Seasonal

Volunteering as a family is a great way to model and teach gratitude to children. Giving back can be an annual family tradition that creates memories and bonds while helping others in your community. Visit each non-profits website to learn how to volunteer or donate.

Cornerstone Foundation – The mission of the Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation is to provide opportunities and resources to children and their families who are in need. Since 2005, Charles Tillman’s charitable efforts have impacted the lives of thousands of critically and chronically ill children and their families.

The Super Jake Foundation: Helping Kids Win the Battle Against Cancer
P.O. Box 477
Gurnee
[email protected]

The mission of The Super Jake Foundation is to fund research to find a cure for neuroblastoma, a rare and deadly form of pediatric cancer, and to provide assistance to families with children with cancer. Headquartered near Chicago, The Super Jake Foundation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying and sponsoring neuroblastoma research programs throughout the country.

Red Cape Gala 
Saturday, February 12, 2022
Westin in Wheeling
Reserve your spot today! 
Sponsorship & Donor Information

Feed My Starving Children
742 E. Park Avenue
Libertyville
847-984-3846

FMSC offers volunteers a one-of-a-kind experience. You’ll hand-pack rice, soy, dried vegetables and a nutritionally complete blend of vitamins and minerals into bags which are then sealed, boxed, placed on pallets and shipped to our incredible partners working hard to reach the neediest children around the world.

Through volunteering at FMSC, you’ll get the chance to impact hundreds of kids in just two hours per packing shift. You’ll experience what it’s like to make a tangible difference today.

Fill a Heart 4 Kids
400 E. Illinois Road
Lake Forest

Brighter Futures for foster and homeless children! There are so many ways to get invoived!

Gigi’s Playhouse
We change lives through consistent delivery of free educational, therapeutic-based and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community, through a replicable playhouse model.

Keeping Families Covered (formerly Twice as Nice Mother & Child)
3250-B N. Oak Grove Avenue
Waukegan
224-637-1644

Keeping Families Covered provides diapers and other basic needs to families. We distribute items through agency partnerships and direct-to-client service. We also raise awareness about diaper need and period poverty while working to build sustainable programs in Lake County. As a member of the National Diaper Bank Network, our on-site diaper bank and mobile diaper pantry distributes over 500,000 diapers every year. We also provide other essentials like baby wipes, infant formula, gently used maternity wear and children’s clothing/shoes (newborn to size 12), baby care equipment and children’s books. As a member of the Alliance for Period Supplies, we also distribute period products. Located in Waukegan, Illinois, Keeping Families Covered currently supports over 1,200 families and 1,800 children every month. We have donated over 2 million diapers and 100,000 period supplies to the most vulnerable residents in our community.

Lake County Center for Independent Living
3477 N. Seymour
Mundelein

Lake County Center for Independent Living (LCCIL) is a non-residential, cross-disability organization governed and staffed by a majority of people with disabilities. We advocate for a fully accessible society that is inclusive of everyone. LCCIL believes that the disability community must have the freedom and opportunity to control our own lives.

Lake County Haven
Libertyville
847-680-1703

Lake County Haven is a social-service agency dedicated to meeting the needs of homeless women and children. We use education, employment, and life-skills training to help people move from homelessness to independence. Throughout this process, our goal is always the long-term stability and self-sufficiency of each person.

Little Giraffe Foundation 
Click here for ways to support this organization dedicated to funding neonatal research and supporting patients and parents of the NICU.

If you’d like to donate a book or toy for their holiday gift bag program to 14 Chicagoland hospital NICUs/special care nurseries, including Advocate Condell Medical Center and Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, click here for their Amazon Wish List.

Northern Illinois Food Bank
Northern Illinois Food Bank – a proud member of Feeding America – is the source of nutritious food, innovative feeding programs, and hope for more than 71,500 people each week. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a goal of solving hunger in our 13-county service area, we rely on our generous donors, volunteers, and community partners – the local food pantries and feeding programs, food manufacturers and retailers, companies, foundations and individuals who join with us in our vision for no one to be hungry in Northern Illinois.

Orphans of the Storm
Orphans of the Storm is your community’s animal shelter. By choosing to volunteer your time and talents, you are helping to make a difference to thousands of homeless animals that arrive to our door each year.

PADS Lake County
Make a Donation, Give Items, Make Lunches, Volunteer

Project Linus
Through the gift of handmade blankets, Project Linus is able to provide a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. They donate blankets to children from premature babies to eighteen years of age. There are many ways to be involved including blanket making events, the Kids Helping Kids program, the adopt-a-blanket program and many more you can find here.

