DuPage holiday tree lightings
Aurora: The city's Holiday Magic festivities, including a Parade of Lights and Tree Lighting ceremony, will be held at 6 p.m. Friday in front of North Island Center, 8 E. Galena Blvd. The event will end with a fireworks display. For more information, call the mayor's office of special events at (630) 844-4731 or events hotline at (630) 844-4FUN.
Addison: Addison's tree-lighting festivities are Nov. 30 at village hall, 1 Friendship Plaza. The event includes sleigh rides, visits with Santa and children's holiday shopping from 5 to 9 p.m., entertainment by local children at 7 p.m. and the arrival of Santa to light the tree at 8 p.m. For details, call (630) 543-4100 or visit www.addisonadvantage.org.
Bensenville: The village hosts a holiday magic event from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Towne Center, Green and Center streets. It will feature Santa, carolers, carriage rides, music by a DJ, a caricaturist and more. A tree lighting takes place at 6:50 p.m. For details, visit www.bensenville.il.us or call (630) 350-3426.
Bloomingdale: The 19th-annual tree lighting and holiday open house is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 27 at Bloomingdale Public Library, 101 Fairfield Way. The tree-lighting ceremony, accompanied by a "special guest" arriving via fire truck, will be at 6:30 p.m. The Merry Maskers Quartet will perform holidays songs from 7 to 7:15 p.m. in meeting room A/B on the lower level of the library, and Those Funny Little People: Elves Wally and Victor will do a 25-minute performance starting at 7:15 p.m. Chicago-area pianist Eugene Kwok will perform holiday favorites from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. in the Young Adult Spot on the main level of the library. From 7 to 8:30 p.m., there will be children's crafts, a balloonist, a juggler, refreshments, giveaways, multimedia demonstrations, and visits with Santa. Photos with Santa will be available for $5; all other activities are free. Visit www.mybpl.org or call (630) 924-2720.
Carol Stream: The village will host its annual tree-lighting at the Ross Ferraro Town Center, Gary Avenue and Lies Road, at 6:20 p.m. Friday. For more information, call the village at (630) 871-6250.
Glen Ellyn: Tree lighting at 6 p.m. Friday during Glen Ellyn's Holiday Walk. The Frozen Robins perform at 5:30 p.m., and Santa will arrive to light the tree at Main Street and Crescent Boulevard at 6 p.m. Santa and his helpers will listen to children's Christmas wishes at the Glen Ellyn fire station from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Performers, carriage rides and caroling groups are on site until 9 p.m. Visit www.glenellynchamber.com.
Glendale Heights: Mayor Linda Jackson will light up the 24-foot-tall decorated holiday tree at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 24 in front of the village hall. Glenside Middle School and Marquardt Middle School choirs will lead carols, and following the ceremony there will be hot cocoa, coffee, juice and cookies. For more information, call the mayor's office at (630) 909-5302.
Itasca: Santa Claus comes to town Dec. 11, accompanied by a holiday light parade. Parade runs from Franzen School to the municipal complex, arriving about 6 p.m. The parade will travel east on Bryn Mawr Avenue to Walnut Street, south on Walnut to Irving Park Road to the municipal complex. Activities scheduled between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. include trolley rides, holiday crafts, a nature center, caroling and holiday cookies. The first 250 families will receive a commemorative holiday ornament. Attendees are also asked to bring new, unwrapped toys so Santa can deliver them to local families in need. There will be a toy collection box located in the lobby of the Itasca Police Department from Nov. 30 through Dec. 18 and in front of the municipal complex on the night of event. A mitten and hat tree will be located in the lobby of the municipal complex to hang your winter wear donations for needy children. For additional information, call officer Rick Brogan at (630) 228-5705.
Lisle: The Lights of Lisle celebration begins with the parade through downtown Lisle at 3 p.m. Dec. 1. Volunteers light luminarias downtown and in neighborhoods at dusk in preparation for the village tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. at village hall, 925 Burlington Ave. The village's Once Upon a Christmas runs from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 2 at Lisle Station Park, 921 Burlington Ave. For details, call (630) 271-4100.
