Naperville gets in Christmas spirit with tuba band, ice sculptors

Robert Childers was in the zone. And the onlookers gathering along Washington Street to watch him carve could see it.

"Two guys, 18 sculptures, and one cold morning," the Lombard ice sculptor said Saturday morning outside of the U.S. Bank in Naperville. "It's been a long day."

Childers and colleague Dan Rebholz spent the day chiseling, sanding and scraping blocks of ice as part of a holiday event organized by the Downtown Naperville Alliance.

Many of the sculptures, which were purchased by area businesses, had already been transported to the storefronts and were on display in the downtown area.

Downtown visitors also had a chance Saturday to take advantage of the Holly Trolley, a free, heated trolley car running between seven points, including parking garages, restaurants, stores, the Riverwalk and the public library.

And several area tuba players spent the morning performing Christmas carols as part of Tuba Christmas, a loose organization of musicians who perform during the holidays.

Billy East, a Waubonsie Valley High School senior, was among the performers.

"I think I missed three-quarters of my notes," he admitted. "But it was fun, I guess."