For most people, as soon as Thanksgiving is over, the Christmas season has begun. As we enter the month of December, with no snow yet to be stuck on the ground, many people wonder how they should get into the Christmas spirit. 

To feel the Christmas spirit, we will suggest various local and nearby activities that students and families from Lake Forest can experience! 

Activities outside of Lake Forest: 

Northbrook Shine Light Show: Drive Thru Christmas Light Show

A popular and unique experience is driving through the Northbrook Shine Light Show: Drive Thru Christmas Light Show. 

This experience includes a wonderland of over a million lights. Cars are suggested to tune their radio to a designated station as they watch the colorful flashing lights synchronizing to the well-known holiday songs. 

Christkindlmarket in Chicago

The Christkindlmarkt is an authentic German event in Chicago, Illinois. Entrance is free admission, and it is held annually at Daley Plaza. The market is open Sunday-Thursday: 11 am-9 pm and Friday-Saturday: 11 am- 9 pm.

The market is a special experience including shopping, live merry entertainment, and original food and beverages. The Christkindlmarkt is a great place to make memories with friends and family!

Wonderland Express & Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden

Another annual holiday extravaganza featuring intricate ice carvings and music, as well as model trains, glittering indoor snow, and crafted Chicago miniature landmarks. All ages are said to enjoy the experience and leave feeling the Christmas spirit. 

The trail is about 1.3 miles long and the tickets for people over nonmembers who are over 12 are about 34 dollars each. With the lightscape being reinvented every year, it is a must-do activity!

Skating in Millennium Park Ice Rink

With people who would prefer to go for a completely free option, the ice rink in Millenium Park is open daily from November through March, weather permitting. Admission is free if you bring your skates, if not skate rentals are available.

While admission is free, online reservations are required. Ice skating is a great Christmas activity to do in front of a beautifully lit tree during the winter season!

Local Treat Making:

Hot Chocolate Bombs

If you would prefer to stay in Lake Forest rather than venturing to Chicago. Making at-home hot chocolate bombs is a fun and different way to have a nice Christmas hot chocolate! 

Hot chocolate bombs are chocolate spheres filled with homemade chocolate milk powder and marshmallows. Place the hot chocolate bombs into a mug and watch the chocolate melt away into a delicious mug of hot chocolate!

Christmas Crack

A possibly less-known Christmas treat to make is Christmas Crack! The candy got its name from the cracking noise it makes when you eat it. The recipe involves a saltine cracker layered with toffee and milk chocolate. 

The toppings can be whatever you like to make the ultimate sweet and salty treat. Christmas crack is another way to make Christmas treats without repeating the same old ones from years prior!

Gingerbread houses

A classic way to get into the Christmas spirit is the traditional activity of crafting gingerbread houses. Whether you make it a competition or simply for fun the crafting of these sweet houses never gets old.

The building of this house may be a simple task but trying to craft an aesthetically pleasing house may be harder than it seems. Something as small as making these houses can still bring family and friends together to enjoy the Christmas season and look forward to Christmas day.