Warrenville welcomes season with Holly Days

Santa Claus is poised to make a musical arrival to start Friday's Holly Days celebration in downtown Warrenville.

The Tunes of Glory bagpipers and other performers will lead the jolly man in red during a parade beginning at 6 p.m. from city hall and proceeding to the Warrenville Community Building along Warren Avenue. Festivities will continue with the city's traditional tree-lighting ceremony, holiday songs and free horse-drawn carriage rides.

“We want to welcome the holidays and give the community an opportunity to celebrate,” said Karey Ross, a marketing supervisor with the Warrenville Park District. The park district co-sponsors the annual event with the city and the Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce.

More than 200 people are expected to gather by the corner of Warren and Tracy Place to watch Mayor David Brummel illuminate the city's holiday tree. Once the tree is lit, there will be music and performances by local community and school groups, including the Wheaton Warrenville South High School choir.

There will be fire pits where people can warm up. The free carriage rides will be offered until 8 p.m. Food from Rosati's Pizza and Buffalo Wild Wings also will be for sale.

Inside the recreation center, visitors can take photographs with Santa and enjoy free hot chocolate, coffee and cookies.

“It's festive,” Ross said of Holly Days. “The whole idea is to get everybody into the holiday spirit.”

For information, call the park district at (630) 393-7279.

If you go

What: Holly Days

When: 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2

Where: Corner of Warren Avenue and Tracy Place in Warrenville

Cost: Free

Info: (630) 393-7279 or warrenvilleparks.org