Downtown Evanston announces 2026 holiday events

Downtown Evanston is celebrating the holiday season with three festive community events: Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28, the Holiday Light Celebration on Dec. 5 and the Warm Bevvy Walk on Dec. 10. Residents and visitors are invited to celebrate the season, enjoy holiday activities, discover unique gifts and support the local shops and restaurants that make downtown Evanston a special place. From shopping local to celebrating under the holiday lights to sipping seasonal beverages, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28 Come downtown to support your local retailers and restaurants on this nationwide celebration of independent businesses. On Saturday, Nov. 28, pick up a Downtown Holiday Shopping Passport to use as a guide to local shopping. Spend $100 or more at local businesses and receive a $20 Evanston Gift Card. Pick up a passport at any participating business and collect signatures with the amounts spent. Purchases can be made at one shop or several. To redeem the gift card, bring your passport to Dayhouse Coworking, 922 Davis St., between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Nov. 28. Limit one gift card per person. While you shop, fuel up with brunch or lunch at a downtown restaurant offering a Small Business Saturday special. View the shopping and dining specials . Downtown Evanston and Main-Dempster Mile are bringing back the free holiday trolley between the two business districts. Take your kids or yourself on a festive ride from Main Street to Davis and Church streets and back, making stops along the way so you can get out to shop and dine. The trolley runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 28. Northwestern University Neighborhood and Community Relations is sponsoring the Small Business Holiday Trolley. The trolley schedule is online. Holiday Light Celebration on Dec. 5 Bring your family to the annual Holiday Light Celebration at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Fountain Square. Join Acting Mayor Jonathan Nieuwsma, City Clerk Stephanie Mendoza, Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita and Santa and Mrs. Claus to light the tree at 5 p.m. sharp. Music will kick off at 4:30 p.m. with the Evanston Children’s Choir and continue after the tree lighting with the Northwestern University Community Singers and more. Warm up with free hot chocolate from Colectivo Coffee while supplies last. After the tree lighting, walk to The Merion, 1611 Chicago Ave., for photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, holiday treats and more holiday music in The Crystal Ballroom. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for photos until 7 p.m., so make sure to get those wish lists ready. Warm Bevvy Walk on Dec. 10 Show your love for local businesses at Downtown Evanston’s annual Warm Bevvy Walk from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10. Enjoy a self-guided stroll throughout downtown Evanston, visiting retail stores, restaurants and other businesses offering a variety of warm beverages and shopping or dining specials. Warm Bevvy Walk tickets are $10 per person and include a custom (and reusable) warm bevvy mug. A portion of the ticket price will be donated to the PTA Equity Project, which helps provide equitable access to educational enrichment and community building opportunities for all Evanston/Skokie School District 65 students. Tickets are available on Eventbrite. J. Blanton Plumbing , Midwest Express Clinic and Zen Leaf are sponsoring this year’s event, and Rotary International is hosting the check-in location. Free holiday parking Nov. 25 to Jan. 1 When you visit downtown Evanston for any of these events, don’t forget to take advantage of the free holiday parking. Community members and visitors to Evanston’s business districts can get up to two hours of free parking per day from Wednesday, Nov. 25, through Jan. 1. Download the Park Evanston app and enter the code “Evanston2026” to receive two hours of free parking. The offer is valid once per day per account or license plate. More information is on the city’s website. Related Stories