Don your winter apparel and bring the whole family to downtown Skokie's Holiday Fest & Cookie Walk on Dec. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. The celebration begins at event headquarters, located at the Skokie Heritage Museum, 8031 Floral Ave. To set the mood, the 'First Fridays' event will feature live reindeer, elves, photos with Santa, carolers from Lincoln Junior High School, and much more.

Cookie Walk

Beginning at 5 p.m., guests will check-in at the Skokie Heritage Museum, where donations of new winter hats, gloves, coats, toys or non-perishable food items for the Niles Township Food Pantry will be accepted. Visitors are encouraged to make a donation before receiving a "Cookie Walk" passport. The passport will list participating merchants in downtown Skokie, where small, festive cookies will be served.

Shop & Dine

Shop and dine in downtown Skokie, then turn in your receipts at the museum between 5 and 8 p.m.. For every $10 spent, you will receive a free raffle ticket for the chance to win prizes. Winners will be notified via email.

This event is sponsored by Evanston Subaru in Skokie, North Shore Community Bank, Village Inn Pizzeria Sports Bar & Grill, 104-3 K-Hits and St. Paul Lutheran Church.