Welcome the season at W. Chicago's Frosty Fest

Santa, reindeer and even elves are a few of the holiday fixtures who will play key roles Saturday, Dec. 3, at West Chicago's Frosty Fest.

“It brings the community together,” said Krista Coltrin, event coordinator and the city's marketing assistant. “It's the joy of the season.”

The event opens at 4 p.m. with a procession down Main Street featuring ol' St. Nick, who won't be shaking his belly like a bowl full of jelly on his sleigh this year. Veterans will usher him in on an antique fire engine with Mrs. Claus.

It all comes together when the mayor and the winners of a youth essay contest flip the switch on a 25-foot tree — one of the tallest in recent years — at 4:30 p.m. at 306 Main St.

New this year are a window-decorating contest among downtown businesses and cookie decorating for kids.

Artist Joe Gagnepain returns to carve an ordinary block of ice into a Christmas creation.

“His vision comes to life in such a short period of time,” Coltrin said.

After the tree-lighting ceremony, attendees won't feel so frosty with free hot cocoa and popcorn at a warming station, where kids can decorate cookies.

Kids also can tell Santa they don't want coal in their stockings this year while posing for pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the American Legion Hall from 4:45 to 7 p.m.

For the creatively inclined, artists will demonstrate craft-making activities at 200 Main St. And at the City Museum, the West Chicago Sisters Cities will host a German Christmas exhibit.

Horse-drawn carriage rides will start at the Fox Community Center and weave through historic downtown along a path of luminaries for locals to marvel at the merry setting. And those elves, well, really handlers dressed as elves, will guide live reindeers down Main Street.

“Our entire downtown comes to life,” Coltrin said. “It's the beginning of the holiday season in West Chicago.”

A complete schedule of the events along Main Street can be found at online at www.westchicago.org/.