Time for holiday light displays, parades and Belleville’s Christkindlmarkt. Here are details

It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and some of you are still so full from Thursday’s meal you just want to be a couch potato all day.

Resist, because you don’t want to miss all the fun things going on this weekend across southwestern Illinois.

Let’s start with downtown Belleville, where the Christmas season officially gets underway at 9 a.m. today with the opening of Belleville Christkindlmarkt on Public Square, which continues through Dec. 23. Hours and additional details are listed below.

At 10 a.m., it’s time for the Downtown Santa Parade. By the time you read this article, hundreds of people from across the region will have lined the parade route with folding chairs, hours before it even begins. The parade will run along Main Street starting at Third and West A streets and ending at Forest and East Main streets. Along the way you’ll get to watch dozens of floats, marching bands and dance groups, plus Santa, of course.

You’ll also be able to visit Santa starting Friday and continuing through Christmas Eve at the Optimist Club of Belleville’s Santa’s House on Public Square.

That’s just a start. There are lots of other events happening today and throughout the holiday season in communities across southwestern Illinois and the St. Louis region. We list many of them below.

But before we get to those details, you can also consider walking off that Thanksgiving dinner with a visit to a local or state park, nature preserve or walking trail this weekend, or head down to Shawnee National Forest. There are plenty of places where you can enjoy the outdoors in our region.

We’ve featured many of them over the years in articles and videos at bnd.com, including a couple recent video tours by BND photojournalist Derik Holtmann.

One features walks at a new nature preserve and two nearby trails, all south of Waterloo. Just type bit.ly/BNDpreserves in the address bar of your web browser to take a look and pick your spot.

Another is a sampling of walking trails around our region. You can view the video by typing bit.ly/BNDtrails in your address bar. They are all within easy driving distance and worth a visit.

Then there’s always shopping, with lots of choices in our region, including all the special, unique shops in our metro-east downtowns.

So please take the opportunity to enjoy yourself this weekend at holiday events around the region or by just taking a walk.

Here are the details of those events and holiday light displays, as promised:

▪ Belleville Christkindlmarkt — 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25.; 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 22; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23. Public Square, Downtown Belleville. Includes the Gingerbread Walk Display, free horse-drawn trolley rides, Santa on the Square and the Gingerbread 5K & Kids’ Dash. 618-233-6769 or bellevillechristkindlmarkt.com.

▪ Santa’s House — Friday, Nov. 25, through Saturday, Dec. 24. Hours vary by day. Downtown Belleville. Visit Santa at his house on Belleville’s Public Square. Free. Photos optional. Sponsored by the Optimist Club of Belleville. bellevillesantahouse.com

▪ 53rd annual Way of Lights Christmas Display — 5-9 p.m. nightly through Saturday, Dec. 31. National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, 442 S. De Mazenod Drive, Belleville. Wintertime sparkles at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows as the Annual Way of Lights Christmas display illuminates the grounds. Since 1970, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate have invited one and all to make the Way of Lights a part of their family tradition. This breathtaking display focuses on the birth of Christ, the one true light of the world. Free admission to the outdoor light display. Paid features include camel, donkey and pony rides, petting zoo, kettle corn, food booth, carriage rides, community music performances, LEGO display and more. 618-397-6700 or snows.org.

▪ Lebanon’s Winter Wonderland — Nightly through Saturday, Dec. 31. 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Horner Park, 11113 Widicus Road, Lebanon. Enjoy a mixture of colorful lights with beautiful cut-outs depicting scenes and whimsical adventures. lebanonswinterwonderland.org

▪ 10th annual Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden — Nightly through Saturday, Jan. 7. Hours vary by date. Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis. Immerse yourself in a wonderland of more than 1.5 million lights, including spectacular new shows and favorite holiday tradition. New this year: A spectacular new show fills the pools in front of the Climatron with more than 100,000 lights. Advanced tickets are strongly encouraged to guarantee the date/time of your choosing. Tickets range from $3 to $22. Family Nights, which include $3 children’s tickets, are Wednesday nights through Dec. 14. Garden Glow is closed Saturday, Dec. 24, and and Sunday, Dec. 25. For more information, visit mobot.org/glow.

▪ U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo — 5-8:30 p.m. select nights only from Friday, Nov. 25, through Friday, Dec. 30. Saint Louis Zoo, 1 Government Drive, St. Louis. ‘Tis the season for holiday lights and sweaters! The dazzling holiday event features brand-new light displays and themed areas. Warm up with winter-themed treats, and say hello to the animals at Penguin & Puffin Coast and the Insectarium. For tickets and info: stlzoo.org/wildlights.

▪ Christmas Wonderland Light Display — Friday, Nov. 25, through Tuesday, Dec. 27. 6-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 5-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Rock Spring Park, 2100 College Ave., Alton. More than 4 million lights will twinkle against the beautiful backdrop of Rock Spring Park, lighting the way toward another illuminating holiday season. Returning this year to Christmas Wonderland will be the annual walk-through event set for Monday, Nov. 28. People are allowed to walk through the park during the evening to enjoy the lights. Admission for the walk through is $1 per person. The popular Enchanted Forest will also be open this year for visitors. Holiday trees are decorated by community organizations, schools and scout groups. Visitors to the park vote on their favorite and the organization’s tree with the most votes receives a cash prize. Santa will once again be back at the Santa House. Family members are encouraged to take their own photos with Santa at no charge. Admission to Christmas Wonderland is a suggested donation of $7 for cars and small vans or $1 per person for vehicles holding more than 10 people. 800-258-6645 or riversandroutes.com.

▪ Millstadt Christmas Lighted Parade — 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25. Millstadt. Parade starts at Frontier Park (behind Subway) with the lighting of the Village Christmas Tree, proceeds down West Washington and ends at the VFW.

▪ Winter Wonderland Small Business Saturday Craft Fair — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26. Vine Street Market at O’Fallon Station, 212 E. First St., O’Fallon. Winter Wonderland on Small Business Saturday is a small business spin on the traditional shopping experience, reminding people to #ShopSmallFirst. See all of the fun and exciting ways your small business favorites kick off this season. facebook.com/events/830725824881567

▪ 20th annual Green Gift Bazaar — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26. Post Commons, 300 Alby St., Alton. Featuring dozens of eco-artisans and green vendors. This unique, eco-friendly holiday market is the only one of its kind in the St. Louis area. Celebrate Small Business Saturday by gathering with your friends and family in Downtown Alton at The Post Commons and Jacoby Arts Center. Event to include a variety of environmentally-friendly gift ideas are made from recycled/upcycled materials, Fair Trade or hand-crafted in the United States. Shoppers provided sales info from downtown retailers and restaurants. Sponsored by Sierra Club and Alton Main Street. 618-401-7870 or christine.favilla@sierraclub.org.

▪ Christmas Candlelight Tours — 5-8 p.m. (with timed tickets only) Saturday, Nov. 26. The 1820 Col. Benjamin Stephenson House, 409 S. Buchanan St., Edwardsville. The historic home will be aglow in candlelight and bedecked in early 19th-century decorations as visitors are immersed in a truly interactive historical experience. A variety of activities are planned to showcase the stories of those who lived at the Stephenson House in the early 1820s. Enjoy a leisurely visit in traditionally decorated rooms as historical interpreters discuss the history of the house and the Christmas customs of the families who lived there. Get a taste of homemade gingerbread made from an 1803 recipe baked in the kitchen hearth, learn a simple country dance in the dining room, sing carols around the parlor’s 1820 pianoforte, as well as vignettes in the servants’ quarters, master bedroom and children’s bedroom. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased online at stephensonhouse.org.