Spend Your Holidays in Grafton
Deck the halls in Grafton this year with a month of holiday fun on the Great River Road!
Santa Claus is coming to town, and the city is hosting a variety of jolly events that will jump-start your holiday spirit! Come to Grafton in December to discover the magic of the yuletide season!
Updated October 2026
Grafton Holiday Treat Trail
Festive treats, holiday sales, and a visit from the big man himself? Participating downtown Grafton businesses will offer unique, homemade, or gourmet holiday treats and beverages. Each shopper will receive a free ticket, a punch card, and a tote bag. Stroll around the shops and get your card punched at participating businesses, collecting treats along the way. Once your card is full, drop it in a collection box for the chance to win an epic Grafton Prize Package.
Date: December 5, 2026
Time: 11 am-4 pm
Location: Downtown Grafton
Christmas Dinner with Elvis
It would be a “Blue Christmas” if you skipped this festive Christmas dinner and show! The talented Sean Michael will perform his salute to the King of Rock and Roll in this Christmas special. Dinner is included with your ticket, and you will enjoy Pere Marquette Lodge's famous fried chicken buffet! After dinner, sit back and enjoy an hour-long tribute to the King within the beautiful ballroom.
Date: December 11, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Location: Pere Marquette Lodge | 13653 Lodge Blvd
SantaCon Pub Crawl
Ever wondered what a room full of Santas would look like? Experience it for yourself as Grafton’s Santa Con brings a crowd of Santas to the city! Shine up your black boots and don your fluffy-edged red hats as a multitude of cheery St. Nick’s descend upon area businesses!
Date: December 12, 2026
Time: 11 am-11 pm
Location: Multiple Locations
Breakfast with Santa
Pere Marquette Lodge's Breakfast with Santa is fun for the whole family! Meet, greet, and eat alongside Jolly Old St. Nick at this buffet-style meal. Don’t forget your Christmas lists and letters! Bring them along to hand-deliver to Santa. In true holiday spirit, if you would like to bring along winter clothes (with the tags still on) to be donated to a family in need, it would be much appreciated.
Seating is limited. Reserve a spot on the Pere Marquette Lodge's official website.
Date: December 13, 2026
Time: 9 am-10:30 am
Location: Pere Marquette Lodge | 13653 Lodge Blvd
Grafton Winter Lights Parade
After the Chocolate Express, gather the family to see the Grafton Christmas Parade of Lights! The parade features local businesses and residents, decorated vehicles, and lots of Christmas cheer as they march down Water Street. Take a drive down the Great River Road, do some late Christmas shopping, and enjoy the light show!
Date: December 19, 2026
Time: 5 pm-7 pm
Location: Downtown Grafton
Grafton's New Year's Eve Fireworks
Grafton's New Year's Eve Fireworks event balances family-friendly fun with adult-only spaces. The evening at Lighthouse Park has a host of kid-oriented activities, like balloon drops, crafts, ice skating, and live performances, alongside handcrafted cocktails and high-elevation lounge parties. And as the night winds down, everyone will have the chance to watch the fireworks with a view of the riverfront.
Date: December 31, 2026
Time: 10 pm-11 pm
Location: Lighthouse Park | Vine St.
Spend your holiday getaway with us and experience all that Grafton has to offer this winter. Use our Plan page to pick your accommodation, build your itinerary, and plan your getaway stress-free.
Explore More
About the Author
Great Rivers & Routes of Southwest Illinois
Related Content:
Pere Marquette Lodge and Conference Center13653 Lodge Blvd.
Grafton, Illinois 62037