Roberti Community Center
919 8th Street
Waukegan

The mission of Roberti Community House is to nourish, educate and empower community members so that they can acknowledge, appreciate and actualize their individual strengths and talents.

Ronald McDonald House Near Lurie Children’s
For over 40 years this organization has been caring for families of children with complex medical needs by providing comfort, compassion and a sense of community. They allow families to stay close to their child in the hospital near the care and resources they need which supports the child and family’s health and well-being while saving the family’s hotel and food costs. The many ways to get involved can be found here. Your generous involvement allows the Ronald McDonald House to offer families home cooked meals, activities for children and their families, shared living space to bond with others, beautiful gardens for rest and play and a home filled with love and support. People can volunteer for the Meals or Cookies form the Heart programs, purchasing from the wishlist, volunteering, purchasing a brick in the garden and much more.

SRACLC Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County
290 Oakwood Road
Vernon Hills

The Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County was formed in 1976 as a cooperative effort of Member Agencies with the purpose to provide year round community based recreation services to individuals with disabilities and their families.

St. Joseph Food Pantry
Formation Center
112 North Milwaukee Avenue
Libertyville

The St. Joseph Food Pantry is a supermarket style food pantry located in the strip mall at 112 North Milwaukee Avenue in the Formation Center. Our food pantry is operated by volunteers. Food is donated and funds are used to purchase food from the Northern Illinois Food Bank as well as other local grocery stores. The food pantry is open to anyone who needs food due to loss of job or other events that created a hardship.

Stepping Stones Network
PO Box 208
Grayslake, IL

Our mission is to educate and engage the community to prevent domestic commercial sexual exploitation and provide comprehensive, restorative care to survivors.

Waukegan to College
410 Grand Avenue
Waukegan
224-303-4156

At Waukegan to College (W2C), our mission is to create brighter futures for first-generation students, their families, and their community by preparing students to enroll in and graduate from a four-year college or university.

Youthage Culinary
508 N. Seymour Avenue
Mundelein
847-865-1010

Our culinary program is designed to give youth an opportunity to experience hands on training while preparing them for real life experiences involving food service. The students will also learn Leadership Skills, Organizational Skills, and how to live healthier life styles.

 Adler Arts Center
1700 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Libertyville
847-367-0707

Bernie’s Book Bank
917 N. Shore Drive
Lake Bluff
847-780-READ

Equestrian Connection
600 Bradley Road
Lake Forest

Equestrian Connection’s mission is to improve the physical, mental and emotional well being with children and adults with special needs by providing equine therapy and other therapy services that fill voids that address unmet needs with the use of highly trained horses, licensed and experienced therapists and therapeutic instructors, and an understanding pool of trained volunteers. We provide services to all those who need it despite their ability to pay.

See our Volunteer & Donate section for a comprehensive list of local non-profits.

Holiday Lights

Kohlights
Kohl Children’s Museum
2100 Patriot Blvd.
Glenview

Santa’s Rock n Lights
Lake County Fair Grounds
1060 E. Peterson Road
Grayslake
*Enter from Midlothian entrance

Drive thru Christmas light show experience. The lights are animated to Christmas music.

Sparkle Light Festival
Impact Field
9850 Balmoral Avenue
Rosemont
847-636-5450

Tickets On Sale Now for Chicago’s Premier Holiday Festival Featuring Five Illuminated Villages, Winter Tubing Slide, Train Rides and Mazes Alongside Festive Food & Drink Options

New Attractions This Year Include “Rudolph’s Kids Zone” and “Deck The Walls” Maze

This holiday season, Rosemont’s Impact Field (9850 Balmoral Ave.) will shine a little brighter with the debut of Sparkle Light Festival. Scheduled to open Friday, Nov. 18, visitors can enjoy a breathtaking immersive display of millions of holiday lights amongst outdoor holiday activities including train rides, winter tubing and themed mazes. Tickets are now available at www.sparklerosemont.com.

Jerry Smith Farm Holiday Lights
7150 18th Street (Highway L)
Kenosha, WI

In 2022, the walking holiday light event will include a reindeer exhibit, treats in the Country Store, fire pits, cocoa, popcorn, adult beverages, and more! The display and Country Store will be open nightly from November 25 – December 18, 5 – 9 pm. Admission is $7/adult and children above the age of 2 years old.

