Holiday lights

Friday

Arlington Heights: 4:45 p.m. at North School Park, Eastman Street and Arlington Heights Road. Musical entertainment from the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre; the tree lighting at 5 p.m. After, ChristkindlMarkt opens in two heated tents adjacent to North School Park and goes all weekend.

Elk Grove Village: Tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. in the center of the municipal complex, 901 Wellington Ave. Mayor Craig Johnson and a special guest will light the more than 250,000 lights. Music from Elk Grove High School and Conant High School choirs; meet Santa and his elves.

Schaumburg: Festivities begin at 6 p.m. with tree lighting at the Prairie Center for the Arts, Schaumburg and Summit roads. Village President Al Larson and trustees will lead holiday carols, followed by Santa's arrival via fire truck at 6:30 p.m. Children can pose for pictures with Santa until 8:30 p.m. in the Maggie Atcher Theatre. Residents ask to bring nonperishable food items for the Schaumburg Food Pantry. Donations taken at the Municipal Center until Dec. 17.

Saturday

Prospect Heights: Prospect Heights Garden Club will light the tree at 5 p.m. in front of the Prospect Heights police station, 14 E. Camp McDonald Road. Girl Scouts will sing holiday songs and Christmas carols. Roasting of marshmallows and s'mores for children, home-baked cookies by club members and hot chocolate. Santa will also visit. Call Ann, (847) 253-1223.

Roselle: Village of Roselle and the Roselle Public Library host a Holiday Sing-Along and tree lighting with Santa at 1 p.m. at the Roselle Public Library, 40 S. Park St. Santa arrives on a fire truck shortly before 2 p.m. to light the holiday tree on Elm Court. Register for the sing-along at (630) 529-1641.

Sunday

Wheeling: The "Lighting of the Lights" is 6-7 p.m. Sunday at Friendship Park (corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Dundee Road). At 6 p.m. is community singing; tree is lit at 6:30 p.m. followed by visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. (847) 459-2600.

Coming up

Barrington: Tree lighting at 4:45 p.m. Dec. 1 at Cook and Main Streets in downtown Barrington. The entire event, with carriage rides and Santa, is from 3 to 6 p.m.

Bartlett: Tree lighting at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at Bartlett Park gazebo, North and Oak avenues. Bartlett High School choir will lead carols starting at 6:45 p.m.

Des Plaines: Tree lighting at 6 p.m. Nov. 30 in Metropolitan Square downtown, between Lee Street and River Road. Trees decorated by school children will surround a 25-foot tree decorated by the city's public works department. Music from the Maine West Marching Warrior Band; and the Des Plaines Park District's Footlighter Theater Company's "Grease" cast has a special plan for Mayor Tony Arredia's arrival to Metropolitan Square for the lighting.

Hanover Park: Tree lighting at 6 p.m. Dec. 7 at village hall, 2121 W. Lake St. Featured will be caroling, entertainment, and refreshments.

Mount Prospect: Village's eighth annual Winter Festival Parade is Dec. 1 in downtown Mount Prospect. At 4:30 p.m., choral groups along the parade route will perform; parade is from 5 to 6 p.m. Starts at the Maple Street commuter parking lot, goes west on Lincoln Street, north on Emerson Street to Prospect Avenue and west to Pine Street. After the parade visit with Santa, Mrs. Claus and the live reindeer. Refreshments and activities in the tent at Prospect and Wille. (847) 392-6000 or visit www.mountprospect.org.

Rolling Meadows: Tree lighting, 6 p.m. Nov. 29 outside McDonald's, 3140 Kirchoff Road. Caroling, hot chocolate and cookies. The city will host fireworks.

Rosemont: Lighting of the 30-foot Christmas tree at 6 p.m. Dec. 9 at Donald E. Stephens Park at the entrance to the residential area, Higgins Road and Scott Street. The rest of the village will be lit as well, by about 1 million light bulbs, at Donald E. Stephens North Park, Bergemeister Park, Westin Park, all interchanges down River Road, Dunne Park, Monument Park, Rosemont Theater and village hall.

Streamwood: Tree lighting at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at village hall, 301 E. Irving Park Road. Volunteers, civic organizations and families will line luminarias along Park Boulevard, the veterans memorial and village hall, and other areas throughout town. Before the lighting, children can first visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus.