Libertyville gets ready for snowman display

Arlington Heights had its horses.

Mundelein had its cows.

Buffalo Grove had its buffalo.

Now Libertyville is preparing to put snowmen on parade in the downtown area.

Twelve 5-foot-high snowmen will be put on display. Each will be decorated by students at local schools or civic groups.

The promotion, designed to bring shoppers to the downtown business district along Milwaukee Avenue, will kick off Feb. 5. The creations will be on display until March 5.

"We are very excited about this," said Pat Hume, interim executive director of the MainStreet Libertyville downtown revitalization group. "It's a way to bring business downtown, and it's a way to get children involved in their community."

Participating are:

• The Libertyville High School art club;

• The Libertyville High girls lacrosse team;

• Highland Middle School;

• Rockland Elementary School;

• Oak Grove Middle School;

• Copeland School;

• Butterfield School;

• Adler Park School;

• St. John Lutheran School;

• St. Joseph Elementary School;

• The David Adler Cultural Center; and

•The Libertyville Junior Women's Club.

The promotion is sponsored by Advocate Condell Medical Center.

Unlike the solid-body cows, horses and buffalo featured in the other towns' artistic promotions, Libertyville's snowmen are made of wire and won't be painted. Each team must choose how to decorate their snowman.

"That's up to the (groups), to use their creativity," Hume said.

The creations will change locations throughout the month.

Shoppers can vote on their favorite snowman. The winning creative team will get a $500 prize.

When the promotion ends, the snowmen will be auctioned off online. Proceeds will benefit the groups that decorated the pieces.

For more information, visit mainstreetlibertyville.org.