Holiday Traditions Night Market Promises Fun Friday Evening in Wood River

Our Daily Show Interview! Holiday Traditions Set for 11-28 in Wood River!

WOOD RIVER - The Holiday Traditions Night Market promises tons of fun in downtown Wood River.

From 4–7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, community members can enjoy a vendor fair, carriage rides, s’mores and hot cocoa, visits with Santa, a petting zoo and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Ferguson Avenue in downtown Wood River. Kristen Burns with Wood River Main Street expressed her excitement to host the third annual event.

“Come have fun with us,” Burns said. “Go to Holiday Traditions. Freeze your butt off. Get your hot chocolate.”

Santa will arrive at 4 p.m. in a mini parade, escorted by the East Alton-Wood River High School cheerleaders and marching band and the Wood River police department. The Christmas tree lighting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

The vendor market is the big draw, with a wide variety of artisans selling their wares in the Holiday Vendor Village tent. Attendees can also enjoy photo ops and carolers in period clothing throughout the night.

A horse-drawn carriage will take families down Ferguson Avenue for a small fee. You can enjoy the free petting zoo and visits with Santa until 7 p.m.

Following the Holiday Traditions Night Market, community members are invited to stop by the Rustic Roots grand opening party a few blocks over. Rustic Roots will also host a vendor show on Saturday, Nov. 29, and Wood River Main Street will have a gift-wrapping station downtown to accommodate shoppers for Small Business Saturday.

Burns emphasized that downtown Wood River is expanding, with plans to create a City Center at 101 East Ferguson over the next few months. She hopes to welcome many people to the city for a fun experience this weekend.

“If you haven't been down to Wood River, please come down and see all the things that are happening. We’ve got some construction happening on some of the other buildings. We’ve got some new buildings and new businesses,” she added. “Everything is very busy in Wood River and we are just kicking butt and taking names.”

For more information about the Holiday Traditions Night Market, click here or visit the official Facebook event page. To learn more about Wood River Main Street, check out their official website at WRBusinessAlliance.org or their official Facebook page.

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