Window Wonderland decorates downtown Elgin with holiday cheer
Submitted by DNA of Elgin
Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin’s 13th annual Downtown Elgin Window Wonderland will be noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in the streets of downtown Elgin.
In addition to all of the beautifully decorated storefront windows, decorated in this year’s event theme of “Rockin’ in a Window Wonderland,” lining Elgin’s downtown, Window Wonderland offers the following list of activities and locations including:
Ÿ Santa’s Crew Reindeer fly into Elgin’s Civic Center parking lot from noon to 4 p.m.
Ÿ Enjoy a festive, horse-drawn carriage ride up and down Douglas Avenue. The carriage will also drop off and pick up visitors at the Elgin Winter Market, 166 Symphony Way. Round trip rides are $5 per person (kids 5 and under free) and can be purchased at the Civic Center parking lot (Highland and Douglas) or at the Winter Market. The Horse Drawn Carriage will operate from noon to 3 p.m.
Ÿ First United Methodist Church, 215 E. Highland Ave., will again be performing the live nativity in front of the church from noon to 4 p.m. Kids can also enjoy petting and feeding all of the nativity animals. Nativity performances take place every half-hour. In between performances, the church invites you inside to partake in their Holiday Open House with refreshments and tours of the church.
Ÿ Browse dozens of holiday crafts and gift ideas at the special Window Wonderland Kriss Kringle Mart at 215 E. Chicago St. from noon to 5 p.m.M. The Kriss Kringle Mart will remain open until Sunday, Dec. 4.
Ÿ Artist Joe Gagnepain will demonstrate his ice sculpting skills from 12:30 to 2 p.m. by showing guests how to transform a block of ice into an intricate holiday work of art in DuPage Court.
Ÿ Join Rockin’ Santa as he performs all your holiday favorites (and maybe a few you haven’t heard before) at Villa Verone, 13 Douglas Ave., from 12:30 to 2 p.m., and Ravenheart Coffee, 176 E. Chicago St. from 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Ÿ Holiday Passport — Beginning at noon, kids and families can pick up a free goody bag at the DNA Office, 2 Douglas Ave., containing menus and coupons from downtown businesses as well as an exclusive Window Wonderland Adventure Kit containing: a map detailing the day’s activities and passport stops, a People’s Choice Award window decorating ballot and a secret message decoder. To decode the message and redeem your free photo with Santa and gift at Elgin Public House, visit all of the passport stops and write down the codes on the posters at each stop to reveal your super secret message from Santa before turning it into our elves at Elgin Public House.
Ÿ After visiting all the passport stops, turn in your decoded message to Santa’s helpers at Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St., and get your photos taken with the big guy himself from 2 to 4 p.m. You will receive a printed photo in a keepsake holiday card (while supplies last) and a secret Santa gift!
Ÿ Be sure to check out all of the beautiful decorated windows and vote for your favorite in the People’s Choice Window Decorating Award Voting. Ballots will be available to pick up at the DNA Office, 2 Douglas Ave. You can also vote for your favorite window online throughout the entire weekend at DowntownElgin.com.
The day culminates with the city of Elgin’s Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5 p.m. in front of city hall at 150 Dexter Court. The Elgin Children’s Chorus will perform followed by council members and city staff helping to throw the switch to officially usher in the holiday season in Elgin.
For a complete list of participating windows, locations and decorators, visit DowntownElgin.com.