May 1, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Holly Jolly Kids Christmas to take place Saturday

Santa Claus is coming to town. 

The St. Joseph Stanton-Fire Family is putting on Holly Jolly Kids Christmas on Saturday. The event includes a pancake breakfast from 7 to 9:30 a.m. with a visit from The Grinch. The cost is $8 for adults, $6 for kids.  

Santa will arrive on a St. Joseph-Stanton fire truck at 10 a.m. 

While waiting to see Santa kids and parents can enjoy hot cocoa, crafts, make reindeer food and write Santa a letter.

Meena’s Memories will also be on site to take family photos. 

Event organizer Vickie Reese said the event take months to plan but it is worth it to see the joy on the children’s faces. 

“My personal favorite part is seeing all the joy, hearing all the laughter and seeing the Village of St. Joe and surrounding towns come together to share in the Magic of the Christmas season,” she said. 

Reese said there is a lot of work that goes into the day. 

“We begin planning the year prior and start to execute the vision in October,” she said. “We set up the trees and make sure all the lights are working a couple of weeks prior to the event.”

A week prior to the event, the lights are hung, the trees are fluffed and decorated and the backdrops are hung.

Then the evening prior and the early morning of a few of Fire Family members decorate the tables the firefighters, SJO FFA and National Honor Society volunteers put up.

“It’s a ton of work but so worth it,” she said. 

Each child who visits Santa will receive a fire helmet and a gift bag with a craft, reindeer food, coloring pages and a few other surprises inside.

Banner
Related Posts

Community comes together to ‘Back the Blackers’

March 26, 2022

March 26, 2022

John and Lori Blacker were a part of the St Joseph community for more than 20 years. Now the community...

Community Garage Sale dates set

February 26, 2019

February 26, 2019

The St. Joseph Spring Community Garage Sales will take place April 11-13. People wanting to place ads can email sromero@news-gazette.com....

Help the Forest Preserve District

May 5, 2021

May 5, 2021

Garlic mustard is beginning to grow and the Forest Preserve District could use your help to remove it. It is...

Wagners celebrate 15 years and community support

September 29, 2022

September 29, 2022

In October 2007, Jim and Jen Wagner decided to take a leap of faith. They opened their own business Wagner...

Peters says goodbye to Public Works

April 12, 2026

April 12, 2026

Every morning before he officially clocked in to work, Mike Peters would drive through the streets of St. Joseph.  He...

4 Questions with Creations by De

August 12, 2023

August 12, 2023

Tell us about your business. Creations by De is a licensed home-based business. I do custom cakes, cookies and a...

Fall into a ‘Trap’ today at SJO

October 20, 2019

October 20, 2019

Today at 2 p.m. a mystery will unfold at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. The SJO drama department is producing “Trap”...

Mayor to host Halloween Parade

October 28, 2020

October 28, 2020

Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges is looking forward to a happy Halloween. The mayor will hold her annual Halloween Parade on Saturday...

Changes to Garage Sale date announced

July 28, 2023

July 28, 2023

After discussing safety concerns with St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Protection District Fire Chief Josh Reese, The Record has decided to move...

Weekend family fun guide

March 22, 2019

March 22, 2019

March 22 Fire by Friction 2 to 4 p.m. Interpretive Center, Homer Lake Forest Preserve Before the convenience of matches...

Around Town April 30-May 4

April 30, 2019

April 30, 2019

April 30-May 23 Spring Used Book Sale St Joseph Township Library, 201 N 3rd St, St Joseph, IL 61873 The...

Birthday parade to celebrate Voges

April 28, 2020

April 28, 2020

St. Joseph resident Bruce Voges has seen a lot in his life. And Tuesday will be another first. To celebrate...

Tree lighting, Grinch scavenger hunt to take place today

December 2, 2023

December 2, 2023

The hunt for the Grinch is on. The Village of St. Joseph is hosting a scavenger hunt on Dec. 2...

5 Question Friday with Drama Director Chandler Dalton

October 28, 2022

October 28, 2022

The SJO drama department is producing “The Internet is Distract—Oh look a kitten!” Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at...

Comments
Leave a Reply