This year Mokena's holiday season runs between two spots: the lot at Mokena Elementary School on Willowcrest Lane, and the corner of Front and Mokena Streets. Between Saturday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Dec. 5, the biggest public holiday events in the village start at one of those spots, finish at the other, or do both.
The Parade of Lights lines up at the school and ends near the Village tree. Two weeks later, Mokena Miracles fills the same school with a kids' gift fair in the morning, and that evening the Chamber's bar crawl walks most of the parade route on foot. Once you know the loop in November, you already know where everything is in December.
November 21: Lineup on Willowcrest, Finale at the Evergreen
The Mokena Chamber of Commerce's annual Parade of Lights is on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026. Entries line up at 4 p.m. at Mokena Elementary School, 11244 Willowcrest Lane, and step off at 5 p.m. The Chamber publishes the route as three turns:
- South on Wolf Road
- East on Front Street
- North on Division Street
The Chamber lists the parade's location as Front Street between Wolf Road and Division Street, so that's the viewing corridor. When the last float passes, the crowd heads to the Village Tree Lighting at Front and Mokena Streets. Last year Patch described the tree as the "giant Evergreen" on that corner, with the lighting held right after the parade.
The Chamber's own rules tell you something about the night. Entries are lighted floats, decorated vehicles and costumed characters, and any business, organization or family can join for free. Because it's dark by step-off, candy and giveaways have to be handed out, not thrown. Entries are also asked to leave Santa out, since the Chamber has already booked him as the grand finale. If you have kids watching from the curb, the parade isn't over until Santa goes by.
Parade sponsorships cost $125. Sponsors get a mention from the Channel 6 parade announcers and a logo in the Chamber's Front Street office window during November. This year's posted sponsors include Bright Space Cleaning LLC and Raffy's Candy Store.
What surrounded the parade last year
Patch's coverage of the 2025 parade showed how much of downtown came along. Food trucks set up in the Mokena Metra station lot from 3 to 7 p.m., including Joey's, Ricobene's, Auntie Anne's and Tom's Coffee. Little Al's offered a balloon artist and hot chocolate starting at 3:30 p.m. Midland States Bank and HealthSource of Downtown Mokena poured hot chocolate from 4 to 5 p.m., the Chamber office handed out giveaways, and Oberweis brought eggnog and coupons to the tree lighting. That was last year's lineup. Check this year's list with the Chamber as Nov. 21 gets closer.
The library offers a lead-in for families. Mokena Public Library's Letters to Santa runs through Dec. 1, 2026. That gives kids a week and a half after the parade to finish their letters.
December 5: The Same Ground, Morning to Night
Saturday, Dec. 5, is the day the loop gets used twice in one day. Here's the schedule:
| Time | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Santa's Secret Workshop Crafter and Vendor Fair | Mokena Elementary School, 11244 Willowcrest Ln. |
| 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Photos with Santa at the Workshop | Mokena Elementary School |
| 3:30 to 6 p.m. | Bar crawl map and goodie bag pickup | Mokena Chamber office, 11104 Front St., Suite 1B |
| 4 to 10 p.m. | It's a Wonderful Bar Crawl, ages 21+ | Downtown Mokena stops |
The morning belongs to the kids
Mokena Miracles describes itself as a nonprofit of Mokena first responders and residents that helps neighbors and spreads happiness over the holidays. Santa's Secret Workshop is a crafter and vendor fair with free admission, built around kids shopping for other people. In the kid area, young shoppers pick gifts for family and friends from student and adult crafters. They can shop with their own family or with a Santa Helper, a junior high or high school volunteer. MIS Student Council volunteers help wrap and tag every gift, so it goes home ready to put under the tree.
A separate commons area has holiday shopping for adults. Vendors and crafters take cash only, so stop at an ATM before you park. Santa is there for photos from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Admission is free, though the organizers welcome non-perishable food for the Frankfort Food Pantry.
For families, the morning has a familiar shape. It's the same school lot where the parade lined up two weeks earlier, and Santa has once again been booked as the main attraction.
The evening walks the parade route
The Chamber's It's a Wonderful Bar Crawl starts at 4 p.m. and runs until 10 p.m. Maps and goodie bags are picked up from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at the Chamber office, 11104 Front Street, Suite 1B. The Chamber says more pickup times will be announced.
The stop list maps almost exactly onto the November parade. Grouped by street, it looks like this:
- Wolf Road, the parade's southbound leg: Aurelio's Pizza at 19836 Wolf Rd. and VFW Post #725 at 19852 S. Wolf Road. William Martin VFW Post 725 traces its founding to Jan. 7, 1933.
- Front Street, the parade's main corridor: The Dock on Front at 11116 S. Front St., a short walk from the Chamber's pickup office. Patch reported that it opened on Aug. 4, 2025, so this is its second holiday season downtown. Hustle & Heart Boutique at 11041 Front St. is a bonus stop with 15% off storewide for crawl participants. The 19th Hole, whose regular home is the indoor golf and entertainment venue at 9418 W. 191st Street, runs a pop-up spot on Front Street.
- Mokena Street, toward the tree: ZAP! Taco House at 19711 Mokena St. serves tacos, margaritas and beer. It's on the same street as the corner where the tree lighting follows the Nov. 21 parade.
- Also on the list: Little Al's Bar & Grill, which hosted last year's pre-parade hot chocolate and balloon artist.
The Chamber says there will be at least seven stops, and more outdoor pop-ups may be announced.
A few details from the Chamber's page will save you trouble that night. Bring cash: Aurelio's, Little Al's and the 19th Hole pop-up are listed as cash only, and Aurelio's has pizza by the slice. Participation is a $20-per-person donation to the Mokena Chamber of Commerce, and you have to pre-register. Your ticket covers raffle entries, special promotions at each stop for crawlers only, a swag bag and a light-up necklace for walking in the dark. The Chamber doesn't provide transportation, but parking in the Metra lot is free. Tickets are for ages 21 and over only.
Above all, buy early. The Chamber says last year's Winter Bar Crawl sold out in one weekend.
After Front Street, the Lights Move Onto Home Streets
The tree at Front and Mokena opens the season downtown, and the Mokena Community Park District carries it out onto residential streets. Its Free Holiday Lights House Decorating Contest is open to Park District residents, and the registration deadline is Dec. 9. Judging happens Dec. 15 between 6 and 9:30 p.m., so displays need to be lit during those hours. You don't have to be home when the judges drive by.
Entries are scored on theme, creativity, originality, lighting and musical effects. First, second and third place each get a yard sign to put out front. If your display has music, that's one of the scoring categories.
The tree is lit on Nov. 21 after the parade. The library's Letters to Santa runs until Dec. 1. The school and Front Street fill up again on Dec. 5. The contest closes registration on Dec. 9 and judges on Dec. 15. Almost all of it happens within walking distance of Wolf Road, Front Street and Mokena Street, plus one school lot on Willowcrest Lane.
If you're decorating this season and wondering how a well-lit house on your block might show in a winter listing, or what your home is worth before the new year, Niki Rocco is happy to talk it through over a cup of hot chocolate on Front Street. Request a Free Home Valuation, and we'll see you at the tree.
