Holiday cheer filled the halls as the Carl Sandburg Athletic Booster Club welcomed thousands of shoppers to its annual Craft Show on Nov. 22–23 at Carl Sandburg High School, 13300 S. LaGrange Road.
The two-day event, a longtime favorite for families easing into the holiday season, ran from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days and featured aisles of handmade gifts, décor, treats and one-of-a-kind finds crafted by local and regional vendors. Admission was $5 per day, while children under 12 browsed for free.
Shoppers didn’t have to go far for a warm pick-me-up. Emerald Cup brewed fresh coffee inside the school throughout the show, offering hot chocolate, lattes and other cozy favorites. Their mobile coffee truck was parked outside with an expanded menu for visitors who wanted even more options.
Organizers said the show had become a tradition for many Orland Park residents who returned each year to stock up on early holiday presents or simply enjoy the festive atmosphere. With carols playing, vendors chatting with shoppers and the scent of seasonal treats drifting from booth to booth, the school felt more like a holiday marketplace than a high school campus.
Parking was designed to be just as easy as the shopping. Visitors took advantage of satellite lots at the UChicago Medicine Garage at 143rd Street and LaGrange Road, as well as Palos South Middle School at 13100 S. 82nd Ave. Free shuttle service ran continuously to and from the school throughout the weekend. Handicap parking was available in the North Lot off LaGrange Road.
Whether guests arrived for the gifts, the atmosphere or the chance to support Sandburg’s student-athletes, organizers said the goal remained the same: make it a joyful kickoff to the holiday season.
