Holiday lights
Barrington: Tree lighting at 4:45 p.m. Saturday at Cook and Main streets in downtown Barrington. The entire event, with carriage rides and Santa will be held from 3 to 6 p.m.
Bartlett: Tree lighting at 7 p.m. Friday 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. Friday 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 Saturday 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 live reindeer. Refreshments and activities in the tent at Prospect and Wille. (847) 392-6000 or visit the Web site mountprospect.org.
Rolling Meadows: Tree lighting, 6 p.m. Thursday outside McDonald's, 3140 Kirchoff Road. Caroling, hot chocolate and cookies. The city will host fireworks.
Rosemont: Lighting of the 30-foot Christmas tree is 6 p.m. Dec. 9 at Donald E. Stephens Park at the entrance to the residential area, Higgins 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.