Holiday season kicks off in Lake Co.

This weekend marks the unofficial start of the holiday season.

Many area towns will mark the occasion with tree-lighting ceremonies, others with Santa visits and parades.

Here's a list of activities happening throughout the area. So grab that holiday sweater from the back of the closet, put on a warm hat, and go out and enjoy the fun.

Antioch

• The village's annual old-fashioned holiday parade kicks off at 6:30 p.m. tonight. The parade starts on Main Street and will end in front of village hall for the official lighting of the Antioch Family Christmas Tree.

Cookies, hot chocolate, a visit from Santa and caroling are all part of the festivities. Call (847) 395-2160 for information.

• Santa's Enchanted Castle will open tonight and continue daily through Dec. 23 on Toft Street.

The attraction is open weekdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. on weekends. A free holiday activity book will be given out to all children who visit. Photos are also available for an additional cost. Call (847) 395-2233 for information.

• The Christmas Walk is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. today. Stroll about Antioch's business community while enjoying the second annual walk. Call (847) 395-6342 for more information.

Fox Lake

• The tree lighting begins at 6:30 p.m. today at Millenium Park, corner of Grand Avenue and Rollins Road. The tree will be lit at 7 p.m.

• The Korpan's Christmas Parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at Grant High School. The parade leaves at 11 a.m. and heads west down Grand Avenue to Rollins Road and turns south before ending at Lakeland Plaza. The parade will be about 90 minutes long.

The Christmas party will be at 1 p.m. at the Lakefront Park on Nippersink Road. Children can meet Santa, eat hot dogs and chips, and all children receive a stocking of goodies.

Grayslake

• Grayslake's tree lighting will be downtown at 5:30 p.m. today. The action will take pace at Seymour Avenue and Center Street. Santa Claus then will lead the way to The Oasis at the partially renovated youth center at 151 Hawley St. Children may have pictures taken with Santa for free.

Gurnee

• Gurnee's eighth annual tree-lighting celebration is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Viking Park on Old Grand Avenue. Plans call for Santa Claus and his reindeer to visit the festivities. There also will be carriage rides, music, children's games ice sculpting. Hot cocoa, chili and snacks will be provided while quantities last. The event is free. For more information, call (847) 623-7788.

• Viking Park Singers will hold their annual holiday concerts at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 and 3 p.m. Dec. 2. The concert will be in the Viking Park dance hall on Old Grand Avenue just east of O'Plaine Road. Viking Park Singers are a community chorus sponsored by the Gurnee Park District. Event tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for those ages 6 to 17. Children under 5 are free. Tickets may be purchased at the door.

• The Candian Pacific Railway Holiday Train will make a stop in Gurnee on Dec. 8.

The trains have traveled across North America for nine years to raise money and gather food donations for food pantries and food banks in Canada and the United States. The 13-car train rolls into Gurnee at about 4:50 p.m. Dec. 8. The event will take place on the north side of the Grand Avenue underpass (east side of Depot Road) across from Viking Middle School Park, 4460 Old Grand Ave.

Entertainers on this train include Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame member Tracey Brown, Juno award-winner Colin Linden and the family duo Ennis.

Hawthorn Woods

• The village's annual tree-lighting ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 at village hall, 2 Lagoon Drive.

Refreshments will be served, and Bare Voices from Lake Zurich High School will lead the group in singing Christmas carols. Soon after the tree lighting, Santa Claus will arrive on a firetruck and will visit with children. Parents or guardians are encouraged to bring cameras if they'd like pictures.

Hainesville

• Santa and Mrs. Claus will be dropping by Hainesville village hall from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 8. Along with cookies, candy, hot chocolate, juice and coffee for those in attendance, Santa will distribute goody bags to all the children he meets. Hainesville's Christmas tree will be illuminated at 5 p.m. in front of the village hall at 100 N. Hainesville Road. For more information, call the village hall at (847) 223-2032.

Island Lake

• The annual tree-lighting ceremony will be Dec. 8 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at Converse Park on Route 176. There will be hayrides, and sledding and ice skating if there is snow and ice. Coffee and hot chocolate will be served. St. John's Choir will sing carols. Santa Claus arrives shortly after 2:30 p.m., and the tree lighting will be at 4 p.m.

Lakemoor

• There will be no tree-lighting ceremony this year, but children can have a special visit with Santa Claus at village hall, 234 West Rand Road, on Dec. 2 from 1 to 4 p.m. Cookies and punch will be served, and kids can make a craft item with help from mom or dad. All children who attend will get a goody bag.

Lake Zurich

• Lake Zurich's 21st-annual holiday tree-lighting ceremony will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Breezewald Park, 125 N. Old Rand Road. There will be hot chocolate, cookies holiday carols with the Lake Zurich High School Bare Voices, and a visit by Santa in the Lake Zurich Volunteer Fire Department's antique firetruck. The ceremony is sponsored by the village and the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce.

