Holiday Train and Holiday Lights
Holiday Lights at Welton Plaza
Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 5:30-7:30pm
‘Tis the season to celebrate all that’s merry and bright! Join the community in kicking off the holidays with the 4th annual Holiday Lights at Welton Plaza event on Old Grand Ave. There will be fire pits and s’mores to keep you warm, craft stations to keep you busy, and much more! Special guests include everyone’s favorite holiday duo Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Gurnee Mayor Tom Hood and more!
NEW this year - a commemorative "Holiday Lights" mug will be given to the first 200 children who visit with Santa!
FREE pizza will be available from Jimano's Pizza of Gurnee (while supplies last)!
Staff will also be collecting non-perishable food items for the Warren Township Food Pantry during the event. Please bring your donations to help make a difference in our community.
This FREE event is co-hosted by Gurnee Park District, Village of Gurnee, and Village of Gurnee Chamber of Commerce
Special thank you to our sponsors, Gurnee Community Bank, Forest Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Honey Orthodontics, and DCFS.
2024 CPKC Holiday Train
Saturday, December 7, 2024 - Estimated Arrival 5:00pm
Gather the family and kick off the holiday season with the arrival of the Holiday Train in Gurnee, IL, on Saturday, December 7, 2024. This FREE event will take place from 4-6PM. The train is estimated to arrive at 5PM, followed by a holiday concert starting at 5:15PM.
The Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Holiday Train is nearly 1,000 feet long with 14 rail cars, each decorated with hundreds of thousands of technology-leading LED lights and holiday designs.
The Holiday Train is anticipated to arrive on the east side of railroad tracks near Depot Rd. Park your vehicle at one of the locations below and walk over to Depot Rd. and Old Grand Ave.
Park your vehicle at one of the locations below and walk over to Depot Rd. and Old Grand Ave.
Parking Available
• Warren Township High School - 500 N. O’Plaine Rd.
Entertainment
- Holiday Concert: The Lone Bellow and Tiera
- Free pictures with Santa Claus
- Patch 22 Petting Zoo
- DJ Frank Wright playing holiday Music
- Complimentary snack tent
Thank you to our Event Sponsors & Partners
- Community Trust Credit Union - Platinum Sponsor
- Honey Orthodontics - Silver Sponsor
- Northern Illinois Food Bank - Event Partner
- Nothing Bundt Cakes - Event Partner
- Six Flag Great America - Event Partner
Although the event is free, staff will be collecting non-perishable food to support the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
About the Holiday Train
The Holiday Train raises awareness of local hunger issues by encouraging attendees to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to a local food pantry. All donations will benefit the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
The Holiday Train program has raised more than $9 million and more than 3.9 million pounds of food since the first Holiday Train ran in 1999. Thousands of people gather trackside at depots, railroad crossings and other unusual venues along CPR’s route to enjoy the arrival of the brightly decorated trains lighting up the winter night. The musicians, who ride in vintage private cars at the end of the 14-car train, hop out and climb aboard a boxcar in the middle of the train that opens to reveal a stage where they perform live holiday concerts and invite crowds to sing along.
