If you have not experienced luminaries flickering throughout downtown Lemont on a softly lit winter evening, you have not experienced one of the most mystical holiday delights that the season brings, according to Jeanette Virgilio of Lemont.

Long ago, it was part of the family oriented Hometown Holidays celebration on the first Saturday of December. The luminaries created a peaceful moment with a romantic atmosphere, Virgilio said.

“Now we are rekindling the luminaries,” she added. “We will light them to set the tone for a new event that we think people will find enchanting.”

Called Light-Up Lemont, the new addition to Hometown Holidays will run from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, in downtown Lemont. The object is to soften the season for couples and families and offer a getaway from the stress of fighting traffic and crowds in a rush through holiday shopping at big brand stores, Virgilio said.

“With so much to do and so little time, this offers a slower-paced evening for people to enjoy themselves and our community,” she added. “Santa will be here again, and we will have a babysitting service available. That way parents who want some time to themselves can drop their kids where they can enjoy a double-feature movie night in a safe environment.”

It will be a time for relaxed downtown dining and enjoying spiced cider and cookies at local shops, according to Village Assistant Donna Pacina.

“Participating merchants will have their windows decorated, and people can vote on the best display,” she said. “Plus, they can take horse-drawn carriage rides and enjoy the village decorations and Christmas caroling along the streets.

“And just off Talcott Street — at Old Town Square — they are offering what they call ‘A Walk through Bethlehem’ and animated window scenes,” Pacina said. “It’s the first time Lemont has had anything like this and I think people will love it.”

Then from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, Dec. 19, Lemont will have Midnight Madness, the pinnacle of the downtown holiday season, Virgilio said. Each purchase made now through the end of the event offers participants a chance to win a prize.

Midnight Madness is a personal highlight for Virgilio.

“I’ve saved my shopping every year for this event, and I’ve found that I don’t even have to go out of town to shop,” she said. “I go downtown and have dinner and enjoy it all.”

Santa Claus will be there again for the children, and the Lemont Juniorettes offer babysitting at Safety Village. Arts and crafts vendors will be in storefronts.

“There’s a trolley, and some people ride it around town to see the decorations. Others ride it to get from one spot to another,” Virgilio said. “And carolers sing in the park, on the trolley and in stores. Both for business and pleasure, it really adds to my holiday spirit.”

For more information, call (630) 243-2700.

Also, look for more celebrations throughout the community including in downtown Lemont. A few on Sunday, Dec. 14, include pancake breakfast with Santa at St. Alphonsus Church Hall, (630) 783-2220; Cereal with Santa at Lemont Park District, (630) 257-6787; and the annual Lemont High School Band and Choral Holiday Concert, (630) 257-5838. Check The Guide for more details.