Ugly-sweater display joins Bloomingdale's Festival of Lights fun

Do you wear jingle bells on your shoes? Do felted snowmen and Christmas trees adorn your red sweater vest?

You will be right at home at the Festival of Lights this weekend in Bloomingdale, if you visit the Bloomingdale Park District Museum, 108 S. Bloomingdale Road.

The staff has unveiled an "ugly sweater" exhibit.

"The sweaters are pretty cool," said Carrie Fullerton, the district's executive director. "They (the staff) did a really good job with it."

The sweaters - many obtained on a run to a Goodwill store - are even hanging from the ceiling, she said.

The Festival of Lights starts Friday afternoon, in Old Town.

From 4 to 7 p.m. you can visit with Santa Claus and see a giant snow globe at Pan American Bank, 108 W. Lake St.

The village's Christmas tree will be lighted at 7 p.m. Friday by the mayor and the park board president, at Old Town Park, 111 Third St.

The Chamber of Commerce will give away 300 reusable totes at its open house from 4 to 6 p.m. at 104 S. Bloomingdale.

From 5 to 9 p.m., the museum will host a Lego exhibit, featuring nine freight and passenger trains. There will also be crafts.

The Kris Kringle Market, featuring 30 local vendors, will be open from 5 to 8:30 p.m. throughout Old Town.

Free horse-drawn carriage rides are available from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

A free train ride will be available from 5:30 to 8 p.m. underneath the Old Town Park Pavilion.

And of course, Santa Claus will be at the party, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. There's a raffle to win a carriage ride with Santa.

Third Street will be closed at noon Friday at Washington and Lake streets. You can park in the Old Town Lot at Schick Road and Third; Cornerstone Church at Bloomingdale and Franklin Street; or Rooster's Bar and Grill, 122 W. Lake St.