Wheaton ready for 'Dickens' of a time
Wheaton will welcome the holiday season this weekend with its 26th annual "Dickens of a Christmas" celebration.
Sponsored by the Downtown Wheaton Association, "Dickens" features a series of downtown events that begin tonight with a tree-lighting ceremony, the traditional Holiday Lighted Parade and an appearance by Santa Claus.
"It's a neat thing for the family to do - get out of the house for an hour or two on the day after Thanksgiving," said Tim Rater, manager of the Downtown Wheaton Association. "So when they've just about had enough of family festivities in their homes, they can get out and walk around a bit and spend some time in the downtown."
Tonight's events start at 5:45 p.m. when Mayor Michael Gresk leads the Grand Illumination of the Great Tree at Martin Plaza. Gresk will light the tree with help from Bonnie McLaren, the DWA's 2008-2009 volunteer of the year.
Following the tree-lighting, a parade featuring some favorite characters from children's movies and books will step off by city hall. The procession will have 34 entries, including Tunes of Glory, the Chicago Highlanders, Boy Scout Troop 35 and a variety of floats.
Santa and his float will bring up the rear of the procession, which travels south on Wheaton Avenue and then east on Front Street.
"It's pretty short, but it's well-attended and fun," Rater said.
After the parade, several movie and storybook characters will appear in downtown shops for a night of shopping until 9 p.m.
Santa and Mrs. Claus also will stroll around downtown. Photo opportunities with the couple will be available at Wheaton Drama, 111 N. Hale St. The cost is $3 for one photograph or $5 for two.
Most downtown merchants will be offering holiday hospitality and remain open until 9 p.m.
"Little Obie," a replica train, returns this year. Young riders can hop aboard at the Wheaton Post Office, 122 N. Wheaton Ave. Meanwhile, the entire family can enjoy free horse-drawn carriage rides through downtown from 7 to 9 p.m. The carriages board at the northeast corner of Main Street and Liberty Drive.
Rater said the visits with Santa and the free horse-drawn carriage rides will continue every Saturday through Dec. 19.
An open house with 25 participating businesses will be held Saturday, Dec. 5, in downtown. Starting at noon, the event will include a live ice-sculpting demonstration by World Class Ice Sculptures in Martin Plaza.
"We're pumped," Rater said. "This is the busiest time of the year for us. We have some really huge things happening over the next few weeks."
Also beginning today and running through December is Cosley Zoo's annual Festival of Lights and Christmas tree sale. The free zoo at Gary Avenue and Jewell Road will have lights and music starting at 3 p.m. daily. Fresh Michigan trees, wreaths, roping and evergreen bundles, gifts and stocking stuffers also will be sold.
The sale, which is sponsored by the Cosley Foundation, will raise money to help fund ongoing development of the zoo.
Cosley will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through Dec. 23. It closes at noon Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas Day.
For details, visit wheatonparkdistrict.com/pgs/parks/cosley/default.html.
For more information about "Dickens of a Christmas," call the Downtown Wheaton Association at (630) 682-0633 or visit downtownwheaton.com.