Schaumburg welcomes Santa, start of holidays

Though a few weeks behind its high-profile mall, the village of Schaumburg officially ushered in the holiday season Friday night with caroling, a visit from Santa and the lighting of the tree.

While village officials, including Mayor Al Larson, got the caroling started at the Prairie Center for the Arts, they later proved to be merely the warm-up act for the accomplished vocalists of the Schaumburg Youth Choir.

Santa arrived on a village fire truck to light the tree with the mayor, then met with children in the Prairie Center's Maggie Atcher Theatre.

While some attendees brought nonperishable food items to the event for the local food pantry, donations can continue to be dropped off at the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center at 101 Schaumburg Court from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday until Dec. 30.

Requested items for the donation include canned meals, soup, juice, snacks, crackers, dry pasta, tissues, paper towels, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner.