Holiday Magic taking shape in Bensenville
A 35-foot-tall blue spruce towers over Bensenville's town center, poised to be lighted at 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, to mark the beginning of the holiday season.
Three hours before that ceremonious moment arrives, the village will herald the return of Santa as part of Bensenville's Holiday Magic, which also features free music, treats, face painting and rides on Santa's train.
As recently as Nov. 7, the stately conifer graced the lawn of residents Roger and Cookie Fielitz.
Cookie said she was approached by village staff members who asked if she and her husband would be willing to donate their tree.
"We try to find the best-looking trees," said Bob Flood, the village's special events and hospitality manager.
"They asked me and I said, 'Why not?' I'm kind of honored. It's a nice-looking tree," Cookie said. "It was here when we bought the house. We've been living in the house 25, 30 years. Now I've got a big bare spot out there. Roger's talking about replanting and I said that'd be a nice spot for a flower bed."
The couple plans to be on hand for the tree-lighting.
"We always invite the family that donated the tree to help light it up with the mayor," said Mike Martella, the village's marketing and business development administrator.
Flood said Holiday Magic starts at 3 p.m. at the town center, adjacent the village hall at 12 S. Center St. Santa is scheduled to ride in on a kiddie train before he goes into the Santa House for visits and picture-taking with children.
The Christmas theme will be carried out with the presence of live reindeer, face painting, music and free screenings of a movie at the Bensenville Theatre, Flood said.
He said there will be free popcorn, hot chocolate, hot dogs and sweet treats at the town center, while supplies last.
"We have commemorative ornaments to hand out," Flood said.
Flood said ice sculptors also will be demonstrating their craft, and Martella added there will be free rides on the Santa kiddie train for children.
Attendees also will have the opportunity to donate food, coats and toys to holiday collection drives at the event.
Martella said the village coordinates the toy drive and partners with the Bensenville-Wood Dale Food Pantry for the food drive. The Bensenville Rotary Club handles the coat drive, he said.
"All the food we collect goes to the food pantry," Martella said.
Organizers also will put together toy packages for families in need.
Martella said students from Blackhawk Middle School and Fenton High School volunteer their time to wrap the gifts in early December.
Coats and toys will be distributed to needy families at Johnson Elementary School later in December, he said.
"It's really a community collaborative," Martella said.
If you go
What: Holiday Magic and Tree-Lighting Ceremony
When: 3 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22
Where: Center and Green streets, Bensenville
Cost: Free
Info: bensenville.il.us or (630) 766-8200