Seasonal & Holidays

Frankfort's Christkindl Weekend: What To Know Before You Go

Find out what's on tap this year for the annual holiday event, including the time of the Lantern Parade downtown.

FRANKFORT, IL — The village officially kicked off the 2017 holiday season with its annual tree-lighting ceremony Thursday, and the celebrations continue this weekend with another Frankfort tradition: Christkindl weekend. The two-day yearly event, sponsored by the Frankfort Historic Business Association, runs Saturday, Dec. 2, and Sunday, Dec. 3, throughout the downtown, and it features a variety of Christmas and holiday-related activities.

The centerpiece of the celebration will be the Lantern Parade for kids led by Saint Nicholas. The parade is Saturday and runs from the Frankfort Area Historical Society, 132 Kansas St., to the bonfire pit at Breidert Green. Participants can pick up a free lantern before the parade at the historical society.

A $2 gift market for children — Santa's Secret Workshop — will be a part of the event, and visitors will be able to enjoy hot chocolate and cookie decorating stations during the weekend. On Sunday, event-goers will be able to come face to face with live reindeers on the Green.

Find out what's happening in Frankfortfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Here's a look at what's on tap for the celebration so you can plan your weekend:

32 Annual Christkindl Weekend: The Basics

When: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4

Find out what's happening in Frankfortfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Where: Downtown Frankfort

Weather Forecast: Saturday is expected to be mostly cloudy and gradually turning sunny, with a high near 53, according to the National Weather Service. Sunday will be sunny, with a high near 54.

More Info: Go to the Frankfort Historic Business Association website for details.

Saturday Schedule

Noon: Caroling with the Girl Scouts on Breidert Green

Noon to 2 p.m.: Home Depot craft station

Noon to 3 p.m.: Horse-drawn wagon rides

Noon to 4 p.m.: Holiday cut-out photos

1 to 3 p.m.: Letter-writing to Santa

1 to 3 p.m.: Santa's Secret Workshop

4:45 p.m.: Lantern Parade

Sunday Schedule

Noon to 3 p.m.: Horse-drawn wagon rides

Noon to 3 p.m.: Live reindeers on Breidert Green

Noon to 3 p.m.: Holiday cut-out photos

1 to 3 p.m.: Letter-writing to Santa

1 to 3 p.m.: Santa's Secret Workshop


The Lantern Parade during Frankfort's annual Christkindl celebration in 2012. (Photo via Patch archive)

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