Christmas on the River - Chester Illinois The 21st Annual Christmas on the River weekend in Chester Illinois is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday December 4, 5, & 6.  The theme is "Christmas at the North Pole." Christmas on the River officially begins with the opening ceremony on Friday, December 4th at the Chester Gazebo Park.  At 5:00 pm on that evening, Mayor Joe Eggemeyer will turn on the lights on the community Christmas tree.  One of the events during Christmas on the River which consistently draws a crowd is the Arts and Crafts sale held in the Randolph County Courthouse in downtown Chester.  The sale will run all three days.  Crafts throughout the Bi-State area fill all of the floors of the courthouse with a large selection of Arts and Crafts. Adjacent to the courthouse,... 11/30/2009