Fests: Festival of Lights, Holiday Magic lead the holiday happenings

Horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday parades, lights shows and visits from Santa abound at winter festivals this weekend in the suburbs. Check out our list.

Ongoing

<b>Cosley Zoo Festival of Lights and Tree Sale:</b> 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 30 at Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton. Lights go on at 3 p.m. Open 9 a.m. to noon Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Closed Christmas and New Year's Day. Zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland with 20,000 twinkling lights, plus there's a selection of Christmas trees to purchase. Free. wheatonparkdistrict.com.

<b>Aurora Festival of Lights:</b> 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday through Dec. 26 at Phillips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive, Aurora. Drive through more than a mile of animated displays. New this year are dancing arcs and a 20-foot sign proclaiming Weisner Ice Rink. Hosted by the Aurora Rotary Cub. Free, but donations are welcome. aurorafestivaloflights.com.

<b>Mooseheart Holiday Lights:</b> 5 to 9 p.m. daily through Dec. 31 along the Mooseheart campus, off Route 31, south of Batavia. The eighth annual event includes about 80 displays on a 1.8-mile route through the campus. Admission (cash only): $10 for cars; special rates for buses. Santa visits from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 8-10 and 15-17 at the field house. Hot cocoa, cookies, crafts and more are free. Proceeds benefit Mooseheart Child City and School. (630) 906-3601 or mooseheart.org.

<b>ROZ Winter Fest</b>: Noon to 7 p.m. Dec. 1-3, 8-10 and 15-17 at Randall Oaks Zoo, 1180 N. Randall Road, West Dundee. Holiday lights, decorations, a bonfire, cookie decorating and more. On weekends, Santa visits from noon to 5 p.m.; hayrides from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; live reindeer on Sundays. All activities are included with zoo admission ($3.25 for residents, $4 for nonresidents, free for kids younger than 2) except hayrides, which cost $2. dtpd.org.

<b>Holiday Flower Show:</b> 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through December and 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in January, from Saturday, Dec. 2, through Jan. 7 at Wilder Park Conservatory, 225 S. Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. Get into the holiday spirit with Wilder Park Conservatory's festive holiday floral display. Free. (630) 993-8900 or epd.org.

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Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo:</b> 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2-3, 9-10 and 16-17, and Tuesday through Sunday, Dec. 26-31, at 8400 31st St., Brookfield. Festivities begin at 4 p.m. Guests can sing to the animals and enjoy professional ice-carving demonstrations, magic shows, a 41-foot talking tree, and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus (the latter through Dec. 17) at the 36th annual event. The zoo will be lit with more than 1 million LED lights and select animal habitats will remain open, as will zoo restaurants and gift shops. A schedule of music and live entertainment, costumed characters, a model railroad display and more can be found at www.czs.org/magic.

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Long Grove Vintage Holidays:</b> 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2-3, 9-10 and 16-17, in downtown Long Grove. Free horse-drawn carriage rides, appearances by Mr. and Mrs. Claus, strolling costumed carolers, Victorian buildings trimmed in lights and walkways lined in luminaries. Free. longgrove.org.

<b>Holiday Express:</b> 2 to 6 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 2, 9 and 16, and 5 to 8 p.m. Fridays, Dec. 8 and 15, at Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. Activities include meeting Santa, seasonal storytelling, crafts, caroling hayride, train rides and creating reindeer food. Note: Dec. 2 and 3 are sold out, so check before you go. $5. (630) 966-4527 or foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

This weekend

<b>Geneva Christmas House Tour:</b> 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. Self-guided tour featuring five homes decorated for the season. Holiday Tea will be at First Congregational Church, 327 Hamilton St. Advance tickets cost $35. Call the Geneva Chamber of Commerce at (630) 232-6060 or see genevachamber.com.

<b>37th Annual Lambs Farm Holiday Lights Gift & Craft Fair:</b> 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec, 1; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at Arlington International Racecourse, 2920 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. Hundreds of booths. $8 for adults, free for kids younger than 15. holidaylightslambsfarm.com.

<b>Holiday Express-Special Needs Night:</b> 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. View the lights and festive decorations at Blackberry Farm. Enjoy short lines and an environment that is sensitive to special needs, with reduced lighting and music. The park is ADA compliant, but rides are non-handicap accessible. Advance ticket purchase is required. $5. (630) 966-4527 or foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

<b>Bartlett tree lighting:</b> 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, in Bartlett Park, North and Oak avenues. Visit Santa at the Log Cabin from 5 to 6:30 p.m., then move to the holiday tree, which will be lit at 7 p.m. village.bartlett.il.us.

<b>Geneva Christmas Walk:</b> 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, on Third Street between James and Campbell streets, Geneva. Santa Lucia arrives with Santa to light the Great Tree on the courthouse lawn and to open the Gingerbread House. Live Nativity, roasted chestnuts, strolling carolers, the first candy cane of the season and holiday shopping. Free carriage rides from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (630) 232-6060 or genevachamber.com.

