Holiday market, music and more at Elgin Winter Wonderland Dec. 1
Celebrate the holidays at the annual Elgin Winter Wonderland from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, on DuPage Court and the Elgin ArtSpace Lofts downtown. The festival features a holiday market, live music, outdoor activities, food trucks, and more.
In DuPage Court, live entertainment will include: Hutson & Friends at 2 p.m., Nothing but Treble at 2:30 p.m., The Caroling Connection at 3 p.m., Kimball Middle School Jazz Band at 3:30 p.m., Elgin Master Chorale Children's Chorus at 4 p.m., Highland Elementary School Folkloric Dancers at 4:30 p.m., Children's Theatre of Elgin & Fox Valley Theatre Company at 5 p.m., and fire juggler Kyle Wiese at 5:30 p.m.
Take a selfie with your favorite Disney character, or listen to roaming musicians along Spring and Chicago streets!
There also will be a variety of outdoor activities. Join miniature goats from Reverse the Kerrs Farm for a holiday story with storytellers from Gail Borden Library every half-hour at Fulton and Grove (limit of 25 people per story). Makes some s'mores on DuPage Court or enjoy some roasted chestnuts over an open fire at Chicago and Spring streets. Get free photos in a vintage sleigh at Spring and Grove.
First United Methodist Church of Elgin will present the story of Christmas with a live nativity, Christmas carols, a petting zoo, hot cocoa and cookies at 2:30, 3:30, 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Free carriage rides will be offered along the Fox River, with the first ride at 3 p.m. at Fulton and Spring streets. Space is limited for this activity, offered by Long Eared Livery.
Celebrate Hanukkah with paper dreidel making and Hanukkah songs at DuPage Court.
The food trucks on Spring Street will be offered treats from 2 to 6 p.m., including Cook's Ice Cream with hot beverages, ice cream, and edible cookie dough; Mario's Cart with tacos, flautas, quesadillas and burritos; Perk N Pickle with gourmet sandwiches, burgers and American fare; and Boy Scouts Troop 10 with hot chocolate!
The Holiday Market inside Elgin ArtSpace Lofts from 2 to 6 p.m. will feature: Bridge N Sweets Gourmet Bakery, Broadview Farm And Garden, Cozy By Candles, Ecuadorians Crafts, First Star Art, Hospitalitea, Ivory Petal Co., Leaf and Loom, Little Bird Confections, Mode De Vie Studio, Red Flower Organics, Rocket Relic Candles, Socks & Souls, Three Bees Honey, Treasure Breads, Wildtree and Yolo Glow.
Downtown businesses also will offer activities indoors including:
• Pine cone and cupcake decorating, mini acupuncture sessions at Ben Shen Acupuncture, 162 E. Chicago St.
• Antler hat making for kids at Cuming Building, 80 S. Grove Ave.
• Holiday cookie decorating at Delish Cakes, 213 E Chicago St.
• Pictures with Santa from 4 to 6 p.m., cookie decorating and chili bar at Dream Hall, 51 S. Grove Ave.
• Dreamy snowflake photo op and professional face painter at Dream2Be Image, 23 S. Spring St.
• Book signing at Explore Elgin, 60 S. Grove
• Free goodies and 20-percent off sale at Elgin Antiques, 207 E Chicago
• Face painting, make a gift tag and "S-Elf-ies" at Elgin Area Chamber, 31 S. Grove
• Kid-friendly activities, SWAT team, and more from 2 to 4 p.m. at Elgin Police Station, 151 Douglas
• Photos with Santa from 2 to 4 p.m. at Elgin Public House, 219 E Chicago
• Letters to Santa & snowman cup at Farmers Insurance, 79 S. Grove
• Holiday trivia for kids & temporary tattoos at Funky Rooster, 73 S. Grove
• "Jimmy-themed" bell cups at Jimmy John's, 50 S. Grove, Unit B
• Free small bag of popcorn with purchase of large at Mama Lee's, 20 S. Spring
• Healthy snacks & hot chocolate at Simple Balance, 211 E. Chicago
• Birdhouse ornament crafting at Soulful Sparrow Cork, 10 Douglas
• Make and take holiday arts and crafts at Side Street Studio Arts at 15 Ziegler Court.
• Create your own wooden ornament stamp at Whatnots & Whimsies, 211 E. Chicago
• Fifteen-minute kids holiday yoga sessions every half-hour at Vida Yoga, 50 S. Grove, Unit D