Lake Wonderland lights up Lake Park this weekend
Sleigh bells will ring in the fifth annual Des Plaines Park District Lake Wonderland Winter Festival from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6.
Lake Park, 1015 Howard Ave., just west of Lee Street, will be ablaze with dozens of decorated trees sponsored by local businesses and organizations, as well as the thousands of twinkling lights across the entire park.
The festival's most popular events return this year including horse drawn sleigh rides along the lake shore, winter games, holiday bingo, the yellow snow eating contest, arts and crafts, face painting, food and ice craving demonstrations.
Inside two heated tents families can pose with Santa Claus for free holiday pictures sponsored by the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce and meet Ronald McDonald and Friends, Sky Guy from the WNBA, Skates, Hubert the Lion, Jewels the Clown and Kiwi the Clown.
Free live entertainment this year includes performances by Ken Schultz, "The Flying Fool" a family entertainer who combines juggling, physical comedy, and fire-eating; Rick Kelley, a multi-award winning entertainer who blends live music and humor with audience participation; an Iditarod History talk featuring Siberian Huskies that also will be available for photos; the Northwest Percussion Brigade; Artistry in Motion, the resident dance company of the Des Plaines Park District; the O'Hare Irish Dancers, the Prospect Madrigal Singers; the Des Plaines Library Singers and the Christ Church Hand Bell Choir.
The History Center will serve roasted chestnuts, host a bake sale and present a special exhibit: "Celebrating the Season - Photography and Memorabilia about winter in Des Plaines."
Admission is free except for the sleigh rides, ($5 for adults; $3 for children). All other events, games, crafts, and photos are free.
"The festival gets bigger and better every year," said Gayle Mountcastle, superintendent of recreation for the Des Plaines Park District. "We are very excited to kick off the holiday season and give back to the community at the same time."
The presenting sponsors for Lake Wonderland 2009 are Alan's Plumbing, sponsoring the horse drawn-sleigh rides, and R.C. Wahl Jewelers, sponsoring the main stage entertainment. The arts and crafts in the North Pole Tent are sponsored by Advantage Chrysler Jeep Dodge and 15 businesses and organizations are sponsoring lighted trees.
"We are so happy to be partnering with all of these businesses and organizations this year. They have helped to make this festival a winter wonderland for our community." Mountcastle said.
For more information call the Des Plaines Park District, (847) 391-5700 or visit desplainesparks.org.