Santa Claus plans visits to the suburbs

Your kids don't need to wait until Christmas to spend some time with Santa. St. Nick is popping up at events all over the suburbs where your family can share plenty of holiday cheer.

Here is a sampling of some of the many upcoming events.

Festival of Trees at Lake in the Hills Village Hall: 600 Harvest Gate, Lake in the Hills, (847) 960-7460; lith.org

Time: 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3

Price: Free

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by fire truck for a tree-lighting ceremony and stick around to hear holiday wishes from kids at the ninth annual event. Local businesses and not-for-profit organizations sponsor and decorate trees, which will remain on display through Saturday, Dec. 25. Visitors then vote for their favorites by placing nonperishable food and household items under the trees to be donated to the Lake in the Hills/Algonquin Food Pantry and the Grafton Township Food Pantry.

The Rotary Santa 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk: Campbell Street and Vail Street, Arlington Heights; rotarysantarun.org

Time: 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4

Price: $33-$35; $23-$25 for kids 13 and younger

Nearly 1,500 people are expected to participate in the third annual fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Arlington Heights. All participants receive a Santa suit to wear.

“The reason I love this event is because it's a sea of Santas running through our downtown,” said public relations director Deb Whisler. “There are hundreds of runners all dressed in red and white just streaming through the streets.”

Once Upon a Christmas: Museums at Lisle Station Park, 921 School St., Lisle, (630) 968-0499; lisleparkdistrict.org/museum

Time: 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5

Price: Free

After parading through downtown Lisle, Santa arrives for a party hosted by the Lisle Heritage Society. The two-day celebration includes kids' crafts, music, a model train display, snacks, hay wagon rides and demonstrations of brick oven baking and blacksmithing. You can also catch ice-carving demonstrations on the museum grounds Saturday.

Teddy Bear Walk: Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St., Mount Prospect, (847) 253-5675; mppl.org

Time: 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4

Price: Free. Registration required.

Kids bring their favorite stuffed toy to the library for this annual event's 30th year. Storyteller Chris Sascione performs stories with the help of the audience, and folk singer Mark Dvorak plays familiar songs the children can sing along to. After the entertainment, a human-sized teddy bear leads the way to village hall where the fire department drops off Santa and Mrs. Claus. The group follows Santa back to the library for refreshments and visits with Santa.

“It really has become a tradition after 30 years,” said Carolynn Muci, Mount Prospect Public Library marketing and PR director. “We have parents who have done it who are now bringing their children. It's got a real community feeling with everyone getting together to welcome the holidays.”

“Polar Express” at Downers Grove Main Street Station: 5001 Main St., Downers Grove, (630) 627-6100

Time: 10:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 11-12

Price: $27-$37

The annual event put on by the Oakbrook Terrace and Butterfield park districts has proved so popular a second date has been added this year. Kids listen to a reading of Chris Van Allsburg's book “The Polar Express” during a Metra ride to America's Historic Roundhouse in Aurora, which will be decked out with Christmas decorations. Kids have lunch at the restaurant, play games for prizes and get their pictures taken with Santa. Registration is required by Saturday, Nov. 27.

“Our staff really gets into it,” said Oakbrook Terrace Park District recreation supervisor Kevin Siewak. “We all get dressed up as different characters and make it a lot of fun for everybody.”

Dickens of a Holiday Festival: Cook Memorial Park, 413 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, (847) 680-0336; mainstreetlibertyville.org

Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 4 and 11

Price: Varies

Kids can get their photos taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 to 4 p.m. Then take a tour of the Ansel B. Cook Museum for a $1 to $2 suggested donation. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days, St. Lawrence Episcopal Church hosts a traditional Victorian English tea, complete with finger sandwiches. Families will dine on silver tea sets and vintage linens. You can also get some gift shopping done at the church's St. Nicholas Room Holiday Bazaar & Sweet Shoppe from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days.