettle corn and frozen custard to go. Monday through Friday 6:00pm to 8:00pm Saturday 10am to 12pm & 1pm to 4pm Sunday 1:00pm to 4:00pm

WonderLight's Christmas (Madison)

5-10PM
World Wide Technology Raceway at 700 Raceway Blvd
Christmas lights with music. See shooting stars, giant Christmas trees, and tunnels of light. $30.00 per car (up to 7 passengers), Children Age 3 & Under: FREE! 5:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. World Wide Technology Raceway at 1905 Collinsville Road in Fairmont City

9 Barbaretto Lane (Maryville)

Displays nightly from 4:30pm-10:30pm through January 1st.
The 50,000 light show is synced to 9 different songs including traditional and contemporary music.

376 Macon Court

Roll your windows down to hear the music. A fun mixture of home made charm and new technology. We like the arches over the driveway, and the candy canes lining the sidewalk. There are lots of characters your kids will have fun finding and naming. Plus the home made sleigh, and mice, and Mr. & Mrs. Claus. We love how they used the side of their house as a canvas for a big greeting and floating baubles. Santa is in the upstairs window! 4:30-11 PM on week nights, 11:45 on weekends.

621 Somerset Lane

5-11 PM This home has been transformed! Get out and walk around the display for the best views, but watch for cords and hold kids hands. There is a Sweet Shop, a Ski Lodge, Santa’s Living Room, a Toy Shoppe, Church and Clock Shop. There’s even a big red sleigh where you can take photos! Please bring some non-perishable food items to leave in the can for a food donation to the O’Town Food Pantry.

Lights on Grandview


Broadcasting on 90.5 Twinkle FM. Turn off headlights and avoid neighbor’s driveways. Donations are accepted and matched for Metro East Humane Society. Donation box is by radio sign.
5-10pm
2036 Grandview Drive

Troy Toyland (Troy)

Spans eight lawns and is synchronized to music on 98.7FM. Many decorations are handmade. Donations go to St. Louis Children’s.
Sun.-Thurs. 5-10pm & Fri.-Sat. 5-11pm.
119 Pebblebrook Lane

Christmas Eve Luminaries

Every year on Christmas Eve the Middletown neighborhood is illuminated by the soft glow of luminaries. If you are new to the area it is quite a site to see! We invite you to drive around and look at the holiday spirit it brings to the neighborhood! This is the perfect excuse to get out and drive or walk around the neighborhood! Captains generally put luminaries out on Christmas Eve around 4:30 PM-11:30pm.



Billie’s Kids Christmas (Granite City)

Provides Christmas to 150-200 children. Each child receives 2 gifts, coat, gloves, hat, blanket, and other goodies. Each family receives food, essentials, and a family game. Wish List are loaded to registry at Target. Gifts from registry ship direct.

Children's Home and Aide (Many Sites)

Has quite a few families who haven’t been sponsored.

Elf Express

Help children in need and make their Christmas special. Pair with needy children as Christmas Elves. If you need help or want to be an elf send a message. Elves can decide whether they would like to drop off gifts with sponsored family or stay anonymous.

Hamel Giving Tree (Hamel)

Provides a place at Hamel Village Hall for donated gifts to be picked up and dropped off. Drop toys into the box, volunteers will then collect, wrap, and place the gifts at the Tree.

Mid-Town Moms (Alton)

Helps children in shelters with Christmas toys. Local shelters and outreach programs provide the first name, age, gender and birthdate of the child in need. A gift is delivered to the director of the shelter and given to the child.