Lake Villa

• A Christmas parade in downtown Lake Villa will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, ending in Lehmann Park on Cedar Avenue with the annual tree lighting. Residents can gather for cider and cookies at the train station after the tree lighting. Santa will make an appearance. Call (847) 356-6100 for information.

Libertyville

• The village's tree-lighting ceremony will be tonight in Cook Park, on Milwaukee Avenue at Cook Avenue. Caroling will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the tree lighting will be at 7 p.m. The doors will be open at St. Lawrence Episcopal Church in conjunction with the tree-lighting ceremony. Parishioners will be offering hot chocolate, coffee and cookies from 6 to 8 p.m. in the church's narthex. St. Lawrence is at 125 W. Church St., right across the street from Cook Park.

Lincolnshire

• The village of Lincolnshire will host Festival of Lights from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. Dec. 2 at Village Green, east of Flatlander's Restaurant on Olde Half Day Road.

There will be free cookies and hot chocolate compliments of the Greater Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce. Santa will arrive with treats and other surprises for children. The event also will include performances by the Stevenson High School band, choral groups from Half Day School and Daniel Wright Jr. High School, and the Stevenson High School Holiday Chorus. The lights will be lit at 5:35 p.m. A group sing will end the festivities.

Lindenhurst

• The tree lighting will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Lindenhurst Park District Community Center, 2200 E. Grass Lake Road, Lindenhurst.

Santa will arrive by firetruck thanks to the Lake Villa Volunteer Fire Department. Christmas carols will be sung before the tree is lit. Then everyone can gather inside for free cookies and juice. Photos with Santa will be offered for $1. A juggler will entertain the crowd.

All those attending are asked to bring a nonperishable food item to benefit the Lake Villa Township Food Pantry. Call (847) 356-6011 for information.

Mundelein

• The village's tree-lighting ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. Nov. 30 at Kracklauer Park, at Seymour Avenue at Courtland Street. Santa Claus, hot chocolate, music, fireworks and more are on the schedule.

• Santa's Cottage will be open Dec. 7, Dec. 8, Dec. 14 and Dec. 15 at Park Street and Seymour Avenue. On Fridays, the cottage will be open from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and on Saturdays, it will be open from noon to 3 p.m.

Round Lake area

• The village of Round Lake will host its annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Nov. 30 at the village hall, 442 N. Cedar Lake Road.

• The village of Round Lake Beach will host its annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. today at the village hall, 1937 N. Municipal Way. Santa Claus will arrive at 6 p.m., followed by the tree lighting at 6:30 p.m.

• The village of Round Lake Park will host its annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 8, at the village hall, 203 E. Lake Shore Drive.

• The village of Round Lake Heights will hold its tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Dec. 1 in front of the village hall, 619 Pontiac Court.

• The Round Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry will host its annual Pancake Breakfast with Santa and Craft and Gift Bazaar from 7:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 2, at Round Lake High School, 800 High School Drive, Round Lake. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for children and senior citizens.

• The Round Lake Area Park District is hosting its annual Holiday Festival from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 1 at the community center, 814 Hart Road, Round Lake.

The free event features a moonwalk, little elves workshop and fireworks. Photos with Santa with be available for a $2 donation.

Vernon Hills

• The drive-through Holiday Light Festival, presented by the village of Vernon Hills in cooperation with the Cuneo Museum and Gardens, is held annually on the grounds of the Cuneo Museum and Gardens. The light show will open tonight and runs through Jan. 5.

Hours are 6 to 10 p.m. daily, but it is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The light show will be open New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

The cost is $5 per car Monday through Thursday, and $10 per car Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

• The Cuneo mansion is decorated for the holidays and opens for tours today through Dec. 30.

The mansion is decorated inside and out with an 18-foot Christmas tree in the Great Hall, smaller "theme" trees in each bedroom, garlands on every balustrade, and poinsettias lining the staircase.

Tours are $12 for adults, $11 for seniors and $7 for students and children.

The museum and gardens are at 1350 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Vernon Hills.

• The tree-lighting ceremony will be at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Vernon Hills Golf Course, 291 Evergreen Drive. Mayor Roger Byrne will flip the switch to the holiday tree. Bring the family, the neighbors and the kids out for hot chocolate, cookies and cider. Santa will be there as well.

Volo

• The tree-lighting ceremony will be 6 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Volo Country Village on the grounds of the Volo Auto Museum, off Volo Village Road. The Wauconda High school choir will be on hand to sing Christmas carols.

• Remington Homes is hosting a holiday food and clothing drive throughout November. Donations can be dropped off at the Remington Pointe sales office off Molidor Road. All food proceeds will be donated to the Grant Township food pantry. All clothing donations will be donated to the Cancer Federation of Illinois. Those who donate two or more items will be entered into a turkey and pie raffle. For more information, call (815) 578œ4305.