Lombard: The downtown Jinglebell Jubilee is from 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 8. The event includes a cookie walk from 3 to 5 p.m. at downtown businesses; horse-drawn carriage rides from 3 to 8 p.m.; a dance presentation at 4 p.m. at The Dance Centre, 9 N. Main St.; caroling with students from Jackson Middle School, and the Glenbard East Madrigal Singers from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. at Main Street and St. Charles Road. The official tree-lighting ceremony and Santa's arrival are at 5:15 p.m. The lighting of the Holiday Walk is from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lilacia Park, 150 S. Park. Afterward, donations of new mittens and winter hats for the needy will be collected, and children will be able to visit with Santa and take train rides. The Canterbury Carolers will perform from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Helen M. Plum Memorial Library, 110 W. Maple St. Candlelight tours of the Lombard Historical Museum, 23 W. Maple, will be offered from 6:30 to 9 p.m. For details, call (630) 620-8063.
Naperville: The Hometown Holidays celebration, sponsored by the Downtown Naperville Alliance, begins with the Friends of Little Friends Electric Light Parade at 4:30 p.m. Friday downtown. The Grand Illumination tree-lighting ceremony follows at 5:30 p.m. with the arrival of Mr. And Mrs. Claus. The party continues all weekend with carolers, performers, trolley rides and merchant specials. Info: (630) 544-3372 or downtownnaperville.com.
Oakbrook Terrace: The annual tree lighting and holiday party will be Dec. 1 at Fik Point, Patton Avenue and 16th Street and at Stella May Swartz Elementary School, 17W160 16th St. Children must be registered for the holiday party by Nov. 19. At 5 p.m., Santa will drive around the city in a fire truck, and at 6 p.m., he'll assist Mayor Tom Mazaika in lighting the trees at Fik Point. Entertainment by Dave Rudolph and a party for kids 12 and younger start at 6:15 p.m. at Swartz School. All registered children will receive a goody-filled stocking. The party is free for Oakbrook Terrace residents, $5 for others. The tree-lighting ceremony is free. For details, call (630) 941-8300 or visit www.oakbrookterrace.net.
Roselle: A holiday sing-along and tree-lighting ceremony with Santa begins at 1 p.m. Nov. 24 at the Roselle Public Library, 40 S. Park St. Santa will arrive on a fire truck shortly before 2 p.m. to light the holiday tree on Elm Court. Registration is not required for the tree lighting and visit with Santa. For details or to register for the sing-along, call the library at (630) 529.1641.
Villa Park: Joyful Traditions will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Rugaard Gazebo, on the Illinois Prairie Path at Ardmore and Park avenues. The event will include the village's tree-lighting ceremony, a visit from Santa, trolley rides, horse-drawn sleigh rides, contests, entertainment, food and more. Free. For details, call (630) 941-9133 or visit www.invillapark.com/joyful.htm.
West Chicago: Frosty Fest will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 1 downtown. The event will include the city's tree lighting, reindeer games and crafts, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Victorian carolers, horse-drawn sleigh rides, the Frosty Procession, puppet shows and more. Free. For details and a full schedule, visit www.westchicago.org.
Warrenville: The holiday tree will be illuminated Dec. 7 as part of Holly Days, the city's annual winter festival. Officials and residents will gather in the Albright Park gazebo, across the street from city hall on Stafford Place. There will be a bonfire, raffles, horse and carriage rides, hot cider and cookies. Santa will also attend.
Wheaton: The 24th annual Dickens of a Christmas Celebration begins Friday in the downtown. The celebration features carolers from 5 to 5:45 p.m. Members of Wheaton Drama will perform Christmas songs in front of Martin Plaza. After the parade, visit Wheaton Drama for more caroling from 7 to 9 p.m. The tree-lighting ceremony is from 5:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. Join Mayor Michael J. Gresk and members of the Downtown Wheaton Association as the holiday season officially starts with the Grand Illumination of the Tree at Martin Plaza. A lighted holiday parade follows from 6 to 7 p.m., featuring lighted floats and storybook characters. Rides on Little Obie Locomotive follow the parade, boarding at the Wheaton post office at 122 N. Wheaton Ave. Horse-drawn carriage rides are also available at $10 per family or $5 per person. The carriage rides board at East Liberty Drive and Main Street. Downtown merchants will also be on hand to welcome visitors with goodies, treats and holiday spirit.
Winfield: The annual tree-lighting ceremony is at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at Winfield and Jewell roads. Prior to the tree lighting, the Winfield Junior Women's Club will host a Snacks With Santa event, in which parents and children can meet with Santa Claus. For details, call (630) 300-8485.
Wood Dale: Tree lighting is from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Dec. 2 at city hall, 404 N. Wood Dale Road. The Fenton High School swing choir will perform from 1 to 1:30 p.m.. Santa and Mrs. Claus will greet guests from 2 to 4 p.m. Mayor Ken Johnson will light the city's tree at 5 p.m. immediately followed by a fireworks show.