<b>Hanover Park tree-lighting ceremony:</b> 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at village hall, 2121 W. Lake St., Hanover Park. Entertainment and refreshments. A special guest “flips the switch” to light up the village. Free. hpil.org.

<b>Island Lake Holiday Tree Lighting Festival:</b> 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at 3720 Greenleaf Ave., Island Lake. Features hay rides, hot chocolate, crafts, bonfires and more. Free. villageofislandlake.com.

<b>Streamwood luminaria and tree lighting:</b> 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at the Veterans Memorial near village hall, 301 W. Irving Park Road, Streamwood. Volunteers, civic organizations and families line streets with luminaria. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. streamwood.org.

<b>Warrenville Holly Days:</b> 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Warren Avenue and Tracy Place, Warrenville. Santa parade, tree lighting, entertainment, horse-drawn carriage rides and hot chocolate. warrenvilleparks.org. Free. (630) 393-7279 or warrenvilleparks.org.

<b>Bloomingdale Festival of Lights:</b> Lighting ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Old Town Park, 111 Third St., Bloomingdale. Entertainment will include horse-drawn carriage rides, crafts, family bingo, Santa visits, train rides and card decorating. Continuing the rest of the month will be the Holiday Show at the museum, “Toys, Trains and Teddy Bears,” a Lego exhibit open during regular museum hours through Dec. 30.

<b>Dickens in Dundee:</b> 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, in downtown East and West Dundee. The 30th annual winter festival features tree lighting, living windows, Spirit of Christmas parade, Santa, petting zoo, crafts, gingerbread village, Festival of Trees and more. Free. dickensindundee.org.

<b>Festival of Lights:</b> 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Calvary Church of Naperville, 9S200 State Route 59, Naperville. The church hosts a festival of lights with carriage rides, a light show, a live nativity, carolers, activities for families, a hot cocoa bar and more. Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased at calvarynaperville.org.

<b>Holiday Show Sale:</b> Dec. 1-9 at Fine Line Creative Arts Center, 37W570 Bolcum Road, St. Charles. This annual juried members show and sale features a variety of gift items from 70 to 80 artists. Opening night from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, features a luminaria to light your way. Sale hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Dec. 4-7, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2, 8, 9. Closed Sunday. (630) 584-9443 or fineline.org.

<b>Pancake Breakfast with Santa:</b> 7:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, in the Geneva High School cafeteria, 416 McKinley Ave., Geneva. Geneva Lions Club's sixth annual breakfast featuring pancakes, sausage and more. Holiday music, craft activities and photos with Santa. Tickets cost $7; free for kids 3 and younger. Purchase tickets at genevalionsclub.org. Raffle tickets are $25 each; $5,000 raffle drawing at 11 a.m. For tickets, email info@genevalions.org.

<b>Frosty Fest 5K and Kids Run for Fun:</b> 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Turner Court, West Chicago. Kick off West Chicago's Frosty Fest with the race, starting and ending at Turner Court, behind the library. $25 for residents, $30 for nonresidents; $10, $5 for students. Free for the Fun Run. (630) 293-2200 or westchicago.org.

<b>Warrenville Breakfast with Santa:</b> 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Courtyard Banquets, 3S200 Route 59, Warrenville. Crafts, music and basket raffle. $4-$12. warrenvilleparks.org.

<b>TriCity Family Services' Snowflake Shuffle 2017:</b> 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Royal Fox Country Club, 4405 Royal and Ancient Drive, St. Charles. Ninth annual 5K/10K Run/Walk fundraiser at a new location. Winter-themed, USATF certified event that raises money and awareness for TriCity Family Services. $25-$40. tricityfamilyservices.org.

<b>Father Christmas at the Bartlett History Museum:</b> 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 2, at Bartlett village hall, 228 S. Main St. Bring your wish lists and camera to capture the moment. Children make a holiday craft and enjoy cookies and cocoa. Free, supplies limited. village.bartlett.il.us

<b>Barrington's Home for the Holidays:</b> 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, throughout town and at Village Center, Cook and Station Street, Barrington. Free carriage rides, singers, a petting zoo, story hour with Mrs. Claus, reindeer ice sculptures, crafts and more. Santa's arrival and tree-lighting at 5 p.m. A free trolley will transport shoppers and families between the Village's four shopping districts - Village Center, Ice House Mall, Shops on Lageschulte and the Foundry Shopping Center - where many family-friendly holiday events will be taking place. Free.

<b>Talons and Claus:</b> 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Willowbrook Wildlife Center, 525 S. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Have your picture taken with Santa and his wildlife friends during a holiday open house. Free. $10 per photo. (630) 942-6200 or dupageforest.org.

<b>Roselle Lions Lunch with Santa:</b> 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Trinity Lutheran Family Life Center, 405 S. Rush St., Roselle. Free. (630) 893-6647 or facebook.com/RoselleLionsClub.

