The holidays are upon us here in southwestern Illinois, and there are many ways to enjoy our favorite season in Belleville. Holiday gatherings, concerts, and performances throughout December offer plenty of festive vibes to go around. Let our real estate agents be your guides to holiday happenings in the Belleville area.

• Christmas Cookie Stroll - 215 S Illinois St, Belleville, IL 62220
  Mark your calendar for Friday, December 13, and Saturday, December 14, when Downtown Belleville comes to life during the Christmas Cookie Stroll. It's a chance to see the city's charming Downtown district decked out in twinkling Christmas lights, not to mention an opportunity to do a little holiday shopping at all the local shops and boutiques. The Christmas Cookie Stroll also includes free cookies from local restaurants, a German Christkindlmarkt, a horse-drawn trolley, gingerbread and Christmas tree displays, and other festivities. You might even spot some of these Belleville homes for sale while you're out and about. 
  
  
• Spotlight Entertainment Presents: A Christmas Carol - 103 E Main St, Belleville, IL 62220
  Few holiday stories are as synonymous with the season as A Christmas Carol. This timeless tale is being brought to life in a new way: as a vintage radio play. On December 15, Spotlight Entertainment Presents: A Christmas Carol is coming to the Lincoln Theatre in Belleville. This unique production will include world-class actors performing A Christmas Carol live on stage in the style of a 1940s radio broadcast, complete with sound effects, musical underscoring, and even vintage commercial breaks. The show is in town for one performance only, so grab tickets while you still can!
  
  
• Christmas Wonders - 200 W Harrison St, Belleville, IL 62220
  Classical music fans won't want to miss the Christmas Wonders chorale concert presented by the Belleville Philharmonic on Sunday, December 15. The concert begins at 3 pm at the Cathedral of St. Peter and will include arrangements of classic Christmas songs and carols, from The First Noel and O Come All Ye Faithful to Silent Night and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Tickets are not required, but donations are encouraged. 
  
  
• Main Street Mingle - 216 E A St, Belleville, IL 62220
  A follow-up event to the previous weekend's Christmas Cookie Stroll, Main Street Mingle takes place on Thursday, December 19. This event provides one more chance to explore Downtown Belleville's festive Christkindlmarkt, a lively German-style market where vendors offer a wide range of Christmas gifts, art crafts, decorations, and other handmade items. The market is celebrating its 11th season and has become a real Belleville tradition during the holidays. There will also be an abundance of tasty food and drink, plus trolley rides, live entertainment, and meet-and-greets with Santa Claus himself.
  
  
• Candlelight: Holiday Special - 103 E Main St, Belleville, IL 62220
  On Saturday, December 21, the Lincoln Theatre will host Candlelight Concerts, a touring musical experience that features immersive performances illuminated entirely by candlelight. This particular show, entitled Candlelight: Holiday Special, will include beloved holiday pieces, including O Holy Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and selections from Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker." This entrancing 60-minute concert begins at 6 pm, with a second performance following at 8:45 pm. 

Contact us today to learn more about spending the holidays in Belleville. Just 30 minutes from St. Louis in southwestern Illinois, Belleville offers the perfect blend of big-city amenities and small-town charm.