February 20, 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

Program to promote rail trail tourism

March 22, 2019

March 22, 2019

On March 29 St. Joseph will be visited by someone who lives and breathes tourism. Amy Camp, owner of Cycle...

Weekend Family Fun Guide March 29-March 31

March 29, 2019

March 29, 2019

March 29Royal Community Garage Sale 5-8 p.m. Royal Community Building 103 Park St. Royal, IL 61871 Over 5,000 square feet...

Weekend Family Fun Guide May 10-12

May 10, 2019

May 10, 2019

The Weekend Family Fun Guide is sponsored by Island Travel Group and Events. May 10 SJO FFA Greenhouse Plant Sale3-7...

Around Town April 23-26

April 23, 2019

April 23, 2019

April 23Summer Camp Registration All Day Registration for summer camps at Homer Lake and Lake of the Woods Forest Preserves...

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...

Aden brings Easter joy to community

April 15, 2020

April 15, 2020

The Easter Bunny made sure children in St. Joseph had a happy holiday this past weekend. St. Joseph-Ogden Senior Lindsey...

The Importance of Sunscreen

July 8, 2021

July 8, 2021

By: Will Miller, PA-C, Christie Clinic Department of Dermatology Summer has come and everyone is out and enjoying the sun....

Santa Claus is coming to town

November 9, 2021

November 9, 2021

Santa Claus will come to town on Dec. 11. The St Joseph-Stanton Fire Wife Tribe along with the help of...

Lighted parade to take place tonight

December 4, 2021

December 4, 2021

’Tis the season in St. Joseph. The St. Joseph Women’s Club is holding a lighted Christmas Parade tonight at 6...

Orr to celebrate 100th birthday with parade today

April 20, 2021

April 20, 2021

St. Joseph resident Audrey Orr is turning 100. To celebrate her family has organized a birthday parade for noon today....

Allen reflects on Addams Family performance

April 6, 2022

April 6, 2022

Logan Allen loved performing with his friends. Allen played Lucas in the Addams Family which the St. Joseph-Ogden Drama Department...

St. Joseph 2024 fall garage sale listings

September 11, 2024

September 11, 2024

Sales are Sept. 12-14 26.604 SherwoodFriday 8:30-5Saturday 8-noonkid clothes, women’s clothes, men’s tall clothes, home decor, and more!

Running for a good cause

March 3, 2021

March 3, 2021

John Lubinski has a sizable commute each day to get from his home in St. Joseph to his place of...

Author to host talk at library

March 5, 2019

March 5, 2019

On Saturday, March 9th at 1 p.m. Maureen Hughes will be at the St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library, 201 N....

Weekend Family Fun Guide for Jan. 17-20

January 17, 2020

January 17, 2020

Friday, January 17MLK Jr. Event The annual county wide Dr. Martin Luther King Junior celebration will take place at the...

Comments
Leave a Reply