Featuring shopping opportunities, children’s activities, and festive holiday decorations, Gillespie’s Holiday Sparkle will return to the downtown business district on Saturday, Dec. 16. The Holiday Sparkle will be a day-long event starting with the arrival of Santa Clause at 9 a.m. at the Gillespie Civic Center and concluding with a 4:30 p.m. lighted holiday parade on Macoupin Street.
The Civic Center also will be the location for free children’s crafts from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and face painting from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Other children’s activities will include a petting zoo from 9 a.m. to noon on the vacant lot next to Lumpy’s Bar and Grill, 208 S. Macoupin St.., and a holiday story time from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Gillespie Public Library.
Drawing on the traditions of European Christmas Markets, the Holiday Sparkle will have nearly 70 crafters and food vendors offering their wares booths located inside multiple establishments in the business district including SS Simon & Jude Catholic Church, Gillespie Civic Center, Cee-Jo’s Saloon, the former Macoupin County Public Transit Office, John Hicks Maytag, Lumpy’s Bar and Grill, Headbangerz Salon, Ageless Apparel, and Kal’s Customs. Crafters will offer one-of-kind, hand-made gift items along Macoupin Street as well as food vendors offering sandwiches and holiday treats, including kettle korn.
Event visitors may register at numerous locations for a chance to win one of up to 40-holiday hams. Registration sites will be any vendor location, Gotcha Latte, and Illinois Valley Gift Barn. Costumed Christmas characters will roam the length of the festival venue during the day. Visitors can make s’mores or get warmth near fire pits located in front of the Gillespie Civic Center while live music, caroling, and band performances will take place throughout the day throughout Main Street. Grow Gillespie’s Colonial Giving Garden will be the starting point for a 5K Santa Stampede at 3 p.m. Persons wishing to participate in the Santa Stampede can register online at christmasingillespie.com.
A lighted Cruisin’ Into Christmas will conclude the event with a scheduled start time of 4:30 p.m. All participating vehicles must be decorated with lights and must be insured. Line-up for the parade is anytime after 3:30 p.m. on Macoupin Street near Moto Mart, and the parade will step off at 4:30 p.m.
For more information about the Holiday Sparkle, be sure to visit christmasingillespie.com or find the Gillespie Holiday Sparkle on Facebook. Further information also is available by calling 217-839-3167 or emailing gillespieholidaysparkle@gmail.com.