$7 General Admission for all guests 3+ years old

Food & Concessions Include: S’mores Kits, Nachos, Cookies & More!

Neighborhoods with lots of lights or displays:

Milk Jug Luminaries
S. Dymond and Dover Street
Libertyville
Near Golf Road & Butterfield Road

Neighborhood tradition since 1987! Display generally begins the weekend after Thanksgiving and runs nightly from 6:00 – 10:00pm through Christmas. Snow makes these luminaries look even better.

Click here to read our Blog Post to learn the history of this neighborhood tradition

Germann Lights 
4968 Prairie Oak Road
Gurnee

Celebrating 10 years!!! The 2018 show should be up and running December 1st! The hours will be 5:00 – 10:00pm daily. Tune your radio to 87.9 to listen to this family friendly light show! Bring a non-perishable food item for the Northern Illinois Food Bank!

Christmas Trees

Cut Down Your Own Tree Experience

Richardson’s Tree Farm
9407 Richardson Road
Spring Grove
815-675-9729

November 25-December 4: Cut your own and pre-cut sales
December 5-December 11: Pre-cut sales only, no trees from field

It was a good growing season and our supply of Fraser and Canaan is better than last year, but still not as many as we would like. We have been planting more and more seedlings to boost our tree numbers, but it takes 6-8 years to produce a great tree.

We will be selling Cut-your-own Christmas trees and pre-cut Fraser and Canaan Fir trees starting Friday, November 25 and going through Sunday, December 4…7 days a week, 9am – 6pm.

We will be open Monday, December 5 through Sunday, December 11 for pre-cut tree sales only (until sold out).

Every day wreaths, garland, donuts, fudge and gifts will be available.

Our final day for cut-your-own tree sales this season is December 4th.

Thank you for your understanding as our 3 Richardson families continue to grow our supply.

Richardson Farm provides a great opportunity to renew the tradition of going out into the woods, choosing the perfect tree, and harvesting it for your family Christmas tree. We have over 50,000 trees of many varieties and sizes spread over 75 acres. Our spacious, heated sales barn has indoor restrooms and friendly people to assist you.

Every day, enjoy a free wagon ride to and from the fields (while the tree fields are open as listed above) and we’ll even haul your tree for you!

When you get back, we shake your tree to get the loose needles out and bale it in plastic netting to keep it manageable for the ride to your home. Your tree is tagged and you receive a numbered receipt to preserve the identity of the tree while you go inside to enjoy a free hot chocolate or coffee.

There are hundreds of fresh wreaths and decorations inside for sale along with fresh, homemade donuts. The majority of our wreaths, garland, decorations and bows are made on our farm. We welcome custom orders. Please call ahead.

Pricing

We accept cash, check, or credit cards.
Prices shown do not include tax.

For price specific information please visit our tree pricing page.

Sullivan’s Tree Farm
24774 W. Petite Lake Drive
Lake Villa
847-989-3092

The Sullivan Family Tree farm opens up this Friday, the day after Thanksgiving from 9-4p. We will be open two Saturday & Sundays from 9-4p (November 26, 27 & Dec 3 and 4th). Come out for some good old fashioned family fun. While we continue to have limited operations we will still have great picture opportunities along with our hay rides. Cut your own tree priced at $60 no matter the size, there will be no pre-cut trees available.

Pioneer Tree Farm
4614 Pioneer Road
McHenry
815-385-8512

Open just two weekends in 2022!
The Friday after Thanksgiving Nov. 25 and Sat/Sun Nov 26-27
… and Saturday/Sunday December 3 and 4

Gate opens at 9:00, closes at 4:00
Any tree $80 (cash or check only)

Gengel’s Tree Farm
38614 N. Fairfield Road
Lake Villa
224-545-0711

We will be open THIS WEEKEND while we set up from 9-4.

Open Fri, Sat & Sun 8-4 starting the Friday after Thanksgiving! We will have fresh cut Balsam firs, Fraser firs, Canaan firs, Scotch pine and White pine in various sizes. Wreaths, swags and arches! VERY limited cut your own Scotch and White pine. Prices ranging $70-$185 depending on tree type and size.

Wreaths, swags and arches STARTING at $20 and go up depending on size.

Don’t forget to stop in our tree house to purchase fresh homemade giant chocolate chip cookies, Spoon jewelry, ornaments, crafts, tree stands, tree preserver, tree removal bags!

No truck no problem! We will net and tie your tree to your car! We can’t wait to see all our returning and new customers

Fresh cut Christmas Trees!

