Dickens in Dundee to feature tree lightings, parade, living window displays
Kick off the Christmas season with Dickens in Dundee, now in its 37th year. The annual festival begins on Friday, Dec. 6, with tree lighting ceremonies in both villages. Learn more at dickensindundee.org or eastdundee.net.
East Dundee
At 5:30 p.m. at The Depot, 319 N. River St., the Dundee-Crown Chamber and Varsity Treble Choirs will perform before the tree lighting ceremony at 5:45 p.m., led by the “The Christmas Schooner” cast of the Dundee Township Park District Theater and Santa.
From 6 to 8 p.m., check out the Living Windows along River and Main streets, and guest appearances by “Those Funny Little People.” From 6 to 9 p.m., be entertained by “The Frozen Robins” caroling quartet and meet “The Frozen Fab Four” (Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf). There also will be visits with Santa with free apple cider and cookies.
Santa’s Village will have a live reindeer on-site and there will be free horse-drawn carriage rides. Eastside Cafe will offer warm adult beverages for purchase on-site in the white tent. Free hot chocolate will be served as well.
West Dundee
At 6 p.m., the Treble Chorus and Chamber Choir will join in the illumination of the village Christmas tree on the south lawn of the West Dundee village hall.
Then, from 6-8 p.m., meet Santa at the village hall and enjoy hot chocolate and Christmas cookies and check out the Living Windows on display along Main Street, between First and Second streets. Some will feature live actors, while others feature traditional holiday decor and hand-painted designs. Start at the village hall and make your way east on the south side of Main Street to Around the Corner Candy. Then cross Main at First Street and make your way back on the north side, ending at Emmett's.
Warm up in Bamboozels’ upstairs Fusion Lounge and enjoy a few rounds of bingo with the family from 6-9 p.m. Friday, or join Kids Karaoke from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Start your Saturday with a hearty breakfast with a “Dickens Day Breakfast Buffet” between 9 a.m. and noon at Bamboozels, 101 W. Main St. in West Dundee. At Grafelman Park, join the free family festivities from noon to 3 p.m. including cookie decorating, treats such as hot cocoa, coffee and popcorn, photo opportunities and the chance for kids to share their wish list with Santa in the gazebo.
In addition to the Dundee Township Historical Society's “Dickens of a Sale,” Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 410 W. Main St., hosts a bazaar and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with handmade items. Enjoy the soup and sandwich lunch between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Every dollar collected from the luncheon will be donated to the FISH Food Pantry to assist local families in need this holiday season.
“A Christmas Carol Revisited: Scrooge's Reclamation” will be at 11 a.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, 516 Washington St. Take a deeper look at the classic tale with presenters Jim Gould and Ted Hazelgrove, professors of ethics and literature. They use role play, film and discussion to examine Ebenezer Scrooge's change from miser to philanthropist, and how this story challenges us to think about moral duty, human happiness, and personal transformation.
Or listen to Victoria Wilbrandt read a shortened version of Charles Dickens' classic tale by the fireplace at The Mansion Bed & Breakfast from 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Walk the gallery of Christmas trees decorated by local school groups, churches, nonprofits and clubs at the Ron Rhoades Festival of Trees from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Grafelman Park.
Trees are decorated on Friday between 12:30 and 5 p.m. The community is welcome to observe the decorating, have a cup of hot chocolate, and drop off a donation for the FISH Food Pantry. Trees are judged for creativity, beauty, and holiday spirit, with three Gold Awards and 3 Silver Awards given in each category. For the People's Choice Award, “like” the photo of your favorite tree on the Dundee Township Lions Facebook page.
Riverside Parade of Lights
Gather along the banks of the Fox River for the third annual Riverside Parade of Lights on Saturday. The parade marshal is Joe Minoso, who plays Joe Cruz on NBC’s “Chicago Fire.” The parade will step off at 6:30 p.m. on South Lincoln Avenue in West Dundee, travel north to the Main Street bridge in Carpentersville, and return back along Water Street in East Dundee. For details, go to the Riverside Parade of Lights Facebook event page.