The Cosley Zoo's Festival of Lights runs from now until the end of December.

Daniel White | Staff Photographer

The start of the race at the Schaumburg half marathon Turkey Trot in Busse Woods in Elk Grove on Saturday.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

Two-year-old Avery Hinman enjoys a roast marsh-mellow after cooking it over an open fire pit with her mom Amanda, both of Prospect Heights, before Prospect Heights holiday tree lighting event at the Police Station in Prospect Heights on Saturday.

George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

Vita Zadura of Chicago embraces her fiancee Mark Deles, of Mt. Prospect. They, along with other members of the Pedal Heads bicycle club, rode from downtown Downers Grove to Good Samaritan Hospital wearing Santa suits to deliver gifts to hospitalized children.

Daniel White | Staff Photographer

Jack Lindberg of the St. Charles East High School marching band makes his way past Lincoln Park during the Holiday Homecoming and Electric Christmas Parade on Main Street in St. Charles November 24, 2012.

BRIAN HILL | Staff Photographer

Brad Ratajezak and his son Grayson, 2 of Naperville enjoy watching the trains run on the Morton Arboretum's Enchanted Railroad in Lisle, Sunday.

Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Santa Claus holds ten-week-old Tyler Zivilik, of Grayslake, as little children visit with Santa Monday at Westfield Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills. Parents and children can visit the jolly, old elf through Christmas Eve and have their pictures taken by Cherry Hill Photo.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Rock Assise, left, and Tom Walter, right, both members of a camera club in Crest Hill, work on getting some close-ups of the prestige red poinsettia, during their visit to the annual Shades of Crimson display in the greenhouse at Cantigny Park in Wheaton on Tuesday.

Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

A deer runs past a worker as the Lake County Forest Preserve conducted a controlled burn Wednesday in the wetland at Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda. According to Dave Cassin, assistant superintendent of natural resource operations, the operation was to burn off vegetation detritus and to open the area to sunlight for growth of natural vegetation.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Second grader Joe Butler, left, plays a game called Hedbanz with teacher Danya Greenberg during an after school program called Games Galore at Rockland School in Libertyville Monday.

Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

West Dundee Public Works employee Anthony Faflik of Rolling Meadows helps install holiday decorations along Rt. 72 in downtown West Dundee Monday. In order to hit all the lamp posts along that stretch of road, the crew will be working through Tuesday to get all of the decorations installed.

Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

2012 Fittest Loser second-place finisher Matt Kramer working out with Mark Trapp at Push Fitness in Schaumburg on Thursday, November 29.

George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

2-year-old Elizabeth Marinov and her Grandmother Katia Marinov, both of Libertyville, play in Santa's sleigh in front of Libertyville village hall Thursday.

Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

Three-year-old Nathan Likosar, of Green Oaks, tells Santa Claus what he wanted for Christmas after Santa arrived at Gurnee Mills Thursday. Kids can visit Santa Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Ho Ho Ho its cold out here and Kailee Falvo, 17, of Hoffman Estates will agree with that as she waits for the Arlington Heights annual tree lighting festival to start.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer