Downtown Vermilion will light up on Friday, December 5, as Main Street Vermilion brings back its annual Light Up Vermilion celebration from 5 to 8 p.m.
The event focuses on Exchange Park and Friendship Park, with activities happening throughout the downtown business district. Families can expect decorations, music, community performances, sweet treats, and visits from well-known holiday characters.
At Exchange Park, the evening begins with the Coloring Contest Awards at 5:30 p.m. Santa and his elves arrive at 6 p.m., followed by the Community Tree Lighting at 6:15 p.m. Visitors can enjoy performances by the Lake Ridge Legacy Chorus and Ring True Caroling, meet the North Coast Alpacas, and warm up with hot chocolate from the Vermilion Lions Club. The Vermilion Rotary will also be roasting chestnuts.
Friendship Park will feature a light-up selfie station, holiday games and prizes run by the Kiwanis Club of Vermilion, and an appearance by the Grinch.
Throughout downtown, shops and restaurants will be open with festive displays and treats. Local groups including VHS Choral and the Vermilion Girl Scouts will be caroling. Visitors can also check out the Buoy Tree at the Fulper Lot or attend the Vermilion Community Band Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. at Ritter Public Library.
From 5 to 8 p.m., families can stop by 685 Main Street to pick up information for window display voting, the scavenger hunt, prizes, and letter-writing to Santa.
The event is free and open to the public, with parking available throughout downtown. Main Street Vermilion invites residents and visitors to come together and enjoy the start of the holiday season.
The Ancient Celtic Shop on Main Street will also be holding a separate holiday event on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m., featuring a tree lighting, a short Krampus-themed parade from the gazebo at 6:30 p.m., a Christmas costume contest, and a live Krampus character. The shop is presenting the event as a family-friendly way to share old-world holiday traditions, offering another option for visitors spending the evening downtown.
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