Jump-Starting the Holiday Spirit Around Gerstad Communities

Holiday Shopping in McHenryThe holiday season is just around the corner! As the streets begin to sparkle and merchants make preparations for crowds of shoppers, residents near Gerstad Builders’ communities have lots of special upcoming events to look forward to near their new homes in McHenry, Williams Bay, Poplar Grove and Richmond. Most of all, homeowners can enjoy the spirit of the season without traveling far from their own front door steps!

McHenry

November 17

Start your holiday shopping at the 7th Annual Gingerbread Craft Fair at St. Peter Church with a wide variety of handmade gifts and baked goods for all! Beginning at 9 a.m., this event is free to the public and all vendor spaces are full, meaning there will be a lot of booths to browse! Find that special gift for family and friends while stocking up on amazing recipes and baked goods for Thanksgiving!

November 18

From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., McHenry County College transforms into a Winter Wonderland with Santa, cookies, shopping, entertainment and more. This event is free and the perfect opportunity to get a headstart on holiday shopping while having the kids write letters to Santa, play games, create crafts and decorate cookies!

Poplar Grove

November 17 and 18

Jewelry, handbags, ornaments, quilts, toys and much more can be found at the Rockford Arts and Crafts Holiday Spectacular beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, November 17. Over 125 talented crafters and artists will fill 25,000 square feet indoors with a wide variety of handcrafted items, plus attendees can register to win hourly prizes donated from a variety of exhibitors. Children under 12 get in free and adults pay $4 for a two-day pass.

Williams Bay

Located just north of the Wisconsin-Illinois state line near our Bailey Estates community, the holiday fun never ends near your McHenry home at Lake Geneva. Lake Geneva hosts tons of holiday fun starting in early November; here are some of the most popular events located only minutes from our community:

November 10 and 11– Kick off the holiday season with Lake Geneva’s Holiday Open House as merchants in downtown Lake Geneva host various promotions and in-store events.

November 24– At Gerstad Builders, we are huge supports of our local businesses! This is your opportunity to join us in supporting small, locally owned business that help make our communities so amazing. Come to Lake Geneva where you can celebrate the holidays while shopping small and where you’re sure to find the perfect gift for everyone!

Also starting on November 24 through December 30, you can embark on a magical Christmas cruise to Santa’s North Pole Hideaway! Cruise through the captivating light displays as each one unfold the story of your voyage to the North Pole.  Activities for kids will also be offered along with a snack bar and adult and children’s beverages. Click here for tour dates and times!

December 1 – The Festival of Lights held in Flat Iron Park is the perfect place to enjoy a hot chocolate and cooking with listening to the Christmas Story. Once the story is over, the gorgeous Lake Geneva Christmas tree will light up the land and Santa Claus himself will come say hello. This tradition is a must-do to get in the holiday spirit!Christmas Parade Lake Geneva

December 2 – The 42nd annual Electric Christmas Parade, filled with imagination, joy and amazing floats will glide through Broad and Main Street in downtown Lake Geneva at 5 p.m.  This year’s theme is Lake Geneva’s Christmas in the Stars. Encouraging and promoting your inner Jedi and reminding everyone that the force will always be with you.

These events are ideal for setting the holiday spirit early! You can also celebrate the holiday season by making plans to unwrap a Gerstad Builders home this year! To learn more about the new homes for sale in McHenry, Poplar Grove and Richmond, Illinois or in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, visit the Gerstad Builders website today,

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