Special events for holiday shoppers in downtown Glen Ellyn

Every Saturday from now until Christmas, downtown Glen Ellyn welcomes holiday shoppers with special events.

An old-fashioned farm wagon pulled by two beautiful horses is available for rides around the village area. Another feature that everyone looks forward to is the A Cappella Underground Singing Group that carols through the business district of Glen Ellyn every weekend. On Dec. 3 they began their joyful songs at noon in the Honey Restaurant.

This Christmas season is special to A Cappella Underground because they are hoping to collect donations for Children of Uganda, a project taken on by the Choir Department at Glenbard West High School. In February, a group of singers from Children of Uganda will perform a program at the Glenbard West Auditorium and the money needed for this event is $5,000. Through tips and donations, A Cappella Underground hopes to help the Choir members reach that goal.

The 2011-2012 A Cappella Underground members are Caitlin Paul, Alyssa Bach, Katie Flowers, Maddie Grace, Amanda Heidorn, Abby MacKay, Lina Lash, Robert Raceka, Kyle Dahlgren, Colin Saprenza, Malcolm McGuire, Joe Williamson-Link, and Nathan Hall.

The volunteer spirit of this group is well-known in the four years they have been in existence. Their well-blended voices are a welcome addition to village activities. Every year the group votes on a charity, organization or institiution that involves music, to donate all they have earned for the year. Uganda Orphans is the first project they hope to complete in 2011 and when they perform their spring concert, they hope to earn enough to donate to another worthy musical themed social service.