Find gifts for pets, people at Howl-iday bazaar
Free
A 'Howl-iday Bazaar'
The True Hearts of Rottweiler Rescue (THORR) group hosts its "Howl-iday Bazaar" with gifts for both pets and people. Find stocking stuffers including jewelry, candles, holiday decorations and treats. All proceeds will benefit the THORR charity which is dedicated to placing orphaned and displaced Rottweilers into loving homes.
Facts: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the BC Dog Training Center, 920 Turret Road, Mundelein. Admission is free. Visit thorr.org.
Feed a reindeer
Lake Park in Des Plaines turns into a magical land of lights and holiday celebrations during the Lake Wonderland Winter Festival. The event features dozens of decorated holiday trees with thousands of twinkling lights, horse-drawn sleigh rides, winter games, arts and crafts and ice-carving demonstrations. Other highlights include live reindeer to pet and feed, visits with Santa Claus, music, puppetry and magic shows.
Facts: Runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, at Lake Park, on Lee Street between Howard Street and Touhy Avenue, Des Plaines. Admission is free. Note: There is a $3-$5 charge for sleigh rides. (847) 391-5700.
A walk in Wauconda
Wauconda welcomes in the holiday season with its "Holiday Walk on Main Street." Guests can hop in a horse-drawn sleigh for a spin, or visit with Santa Claus in the village gazebo. Hear the music of carolers, visit with Santa's elves and help decorate the Chamber of Commerce holiday tree with an ornament brought from home or one you make at the event.
Facts: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, on Main Street in downtown Wauconda. Admission is free. (847) 526-5580 or waucondachamber.org.
Reaching for the stars
Get an up-close look at the moon and the stars when members of the Lake County Astronomical Society bring some telescopes to the Round Lake Area Library. The event offers stargazers of all ages a look at the world beyond our Earth. Light refreshments will be served.
Facts: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at the Round Lake Area Public Library, 906 Hart Road, Round Lake. Admission is free. (847) 546-7060.
All the trimmings
Downtown Geneva hosts its Christmas Walk with strolling carolers, roasted chestnuts, Swedish cookies, candy canes and plenty of holiday shopping in downtown stores. Santa Claus will be on hand too.
Facts: Runs 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at South Third and James streets, off State Street in downtown Geneva. Free admission. (630) 232-6060 or genevachamber.com.
Don't turn that dial!
Step back to the days of old-time radio and hear a live "broadcast" of a holiday radio show at the Elmhurst Historical Museum. Guests can interact with the actors from Radio Players West, who will re-enact scripts with holiday-based stories along with commercials and live sound effects. For all ages.
1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, in the Education Center of the Elmhurst Historical Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst. Free; no reservations are required. (630) 833-1457 or elmhursthistory.org.
$10 and under
Winter wonderland
The Morton Arboretum's "Enchanted Railroad" annual holiday display features a multilevel, G-gauge indoor railroad that twists and turns through a wintry kingdom of frosted trees and snow in the Snow Queen's forest. A life-size queen overlooks the trains and ushers guests around her magical land.
Facts: Runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Sunday, Jan. 4, at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Guests can get free timed tickets for the exhibit in the Visitor's Center. General arboretum admission is $4-$9. Those under age 3 are free. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org.
It's in the mail
Take a look at advertising postcards printed during World War II in a lecture/presentation on the "Keep 'Em Flying: How the Homefront Helped the Frontlines" special postcard exhibit at the Lake County Discovery Museum. The presentation features cards printed by the Curt Teich Postcard Company from 1940-45.
Facts: Runs from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Lake County Discovery Museum, on Route 176, just west of Fairfield Road in the Lakewood Forest Preserve, east of Wauconda. General admission is $2.50-$6. (847) 968-3400 or LakeCountyDiscoveryMuseum.org.