Dickens in Dundee welcomes holiday season with Victorian flair
Generations of West Dundee and East Dundee residents have memories of Christmases past when Dickens in Dundee helped define the holiday season.
"It's been going on for a long time," said Kim Tibbetts, executive assistant to West Dundee Village Manager Joseph Cavallaro.
The two villages will celebrate the two-day festival, themed around an homage to British author Charles Dickens, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-7, for the 32nd time, Tibbetts said.
Tibbetts said both old and new activities will characterize the 2019 version.
"It has its traditional activities that people look forward to - mainly the living windows and the parade," she said, adding that Santa's arrival is also a central event.
Storefront window displays with staged scenes and live actors and dancers will entertain crowds in both villages' downtown areas from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. In West Dundee, the scenes will include moments from the movie "Frozen," an appearance by the Grinch and a presentation about Dickens. East Dundee will offer free horse-drawn carriage rides.
New this year in West Dundee will be a do-it-yourself reindeer food making session at Trippots plant shop from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Tibbetts said.
Hot spiced cider will be served at Half Full Nest Vintage Market from 6 to 8 p.m. while The Voice alumnus singer Riley Elmore, a West Dundee native, will perform from 6 to 7 p.m.
"They'll be having an open house," said Tibbetts.
Santa is expected in the Warming House on the second floor of the West Dundee village hall from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, where hot chocolate and cookies will be served.
Through the magic of the season, Santa is expected to arrive in downtown East Dundee about 6:45 p.m. Friday.
A raffle that supports the "Shop With a Cop" program will be held at the West Dundee village hall from 6 to 8 p.m. The program pairs police officers with children in need and sends them on a holiday shopping trip to Walmart.
Both towns will have a tree lighting ceremony, with West Dundee's at 7 p.m. Friday outside the village hall. The switch will be thrown by Ginny Buhrmann, who with her husband Mike were named Community Volunteers of the Year, Tibbetts said. East Dundee's tree will be illuminated at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
East Dundee will host characters from "Frozen" including Elsa, Anna and Olaf along with Santa's elves.
From 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, West Dundee's RocHaus will present Fezziwig's Family Festivities, a slate of live performances including the Dundee-Crown Jazz Combo, the Boys and Girls Club Blue Voices Choir, the Dundee-Crown Chamber Choir and Controlled Burn.
Both towns will participate in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots toy drive with drop-off donation locations.
The Spirit of Christmas Dickens in Dundee parade steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday.
"It starts at the West Dundee village hall and goes across the bridge to East Dundee," Tibbetts said.
Saturday in Grafelman Park in West Dundee visitors will find Santa ready to meet children, a children's craft activity, a petting zoo and a Christmas tree display.
Businesses and churches will present a variety of events including cookie and gingerbread house decorating, breakfast with Santa, a cookie walk and craft boutiques, Tibbetts said.
Dickens' classic story, "A Christmas Carol," will bring the story of Scrooge alive at a reading of an abbreviated version of the story at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, in the Mansion Bed and Breakfast, 305 W. Oregon St., West Dundee.
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Dickens in Dundee
When: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7
Where: Various locations in downtown West Dundee and East Dundee
Admission: Free
Info: dickensindundee.org and eastdundee.net