<b>Farmside Christmas:</b> 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Fischer Farm, 16W680 Grand Ave., Bensenville. Hay rides, crafts for kids, treats and music. Free. Photos with Santa $7. bensenvilleparkdistrict.org.

<b>Candlelight at the Inn:</b> 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2-3, at Garfield Farm Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road, Campton Hills. Experience the tradition of winter visits as practiced by families like the Garfields in their 1846 brick inn. Hospitality, food, music and bake sale. Donations accepted. (630) 584-8485 or garfieldfarm.org.

<b>Lights of Lisle Festival:</b> 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, in downtown Lisle. Saturday's events include Santa Parade, entertainment, holiday market, lighting of luminaria, tree lighting at 6 p.m. at village hall, refreshments and music. Both days include “Once Upon a Christmas” at Museums of Lisle Station Park. Free. (630) 271-4100 or villageoflisle.org.

<b>Cantigny Holiday Festival:</b> 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Attractions include Mistletoe Market from 1 to 7 p.m., carolers, live reindeer, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Free; $5 parking and small fees apply to some activities such as face painting and sleigh rides. (630) 260-8216 or cantigny.org.

<b>Frosty Fest:</b> 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, in downtown West Chicago. Downtown will be transformed into an old-fashioned winter vignette complete with a tree lighting, horse-drawn sleigh, live reindeer, Victorian carolers, and Santa and Mrs. Claus. Free. westchicago.org.

<b>Gingerbread and Candlelight-A Holiday Celebration:</b> 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Glen Ellyn History Center, 800 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. See the gingerbread house creations at the center's open house. Craft stations for kids, Christmas cookies and hot beverages. Take a candlelight tour of Stacy's Tavern Museum. $5; kids admitted free with paid adult. (630) 469-1867 or glenellynhistory.org.

<b>Holiday in the Hollow:</b> 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Sabatino Park, Sleepy Hollow. Visit with Santa, tree lighting, carols, Sleepy Hollow Elementary School Circle-of-Cheer Christmas trees and more. Bring a nonperishable food item or monetary donation for FISH Food Pantry. sleepyhollowil.org.

<b>Little Friends Holiday Parade of Lights:</b> 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Jackson Avenue at Mill Street, Naperville. Parade starts at Jackson Avenue and Mill Street and heads east and then north on Main Street, ending at Main and Van Buren Avenue. After the parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit with kids at Santa House until 9 p.m. Free. littlefriendsinc.org.

<b>Lisle Santa Train:</b> 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at Lisle Metra Station, 1000 Front St., Lisle. Santa Train leaves at 9:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. Join Santa and costumed characters for a trip to Chicago's Union Station and back. $18. (630) 769-1000 or facebook.com/TheLislePolarExpressTrain.

<b>Merry Cary Holiday Parade & Festival:</b> Noon to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at 122 W. Main St., Cary. The Cary-Grove Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the Merry Cary Holiday Parade at 1 p.m. Festival includes holiday music, pony rides, petting zoo, visits with Santa, sleigh rides, storytime and more. Free. carygrovechamber.com.

<b>Carol Stream Holiday Open House:</b> 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at the Carol Stream Public Library, 616 Hiawatha Drive, Carol Stream. Visit with Santa and his reindeer, watch an ice-carving demonstration and take a horse-drawn carriage ride. Event includes indoor games, crafts, movies and refreshments. Free. cslibrary.org.

<b>Geneva's Steeple Walk:</b> 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at four Geneva churches. Event features a variety of seasonal music concerts. Two audience groups attend 20-minute concerts played simultaneously at two churches, then change places. Guides lead each group. $12. geneva.il.us.

<b>North Aurora River District Alliance Evergreen Holidays:</b> 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, on West State Street, North Aurora. North Aurora River District Alliance event includes roasted chestnuts, a cookie walk hosted by North Aurora Mothers Club, children's choirs and more. Free. NOARDA.org

This week

<b>Las Posadas:</b> 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, at Poplar Creek Public Library, 1405 S. Park Ave., Streamwood. A bilingual Las Posadas (traditional Mexican festival) program for the whole family. Stories, singing and more. Free. Register at (630) 483-4923 or pclib.org.

<b>Victorian Christmas:</b> 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, at Historic House, 311 Windy Point Drive, Glendale Heights. Home tours; children will have an opportunity to make a Victorian decoration to take home. Refreshments. Free. (630) 260-6000 or glendaleheights.org.

<b>Elmhurst Tree Lighting in Wilder Park:</b> 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Wilder Park, 175 S. Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. Free. (630) 993-8900 or epd.org.

<b>Downtown Holiday Celebration:</b> 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at 3140 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows. A tree lighting ceremony will be followed by a free spaghetti dinner at the fire station on Meadow Drive. ci.rolling-meadows.il.us.