Local Community Calendar of Events for Lake County Illinois (Waukegan, Wauconda, Mundelein, Gurnee, et al)

Jan 2, 2025

Welcome to a brand, shiny new 2025! We hope your holidays were great fun and brought you lots of joy and happiness. Now that the New Year is officially here, we bet you’re just itching to try lots of fun new things and explore new pastimes. And if your New Year’s Resolutions include spending more quality time with your favorite people, you’re in luck! Our latest Community Calendar is jampacked with many interesting and exciting events, workshops, classes, and more. We’re sure that you’ll find something to start the new year off on the right foot!

On January 3rd, the Waukegan Park District is hosting Holiday Adventures: Winter Olympics from 7AM to 6PM at the Belvidere Recreation Center in Waukegan. Come on out with your kids and enjoy a full day of sports, games, and crafting. It’s a BYO lunch/water bottle event.

Wrap up the holiday season with a memorable Meet and Greet with a Royal Princess! The Wauconda Park District is hosting a special meet and greet event on January 4th at the local Community Center! You’ll learn to curtsy, twirl, sing, and dance along with a special lunch of snacks fit for royalty!

Frosty Fest is back for another year of fun! On Saturday January 4th, head over to Viking Park in Gurnee for the official annual Frosty Fest outdoor winter wonderland event featuring sleigh rides, games, crafts, skating, and a hot cocoa bar with bonfire smores!

The Winter Wedding Expo at Parkway Banquets in Ingleside is running from 12PM to 3PM on Sunday, January 5th so you can kickstart your year of wedding planning right away! It’s free to attend, and there will be plenty of food tastings, decor demonstrations, dresses, vendors, and a chance to win $200 cash prize.

On Monday January 6th from 7AM to 6PM at the Belvidere Recreation Center, enjoy another fun Holiday Adventures workshop with a “Science Lab” theme! Kids will enjoy hands-on experiments and activities. Please bring a lunch and water bottle with you!

On Sunday January 12th at the Volo Bog State Natural Area in Ingleside, enjoy the Winterfest event (donation of $10 suggested) from 1PM to 4PM! You’ll get to see the local photography contest winners featuring midwest plants, animals and landscapes. There will also be snow sculptures and prizes, 45 minute sets of live music, winter nature crafts, bog tours, cross country skiing, snowhoeing, and winter hiking!

Spend the evening with Emmy Award-Winning documentary filmmaker Nik Heftman and award-winning spoken word poet Caleb Rainey and take in a special screening of the documentary film “The Negro Artist” and Q+A Session. Hosted at the Gorton Center in Lake Forest from Friday January 17th at 7PM to 9PM.

Don’t miss out on the fun just because you’re participating in Dry January – Let Tonality Brewing Company in Mundelein show you how to make the most delicious mocktails at their fun, interactive class on January 12th from 5PM to 7PM.

On January 17th starting at 8PM enjoy the Ten Year eXtravaganza event with K-Town Burlesque at the Rhode Center in Kenosha. Get ready for glamor, glitter, and non-stop entertainment with plenty of humor and cheekiness.

January 18th at the Village of Antioch Senior Center, enjoy a Winter Wine Walk from 12 to 4PM. Your admission will include samples of 50+ wines available, a souvenir bag and wine glass, and a bonus bottle. 21+ event, adult only. Admission is $45 pre registration.

Make all your followers on BookTok Jealous by RSVPing to the Onyx Storm Midnight Release Party at About Time Bookstore in Libertyville on January 21st! Snag the hottest book of the season and mingle with fellow Basgiath War College fans starting at 10:30, and then get in line at midnight to receive your new release book! Tickets are required to attend!

The Dunn Museum in Libertyville welcomes you to get inspired at the Art for Everyone: Bob Ross Exhibit running through January 20th 2025. The exhibit houses 75 original works detailing his process and philosophy for creativity!

Stick to your health and wellness goals by joining the online Coffee Chat with Holistic Women’s Health Wellness Coach Jess M on January 21st from 1:30PM to 2:30PM EST.

If you’re working on your winter home projects list, then you don’t want to miss out on the Interior Design Do’s and Don’ts Lecture at the Lake Forest Public Library. Happening on Wednesday January 22nd from 7PM on. Zoom register and enjoy! the event from the comfort of your own home to learn how to design and stay within your budget

Get a taste of summer with a tropical pool swim sesh at Goldfish Swim School in Mundelein for the Snowflakes and Snow Cones event on January 26th from 5PM to 7PM. Attendees will create their own snowflake and snack on a snowcone after a splash in the tropical pool.