Many holiday events to keep you busy this weekend
Don't let me hear anyone say that there's nothing to do this weekend.
I started to write about the North Aurora tree lighting ceremony set for Sunday at Island Park and then realized that I couldn't write about this weekend without also mentioning two separate Santa breakfasts and the holiday open house at the library.
The village's public works department and the village's beautification committee have been scurrying around this week getting the streets decorated for Christmas.
Beautification committee member Harry Patterson said that just over 100 plywood snowmen that residents decorated earlier in the month have been placed all around town.
The snowmen (and women and kids) that aren't in front of sponsored businesses have congregated by the river behind village hall by the gazebo awaiting the first official snowfall.
Patterson and area Girl Scouts are inviting everyone to kick off the Christmas season at 1 p.m. Sunday across the street in Island Park.
"We will have a singalong by the Slaker tree that we planted a dozen years ago," Patterson said.
The Girl Scout troops are bringing environmentally friendly ornaments for the animals and birds in the park.
Patterson said the village will provide a warming tent and hot chocolate to drink and the Girl Scouts will bring plenty of cookies to share.
And Patterson himself will lead everyone in traditional Christmas carols by the tree.
"The Girl Scouts love this event. We have a blast singing songs and looking around at all the beautiful snowmen we created," said Girl Scout Vega Service Unit leader Patty Graw.
"We are hoping for better weather this year. It was brutal last year, it was so cold," Graw remembered.
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• Santa is appearing at two separate breakfasts in his honor Saturday morning.
The North Aurora Lions Club Breakfast with Santa will be between 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the North Aurora Activity Center.
Lion Denise Duran said tickets will be sold at the door. The cost is $4 for kids 8 and under and $5 for anyone 9 and over for the all you can eat pancakes along with sausage, orange juice, coffee, tea and milk. Pictures with Santa will cost $3.
Duran said the Lions took over sponsorship of the event from Fox Valley Park District about four years ago.
"The money we take in will help our community projects," she said. "And don't forget we'll have Mrs. Claus' cookie shop bake sale that morning too."
Another of Santa's helpers will meet kids from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at West Aurora High School's traditional Breakfast with Santa held in the school's cafeteria at 1201 W. New York St.
Business teacher Bill Stanley is helping supervise the event but he said that the students are running the whole event themselves.
Members of DECA, an association of marketing students, plan and organize the event with help from students from FCCLA, family and consumer science students, the Hospitality Academy and the cooperative education classes.
"We are going crazy trying to make the things better than ever this year," Stanley said about the 19th annual student-directed entrepreneurial event.
"We will have a dozen different games for kids to play, crafts like making ornaments and a cake walk," he said.
The pancakes and bacon will be cooked and served by the Blackhawk Café students. Money raised from the event will help send students to state and national conferences.
"It's totally kid-run and the cost includes everything but the photos," he said.
Tickets are $7 and an adult must accompany all children. Each child will receive a gift from Santa and a hot pancake breakfast.
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• Messenger Public Library at 113 Oak St. is joining in the holiday celebrations this weekend with its Annual Holiday Open House from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Come to enjoy some holiday treats and family events.
Entertainer Cat Catalani will lead children and their families in a variety of holiday songs.
Children are also invited to work on holiday crafts and even get to meet Santa later in the afternoon.