Crystal Lake Park District News

Calendar of Events

Fall Digital Brochure (until Dec 9)

Registration deadline is 3 days in advance

of program date unless noted otherwise

Thanksgiving Holiday Hours

Happy Thanksgiving

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Crystal Lake Park District Admin Office, Colonel Palmer House and The Nature Center will be closed Th, Nov 28 and Fr, Nov 29.

The Racket Club will be closed on Th, Nov 28 and open Fri, Nov 29, 7:30-3 pm.

Colonel Palmer House will be open on Sat, Nov 30, 10 am-4 pm

The Nature Center will be open Sat, Nov 30 and Sun, Dec 1, 10 am-5 pm

Holiday Special Events

A holiday favorite for the entire family!

Luminaria Walk

Enjoy a breathtaking stroll under the stars as we light a trail through Veteran Acres!

Veteran Acres, 431 N. Walkup, Crystal Lake

4:30-7:30 PM

Wed Dec 4-Fri Dec 6: walk the lit trail (no activities)

Sat Dec 7: Campfires, Hot Cocoa, Cookies, Candy Cane Forest & Mrs. Claus!

$1 per person/$5 per family donation appreciated.

Donations are purposed for future Nature Center education programs.

Info & Trail Map

Santa's Mailbox is Open!

For over 30 years, the Crystal Lake Park District has been helping Santa write letters to all his fans! Send us your child’s letter by Friday, December 6, plus include a stamped, self-addressed envelope and we will send you a reply a few days before Christmas. Letters may be mailed or dropped off at Santa’s special mailbox inside the Crystal Lake Park District Administrative Office, One East Crystal Lake. For more information or questions, call 815-459-0680.

Santa

C/o Crystal Lake Park District

One East Crystal Lake Avenue

Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Start a family holiday tradition with our themed historical holiday teas at Colonel Palmer House

Join Diana Kenney as she portrays Barbara Schuenemann, telling the story of her husband Herman, Captain of the Christmas Tree Ship. Schuenemann, fondly known as Captain Santa, brought shiploads of Christmas trees from northern Michigan to Chicago each year until his ship sunk in 1912.

Sat, Dec 14 (sold out)

Sun, Dec 15, 2-4 pm, (14 spots)

$35 res/$46 non-res

Colonel Palmer House,

660 Terra Cotta Ave,

Crystal Lake

Social Dance Night

Ages 15+

Sat, Dec 7

6:30-9:30 pm at Main Beach Pavilion

Fee: $10 res/$13 non-res (per date)

NEW Beginner friendly format. Enjoy a progressive dance party that starts with pop-up walkthrough lessons and progresses to open dancing at the end. All songs during the evening are available for line dance and couples. Pop-up lessons are designed to be 5-minutes to encourage movement and repetition.

Registration in advance preferred but walk-ins welcome (cash or check only at the door)

More Info & Registration

Seasonal Info

The Winter-Spring Activity Guide will be available at crystallakeparks.org beginning Tu, Dec 10 and registration opens that same day.

All households in the 60012 and 60014 zip codes should look for the guide to hit your mailbox the week of Dec 11-14.

Digital Guide Goes Live on Dec 10

The challenge is on! Last year, 718 lbs of holiday lights were recycled thanks to your efforts!

Are you unpacking last year's lights? Did those twinkly lights lose their sparkle? No worries. You can recycle old or nonworking light strands with us in our Holiday Light Recycling program. They are FREE to recycle.

Help the environment by dropping your unwanted lights at the Park Services Garage (305 Lakeshore Dr, Crystal Lake). Bins are out now and collection ends January 15.

Questions?