Elgin Window Wonderland Saturday

This year's 10th annual Window Wonderland event from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 is showing no signs of recession as attractions line up inside and outside the streets of downtown Elgin, along with other partnering events that will be sure to keep you in this part of Elgin all afternoon and night.

For the second year Larkin Baptist church will present a live nativity scene complete with animals, from calves, a donkey, sheep, and a baby camel on North Grove Avenue. Kids of all ages also can visit two of Santa's reindeer crew in the Civic Center parking lot.

Enjoy free ice skating behind city hall from noon to 9 p.m., courtesy of the City of Elgin. Windy Hill Christmas Tree Farm will show you how to put together a wreath. They also will be selling wreaths for purchase which benefit the Larkin Center in Elgin.

There will be live performances of excerpts from the Nutcracker Suite & "Living" windows by Gould Academy at 3 p.m. in Mad Maggie's restaurant.

Books at Sunset will offer "A Polar Express" reading with the Dancing Chefs doing the Chocolat Boogie at 1:30 and 2 p.m. along with holiday crafts and local author of "The Chocolate Story," Rick Moser. All of this is also at Mad Maggie's restaurant.

After getting half of your passport stamped Santa Claus will be waiting in the beautifully decorated Professional Building, 164 Division St. where you will get a free picture with Santa.

Be sure to stroll down Douglas Avenue for the holiday hot treats, roasted chestnuts.

Hear Elgin Choral Union singers caroling as they make their way around downtown Elgin from 2 to 5 p.m.

Lincoln's log cabin will be all decorated for the holidays at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave.

From noon to 2 p.m., enjoy a Holiday tea hosted by the Elgin Area Historical Society with performances by the Elgin Choral Union and pianist David Nelson. The museum will be open from noon to 4 p.m. for those who would like to view the "At the Ballet" exhibit on Lisa Boehm's "Nutcracker."

Then at 5 p.m., join the city of Elgin in viewing the lighting of the tree in Festival Park along with other activities to end the day.

So make your way to Downtown Elgin this Saturday and stop by any of the attractions or holiday stops to pick up your passport with your Window decorating ballot. Then check out all the participating businesses and organizations involved with discounts, free cookies and hot drinks, window decorating, etc. With enough stamps you can be one of the first 200 families get free pictures with Santa and one of the first 100 to get a Nutcracker ornament. To get a sneak preview of the passport, along with the detailed events of the day and evening go to www.downtownelgin.org or call (847) 488-1456.