Barrington welcomes holidays, and Santa, with six mini festivals

The Village of Barrington will welcome the holiday season and celebrate Santa's arrival Saturday, Dec. 6, with six unique festivals at various locations in the community.

Along with the fests, there will be a free Holiday Trolley to take visitors to each site throughout the day, allowing them to park once and ride to each event.

The special day is planned as an opportunity to introduce shoppers and visitors to the unique stores, restaurants and events that make Barrington a wonderful place for the holidays.

These are the locations and a description of each mini-festival:

• Candy Cane Festival - Foundry Shopping Center, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Begin with free reindeer antlers from Calico Corners, then move on to the children's petting zoo and photos with the Santa. Write a letter to Santa at Little Shop of Papers and then see the gingerbread houses at Ambrosia.

Climb aboard and explore a Barrington fire truck and visit participating retailers for special treats.

• Winter Wonderland - Ice House Mall on Applebee Street, 10 a.m. -4 p.m.

Visit the Winter Wonderland for a special holiday dance presentation of "The Nutcracker" by the Midwest Dance Collective at 10:30 a.m., followed by a story hour with Mrs. Claus.

Santa arrives on the Holiday Trolley at 12:45 p.m. to greet the children, and then catch a performance by the Rose School Stingray choral group at 1:30 p.m.

• Holidazzle Fest - The Shops at Flint Creek, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Step out of the cold and into Heinen's to take in the sights and smells of holiday cooking, entertaining and merrymaking throughout the store. Children can decorate sugar cookies and parents can watch cooking demonstrations and taste an assortment of wine, beer and food pairings. Stop next door at Meatheads for a holiday milkshake.

• Gingerbread Lane - The Shops on Lageschulte Street, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Lageschulte Street comes to life as Gingerbread Lane for a day, lined with giant gingerbread people and candy canes. A special holiday ornament awaits the children at Norton's U.S.A., and everyone will have a "snowy" experience in front of the store. Watch for Santa to arrive on the Holiday Trolley on his way to the annual Tree-lighting Celebration.

• Peppermint Palace - North Cook Street and Barrington Commons, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Stop by Heads Up Boutique for a peppermint surprise. Next door, OMO will offer holiday face painting to children. Then cross Cook Street and visit Barrington Commons to sample a holiday cookie at Jennie and Vera's Sweets & Savories. Stop by Carol & Company for a selection of unique holiday ornaments and have a special Chicago ornament signed by the artist from 1-3 p.m.

• Barrington Aglow, annual tree-lighting - Village Center on South Cook Street, 1-6:30 p.m.

Free carriage rides from 1-5 p.m., with cookies and hot cocoa from Heinen's Fine Foods while you wait. The Madrigal Singers will be strolling on Cook Street, and Santa arrives on the Barrington Fire Engine at 5 p.m. to light the holiday tree. After his arrival, Santa will visit with children in his red Santa House on South Cook Street until 6:30 p.m.

The village also is teaming with the U.S. Marine Corps. Reserve Toys for Tots program. Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be made from 1 to 6:30 p.m. on South Cook Street, next to Santa's house in the Village Center. Plan to bring a toy to share with a deserving child.

Holiday trolley rides will be available from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The trolley will make a continuous hourly circuit with stops every 10 minutes at the following locations: Village Center, 100 S. Cook St.; North Cook Street; The Ice House Mall on Applebee Street; Shops on Lageschulte Street; Foundry Shopping Center on Northwest Highway; The Shops at Flint Creek, 500 N. Hough St.