Oney’s Tree Farm
16608 Route 14
Woodstock
815-338-4108

2022 Season – Due to the continued nation wide Christmas Tree Shortage we have decided to only offer the freshest pre cut Fraser Fir Christmas Trees 6-10 foot tall, gift shop, homemade wreaths, garland, centerpieces, and this year we will have Santa in the North Pole House along with Mrs. Claus on select days for the 2022 Christmas Tree season.  We decided to close our fields for cut your own Christmas trees this season to let the trees in the fields continue growing for future cut your own seasons.

Country Bumpkin
27691 N. Gilmer Road
Mundelein
847-566-2176

Didier Farms
16678 W. Aptakisic
Lincolnshire
847-634-3291

906-630-4130 (for Tebo questions & info only!)

United Methodist Church Pack 72 Boy Scouts
429 Brainerd Avenue
Libertyville

Other locations to buy: Lowe’s, Home Depot, Costco

Sledding & Ice Skating

Libertyville

Charles Brown “Charlie Brown” Park
Sylvan Drive
Small hill that neighborhood families use for sledding for younger children age 2-6

Adler Park
1500 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Two sledding hill options for all ages

Old School Forest Preserve
St. Mary’s Road, South of 176
Large sled hill

Copeland School
801 S. Seventh Avenue
Small hill for toddlers

Butterfield School
1441 W. Lake Street
Small hill for toddlers

Nicholas Dowden Park
920 Crane Boulevard
Features a small ice skating surface available for recreational skating and ice hockey play.
For ice surface updates, call the Recreation Department Weather Hotline at (847)247-5433 OPTION 3 –

Mundelein

Keith Mione Community Park
Mundelein Park & Recreation District
1401 N. Midlothian Road

Ice Skating Rink and Sled Hill

Ice skating rink for a multi-purpose rink used for open skate, hockey and unique games such as “broomball.” Please note and adhere to the schedule on their website.

For updates on the status of the ice rink please check our Weather and Status Hotline. If the light at the ice rink is not on when it is dark, it means the rink is closed.

To avoid risk of injury or damage to equipment, please stay off the ice until the rink is marked as open. Please consult Rainout Line for status updates. 224-263-3006.

Sled Hill Guidelines:

• The sled hill is open daily: Monday–Thursday: 7:30 am–8 pm Friday–Sunday: 7:30 am–10 pm
  Please note: If the sled hill is open, lights will come on after dusk until close.
• Sledding is permitted only on the Northeast, designated sledding area (see graphic below).
• Fencing marks off the backside of the sled hill which should not be used for sledding. Individuals should not attempt to sled down the sides of the hill facing Midlothian Road (west face) or facing Dunbar Road (south face).
• Use sled hill at your own risk.
• Users assume full responsibility for determining if conditions are safe for sledding.
• Guardians/parents are responsible for children. No supervision is provided.
• Use caution when sledding and be considerate to others.
• Sledding is a recreational activity that presents inherent risks.

John Wiech Park
IL Route 60/83
Snowmobile trail link

Kracklauer Park
Seymour Avenue
Small sled hill for toddlers

Maurice Kroll Park
Huntington Road
Small sled hill for toddlers

Lewandowski Park
Prairie Road
Small sled hill for toddlers

Vernon Hills

Century Park

Century Park Arboretum sled hill and ice rinks
1401 Indianwood Drive, Vernon Hills

Weather Hotline
(847) 996-6616

Sled Hill, Pavilion, and Ice Rinks lit until 9:00pm daily.

The sled hill and ice rinks have a parking lot on site.
The sled hill is lit until 9 pm daily.

The pavilion is open as a warming shelter on weekends, December 4, 2021-March 20, 2022, when the ice rinks and/or sled hill are open.
The warming shelter will be staffed on weekends, 1-9 pm.
Free loaner skates are available, in limited quantities, on weekends. All sizes may not be available.
Hot drinks and candy are available for purchase on weekends.

There are two rinks in Century Park: one for general skating and the other for hockey.

Check the posted sign at the sled hill, our website, or call the weather hotline, 847-996-6616, to see if conditions are favorable for winter activities on any given day.

Augusta Park
210 Augusta Drive
Small, neighborhood sled hill good for toddlers

***You assume full responsibility for determining that all conditions are safe for sledding. You assume the full risk and responsibility for any injury sustained as a result of your decisions or actions. Sledding is a fun family activity but enjoy at your own risk.