Elgin, library get head start on holiday spirit

The windy, wicked Halloween was a little too much for Sandy and Jason Koontz's two kids, ages 2 and 3.

So the Bartlett couple, who moved to the suburbs last year from Colorado, wanted a family-friendly head start to the holiday season.

Saturday's Home for the Holidays kickoff at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin provided a great venue to get into the spirit and check things off the list before it gets too cold, too snowy or just plain too busy.

"She really loves Christmas, so it starts early," Jason Koontz said of his wife. "We started looking around at things to do. If it gets too cold, we've already done everything, so it's not a big deal."

Sandy Koontz said the kids, Axel and Vala, liked it.

"This is really festive and happy," the elder Koontz said.

The annual event, this time presented by the library and Elgin's Young Professionals Network, unites area nonprofit organizations to promote Elgin holiday events.

The afternoon featured kids crafts, live performances, carriage rides, a

seasonal selfie photo booth, photos with Santa, bilingual holiday readings and a display of more than 40 Christmas trees and wreaths decorated by local groups.

Kelly and David Rosenberg of St. Charles went with their three girls, Abby, Eva and Stella, ages 7 through 10, to make crafts and perhaps go on a carriage ride.

David Rosenberg said it's nice to go to a family event now instead of later.

"This brought us to downtown Elgin for sure," said David Rosenberg. "Everything gets so busy (around the holidays)."

Heartland Voices, an Elgin-based, audition-only choir group, sang holiday carols for a half-hour.

Chris Brittain, a Huntley resident who is the group's president, said the group has wanted to perform at the holidays kickoff for a while.

"We have done some downtown Elgin stuff before," Brittain said. "This was an event we had circled. It's a great event."

For information, visit elginhomefortheholidays.com.