38th annual Dickens in Dundee ushers in holiday festivities

Kick off the Christmas season with Dickens in Dundee, now in its 38th year. The annual festival begins on Friday, Dec. 5, with tree lighting ceremonies in both villages. Learn more at dickensindundee.org or eastdundee.net.

New this year

Join Santa’s East Side Market, co-hosted by Huffman Vendor Fairs, from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday at The Depot, 319 N. River St. in East Dundee. Under a big tent, browse 15 artisan stations filled with holiday crafts and gifts. This is an opportunity to shop for those holiday presents for friends and family, and what better way to do that than by supporting local businesses.

East Dundee

The Dundee-Crown Chamber and Varsity Treble Choirs will perform before the tree lighting ceremony at 5:45 p.m. Friday at The Depot, 319 N. River St. They will be led by the “The Christmas Schooner” cast of the Dundee Township Park District Theater and Santa.

From 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, check out the Living Windows at businesses along River and Main streets: Willow & Birch, 324 N. River St.; Century 21 New Heritage, 322 N. River St.; The House of Creativity, 212 N. River St.; River Street Tavern, 102 N. River St.; Vapor Haus Dundee, 10 E. Main St., Suite 106; and One Cut Above the Rest, 1 E. Main St. There also will be guest appearances by “Those Funny Little People.”

From 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, be entertained by “The Frozen Robins” caroling quartet and meet “The Frozen Fab Four” (Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf) with musical performances at 7 and 8 p.m.

Also from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, stop by for visits with Santa with free hot chocolate and cookies. Warm, adult beverages also will be available for purchase by Eastside Cafe in the teal-colored tent. Offerings include: mulled wine, red and white wine, Irish cream and peanut butter whiskey (to add to hot cocoa).

Santa’s Village will have a live reindeer on-site and there will be free horse-drawn carriage rides.

In addition to street parking, there are parking lots located: behind 311 Barrington Ave.; off Main Street/Route 72 next to Dairy Queen/Dundee Music; the AT&T parking lot on the northwest corner of Jackson and Water streets; and the new parking garage at 304 Hill St. and the lot at 309 Jackson Street). ADA accessible parking will be available in front of 220 N. River St. where marked with signage.

West Dundee

At 7 p.m. Friday, 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, 102 S. Second St.

From 6-8 p.m. Friday, meet Santa at the village hall and enjoy hot chocolate and Christmas cookies. Stop by the Fox River Valley Public Library table in the main vestibule to receive a free children's book. Books will be available from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, or while supplies last, with titles appropriate for readers from preschool through elementary school reading levels.

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 7-9 p.m. Friday, or sing the night away with adult karaoke hosted by Garrison starting at 9 p.m. both nights. On Saturday, from 2 to 6 p.m., enjoy a fun afternoon for young singers before the Parade of Lights. It is hosted by Ivy.

After Friday’s tree lighting, stop by the VFW from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. for Fezziwig's Ball, a joyful and music-filled celebration of the holiday season. West Dundee's very own Controlled Burn will provide entertainment for the evening in the banquet hall. Enter on the south side of the VFW, 117 S. First St. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

On Saturday, enjoy a soup and salad luncheon from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 410 W. Main St. Every dollar collected from the luncheon will be donated to the FISH Food Pantry to assist local families in need this holiday season. While you're there, visit the bake sale and craft bazaar and shop for vintage items at the Historical Society’s “Dickens of a Sale.”

From noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, come celebrate the season with friends and neighbors at the village hall. These activities were previously scheduled for Grafelman Park, but have been relocated to the village hall board room due to the weather forecast. There will be free family fun include cookie decorating, treats such as hot cocoa and coffee, and visits with Santa.

From 2:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, take a deeper look at Charles Dickens’ classic tale “A Christmas Carol” with presenters Jim Gould and Ted Hazelgrove, professors of ethics and literature, at the Dundee Library, 555 Barrington Ave., East Dundee. Gould and Hazelgrove will use role play, film and discussion to examine Ebenezer Scrooge's change from closed-hearted miser to open-hearted 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, 305 Oregon Ave., from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Walk the gallery of Christmas trees decorated by local school groups, churches, nonprofits and clubs at the Ron Rhoades Festival of Trees from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to noon Sunday at Grafelman Park.

Trees are decorated on Friday between 11 a.m. 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, vote for your favorite on the Dundee Township Lions Club Facebook page.

Riverside Parade of Lights

On Saturday, Dec. 6, join a magical night along the riverfront for the fourth annual Riverside Parade of Lights, presented by the Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce, and the villages of Carpentersville, East Dundee and West Dundee.

It will start at 6:30 p.m. in West Dundee on South Lincoln Avenue (just south of North Sixth Street), travel north to, and across, the Main Street bridge in Carpentersville around 6:45 p.m., then south on Washington/Water St. to East Dundee, ending at Railroad Street, around 7 p.m.

Warm up with hot beverages at the Parade of Lights. Hot cocoa will be offered by Eastside Cafe for purchase at $2 a cup (cash only) at the tent located on Water Street near Barrington Avenue in East Dundee. Donations will be accepted for the D300 Food Pantry. Eastside Cafe will match all donations received.

Or head over to the Coffee & Seasonal Beverage Tent, next to the Hot Cocoa Tent, featuring coffee and other seasonal beverages, offered by Biggby Coffee for purchase.