Not quite winter at South Elgin festival
With his workshop in holiday mode, his elves outdoing themselves to fill Christmas wish lists and the logistics for his one-night globe-spanning tour still in the planning stages, it's a wonder Santa Claus could tear himself away from the North Pole to visit South Elgin.
Santa's arrival, announced by a South Elgin fire siren, was the highly anticipated climax of Saturday's "An Almost Winter Day" in Country Park.
The event, a hybrid of fall and winter traditions, has brought local families to the park since 2002.
At Saturday's seventh annual festival, tiny tots bundled in wool hats and winter coats roasted marshmallows over the open fire to make s'mores.
Families enjoyed steaming Caribou Coffee and hot chocolate as they warmed themselves around a bonfire or waited in line for a horse-drawn wagon ride.
The event's organizers estimated about 1,000 people visited Country Park, matching last year's turnout.
"It's evolved from something that's very small into this huge event," said Kim Wascher, superintendent of South Elgin's parks. "We try to provide the most economical, fun time for families."
This year's festival featured carriage rides and decorated windows at the municipal annex for the first time, as well as old favorites like the Polar Express - the trolley families can ride as they listen to a narration of the popular children's tale.
After the event, Santa lit the holiday tree at the nearby Footprints in Time Plaza. Wascher hinted that Santa could bring his reindeer next year.
The Berrios family of South Elgin comes to Country Park every year to see Santa and decorate holiday cookies. Last year, Tony and Noelle Berrios' daughter was the first child to meet Santa.
"We were going to leave, and he called her over," Noelle Berrios said. "It made it really special for her."
Jacobs Wills also brought his South Elgin family to Country Park.
"I love it. It has a small community feel," Wills said. "They look forward to it. Their favorite part is hot chocolate and seeing Santa."