Glen Ellyn Holiday Walk on Friday very 'Norman Rockwell-esque'
A day of retail therapy wrapped up with a big bow of holiday cheer is waiting for shoppers who venture into downtown Glen Ellyn on Friday.
That's when the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce and local businesses will present a picture postcard version of the biggest bargain-hunting day of the year with its annual Holiday Walk celebration.
Merchants will offer special deals while welcoming customers in for treats, said Dawn Smith, the chamber's executive director.
“It's a Glen Ellyn tradition that's been going on for just decades. It's very much a community event. It's very much a feeling of meeting with your friends and neighbors,” she said. “They basically have a little party in their own stores.”
Business owners agreed to decorate their store windows with a “winter wonderland” theme this year to create a unified feeling.
A five-person panel judges each window, awarding ribbons for best overall decoration, best theme interpretation, best business representation and best children's theme.
“Most of these storefronts are owned by residents of Glen Ellyn,” Smith said. “It's also Black Friday. We want to make sure people shop local.”
Free hot cocoa will be available and entertainers will perform music from “The Nutcracker.”
Just after 6 p.m., Santa is expected to begin walking from the fire house to the village's holiday tree near the horse trough on Main Street.
“He's surrounded by elves and volunteers,” Smith said.
When Santa and his entourage arrive, the ceremonial tree will sparkle for the first time this season after a 6:30 p.m. lighting ceremony.
“The tree every year is basically in the heart of downtown,” Smith said. “Santa walks to the tree from the firehouse, gets in the cherry picker of a fire truck and the cherry picker goes from one side to the other. There's a countdown and the tree is lit.”
Santa then will return to the fire station to visit with children until 8:30 p.m., she said.
“It's very Norman Rockwell-esque,” Smith said.
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Holiday Walk
When: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29
Where: Downtown Glen Ellyn
Admission: Free
Info: glenellynchamber.com