While a 53-degree day is a far cry from a "White Christmas," South Elgin's SEBA Park was filled to the brim Saturday with sleigh bells ringing, carolers singing and marshmallows roasting over an open fire during the annual "An Almost Winter Day" holiday festival.

It only took about an hour for the crowds to gather and lines to appear down Water Street as parents and children waited for their chance to ride a decorative Christmas trolley or make their own s'mores over an open fire pit - all free of charge.

"The businesses in town have been very generous to us and we get a lot of donations- We've been very fortunate to keep this event and keep it mostly free," event coordinator Kim Wascher said.

The festival, which ran from 3 to 5 p.m., featured cookie decorating, hot cocoa and even a petting zoo and pony rides. The evening culminated in a 5 p.m. tree-lighting ceremony.

This was the eighth year for "An Almost Winter Day," an event that is always popular with the locals, no matter what the conditions

"Usually we're either freezing or getting rained on. But always, no matter what the weather, we get about a thousand people here," Wascher said.

This year organizers and festivalgoers alike agree the weather is the best ever.

"Last year there was this awful sprinkly rain and we didn't stay very long at all. We just spent a lot of time by the big fire pit," Stephanie Starr of South Elgin said.

This year, cocoa and s'mores supplies appeared to be in short supply as people from South Elgin and beyond came out for the nice fall weather.

"The kids have had a blast with the cookies and the sleigh rides and the cocoa," Jan Wilder of Brookfield said.

Wilder, who was visiting family, felt the economical value of "An Almost Winter Day" was a huge draw. "Everything is pretty much free, which is amazing," she said.

For the first time this year, kids had the chance to write a letter to Santa, who is guaranteed to personally write them back.

"I asked for a Mickey Mouse choo-choo train," 2-year-old Ethan Messer said, after he placed his letter to Santa into the big red and green mailbox at the letter-writing station.

"I said I want a Webkinz (doll)," Melissa Messer, 6, chimed in.

Another popular attraction was the cookie-decorating station, where kids could frost and sprinkle their own sugar cookies.

"It's just nice to get out and have some fun with the kids," Kelley Kenders of South Elgin said as she and her daughters, Kaylin, 5, Kendall, 4, and Kenzie, 4, ate their holiday treats.

"It's a little early for Christmas but the kids are already getting excited."