Palatine celebrates Holidays on the Town this weekend
The Downtown Palatine Business Association is hosting its "Holidays On The Town" event on Friday and Saturday, featuring horse-drawn trolley rides, a scavenger hunt for kids, shopping bargains and the lighting of the village's official holiday tree.
The event begins at 5 p.m. Friday when select merchants in the downtown area will be offering festive hors d'oeuvres, sweets, and complimentary wine tastings until 9 p.m. The event also includes passport prizes, demonstrations, trendsetting fashions, home decor ideas, and special savings to start the holiday shopping season.
"Passport to Prizes" booklets can be purchased from any participating merchant for $2. The passport will provide entry into prize drawings at each location visited during the event.
On Saturday, the entire family is invited to Family Fun Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Children can pick up a free game card at participating merchants to play the Holiday Treasure Hunt Game, in which they'll search for pictures in stores throughout town to complete their game card.
Treasure Hunt prizes include a bike donated by Mikes Bike Shop, skate passes from Orbit, kids haircuts from Arete Salon, kids manicure from Salon Mmm, popcorn for 12 months from Signature Sweets, Elf on a Shelf, and a class voucher from Palatine Park District.
Children ages 7 and under are invited to Palatine Bank & Trust for their annual Winter Story Time with the Palatine Library from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Refreshments will be served.
Holiday music will be provided by Allegro Adult Choir from 2 to 4 p.m.
This year, free horse-drawn trolley rides also will be offered throughout downtown Palatine from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Rides will be hosted by members of the Palatine Historical Society, who will share some of the history of Palatine during the trip.
Saturday's Family Fun Day will end with the Village of Palatine's tree-lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. in Towne Square, led by Mayor Jim Schwantz and Santa Claus. Music will be provided by the Palatine Children's Chorus and Holiday Treasure Hunt prize winners will be announced.
Participating merchants include the following DPBA members: Chandelier Boutique, Salon Mmm, Edje Salon, Signature Sweets, Durty Nellie's, Arete Salon, Anne's Unique Boutique, Harrington Manor, Foxglove Cottage, American Legion Post 690, and Cardinal Liquors.
The Downtown Palatine Business Association would like to thank Cardinal Liquors, Allegro Adult Choir, Mikes Bikes, and Palatine Park District for their support of this event as well.
The association is a group of merchants dedicated to promoting and enhancing business in downtown Palatine. For more information, visit downtownpalatine.org or facebook.com/downtownpalatine.