Holiday tradition returns to West Dundee
Santa got his wish this year.
In previous years, he had to sit in the gazebo in West Dundee's Grafelman Park, greeting children with a wink and a smile as he strained to conceal the biting cold that was piercing his red suit.
This year, at the annual Dickens in Dundee festivities, Santa had a cozy seat inside a white tent at the park.
While Santa listened to wishes Saturday, children colored holiday-themed pictures and their parents sipped Starbucks coffee during the second day of the Dundee tradition.
"People are here and they like to get out and they like to come out," said Rose Bendinelli, a West Dundee resident who helped organize the event with fellow resident Peggy Fahy. "It's something fun that we should continue."
Though scaled back a bit with this year's tough economic climate, the event still enjoyed a respectable turnout Saturday.
Local organizations and children's groups walked in the Spirit of Christmas parade in the morning then families made their way to Grafelman Park for children's crafts, hot beverages and the Dundee Lions Club's annual Festival of Trees - a display of trees decorated by local schools.
Jordan Nelson, a senior at Dundee-Crown High School, helped children design Christmas tree ornaments in the tent.
"It's been busy since I got here," Nelson said. "It's definitely getting me in the Christmas spirit, too."
The Glees family came to Dickens Saturday to design a gingerbread house and sip hot chocolate. But seven-year-old daughter, Sarah, seemed to be suffering from Santa fatigue.
"This is the fourth of fifth one she's seen," said her father, West Dundee resident Jerry Glees. "As far as she's concerned, the one at Spring Hill Mall is the real one. The other ones are helpers."
The most action was at the First United Methodist Church, which hosted the gingerbread house decoration.
"We had 130 homes this year, and we're going pretty fast," said West Dundee resident Amy Miller, who helped organize the event. "This is the most we've ever done."
Hank Schillmoeller of West Dundee has been bringing his children to decorate a gingerbread house for about five years.
"We buy one every year," Schillmoeller said. "It's nice for the kids."