The City of Whiting is eager to announce this years holiday festivities that will have you “Walking in a Whiting Wonderland”. With the addition of new and expanded holiday events, the City invites residents and visitors to help spread the cheer in Historic Downtown Whiting. Holiday Shop Downtown Whiting all season long and mark your calendars to experience the Whiting Lakefront Park Holiday Light Spectacular, the City of Whiting Illuminated Christmas Parade, the Holiday Pops Concert, the Downtown Whiting Ice Sculpture Carvings, and more.
A first for the City, and kicking off the festivities is the Whiting Lakefront Holiday Light Spectacular. This drive-thru display of lights will be set up in beautiful Whiting Lakefront Park and consist of over 100 different holiday light displays. Stay warm in the car with family and fix your eyes on the twinkling holiday lights along the lake. Some of the sparkling displays include a Penguin Winterfest, Toyland, a Teddy Bear Village, and Reindeer and Santa Band. The holiday lights will be lit at dusk each day from November 28th until January 5th for public viewing.
The City has also decided to place a holiday twist on their annual Christmas Parade, with the addition of 9 illuminated Christmas floats. You and your family will be dazzled by the glistening floats including the Toy Land Express Train, Santa’s Sleigh, Frosty the Snowman, a Ringing Bell, Giant Teddy Bear, Duncan the Dragon, and Tuggers the Tugboat. A number of the illuminated floats will feature music in coordination with their lights. The parade will also showcase floats from local businesses, schools, and organizations creating a total of approximately 30 entries. Some of the entries will include the Whiting High School Band, Clark High School Band, Santa Clause, the Lion’s Club, the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee, and more.
The City of Whiting’s Illuminated Christmas Parade will take place on Friday, December 5th at 7:00 p.m., starting from Calumet Avenue and traveling down 119th Street to Whiting City Hall where the Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held. After the tree lighting, there will be opportunities to have your photo taken with Santa and enjoy holiday refreshments.
Is music your favorite part of the holidays? Join us Saturday, December 6th, for the Holiday Pops Concert as the Whiting Park Festival Orchestra & Chorus performs your favorite seasonal medleys. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Saint John the Baptist Auditorium located at 119th Street and Lincoln Avenue. Tickets to the show are $15.00 each, or if you choose to enjoy dinner during the show, you can purchase a ticket for $40.00. To make a required reservation or purchase tickets, call (219) 659-0292 or visit the Whiting/Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce anytime after November 3rd.
As the holidays grow nearer, bring your family and friends to Downtown Whiting on Saturday, December 13th for a day filled with festivities. Beginning at 10:00 a.m., watch holiday ice sculptures being professionally carved along 119th Street. Make reservations to have breakfast with Mrs. Claus from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Winey Beach Café or have your photo taken with Santa between 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the WR Chamber of Commerce. Warm up by taking the Hot Cocoa & Cider Tour down 119th Street from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and before or after, stop in Studio 659 for a holiday performance by the Whiting School Choir at 12:00 p.m. With so much to do, the opportunity to have holiday fun, shop, and eat is as close as Historic Downtown Whiting.
We hope you and your family will enjoy “Walking in a Whiting Wonderland” this holiday season. For more specific details of the City of Whiting’s holiday events, visit www.whitingindiana.com or contact the City of Whiting Director of Events, Mark Harbin at (219) 659-7704 Ext. 246.