Wauconda

• The park district will hold its annual tree lighting and arrival of Santa Claus event Nov. 30, starting at 6 p.m. in Cook Park, 600 N. Main St. in Wauconda. There will be carol singing and refreshments, and pictures with Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves will be available for $1 each. Remember to wear warm clothing for outside activities.

• The annual Chamber of Commerce Holiday Walk on Main Street will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 1. Horse-drawn sleigh rides will be available for free from 1 to 3 p.m. A scavenger hunt goes from 1 to 4 p.m. Immediately afterward, go to the Wauconda Park District Community Center, 600 N. Main St., for a tree-lighting ceremony, Santa visit, games and other activities starting at 5:30 p.m.

• The Wauconda Park District will hold a candy cane hunt for children ages 4 and older at the park district's community center at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9. Bring a flashlight. The event is free.

Waukegan

• Holiday Fest will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 1 in downtown Waukegan, corner of Genesee and Clayton streets. Call (847) 599œ2949 for information.

• The Waukegan Historical Society will host an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Haines House Museum, Bowen Park, 1917 N. Sheridan Road.

Best bets

Besides holiday tree-lighting ceremonies and Santa arrivals, there are other activities going on in Lake County this weekend. They include:

Winter farmers market: The Grayslake Farmers Market will hold a grand opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday of The Marketplace at Centennial Park.

The market, in downtown Grayslake, will feature 10 vendors selling everything from wine to buffalo meat and baked goods.

The event will be hosted by Lake Forest Hospital and will include the arrival of both Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and the Elf via the Grayslake Fire Department. Also available will be live DJ music, and an official flag raising by Cub Scout Pack 91, Den 7.

The hospital also is sponsoring a winter wear drive. Proceeds from the sale of hot dogs, chips, soda and hot chocolate will go to the clothing drive to provide winter clothing for the needy.

Lake Forest also will have nurses on hand to give flu shots.

The winter dates for the market are every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Dec. 22, and in 2008, it will be Jan. 19, Feb. 16, March 15, April 12 and May 10.

Arts, crafts show: There will be an arts and crafts show Saturday and Sunday at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake.

The show will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $2 for adults. Children under 12 are free. The fairgrounds are near the intersection of routes 45 and 120.

Dance at Greenbelt: Head over to the Greenbelt Cultural Center tonight for an evening of "steppin'," an African-American dance style.

Enjoy appetizers and free dance lessons from 6 to 7 p.m. with paid admission. Stay for a while or dance the night away. Adult beverages available for purchase.

The event, for adults only, will be at the Greenbelt Cultural Center near North Chicago. Purchase tickets in person during regular Greenbelt Cultural Center hours, or at the door. Questions? Call (847) 968-3477.

The entrance to the parking lot at Greenbelt is off the east side of Green Bay Road, between 10th and 14th streets, south of Belvidere Road.

Snowmobile safety: Learn how to safely operate a snowmobile during the Snowmobile Safety Class and Certification Exam on Saturday. Taught by forest preserve rangers, this indoor class will prepare you for the written certification exam. Passing the exam (administered at the end of class) allows those under the age of 16 to operate a snowmobile without an adult.

The event takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Lakewood Forest Preserve, off Route 176 near Wauconda. The class is free, but registration is required by calling (847) 968-3411.

Artist appearance: Artist Tom Lynch will make a personal appearance at Fancy Art, NFP, in Lake Zurich on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Elected into the Society of American Impressionists, Who's Who in American Art as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from Mayor Richard Daley, Lynch has been featured in many exhibitions including The American Embassy in Paris and publications such as American Artist, International Artist, The Wall Street Journal as well as having his own PBS television series

Lynch will display his newest artwork. There will be music, hors d'oeuvres and refreshments.

Fancy Art, NFP, is at 733 W. Route 22 in the Village Square Shopping Center, at the corner of routes 22 and 12. For information and to RSVP, call (847) 304-4045.

Benefit run: The fifth running of "The Dream for Eileen" will take place on Saturday at Forest Park in Lake Forest.

This year, the board of directors of the Eileen Shea Lupton Memorial Scholarship Fund includes Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago as a partner and sponsor. Registration for the 5K race is available at www.eileenlupton.com.

Eileen Lupton received a degree in pediatric nursing from Villanova University. She died in June 2003 after a porch collapsed in Chicago.

Proceeds from the run will help fund the Eileen Shea Lupton Memorial Foundation Scholarship and assist Children's Memorial Hospital with their outreach program. Participation in the 5K run helps give nursing students the opportunity to fulfill their dream of providing compassionate care.

A children's fun run will begin at 10 a.m., and the 5K run/walk will begin at 10:30 a.m. Registration for both events is $25.

To register, please visit www.eileenlupton.com.