
Dickens in Dundee is an annual holiday event that will be held Dec. 6 and 7 in East Dundee and West Dundee. | Village of East Dundee
By Mike Danahey | Elgin Courier-News
Holly Days in downtown Elgin may be kicking off the holiday calendar with a slew of activities for Small Business Saturday, but there are plenty of other events in the area designed to put you in a festive frame of mind.
Here’s a list of some of them:
Friday, Dec. 5
Dickens in Dundee will take place from 3 to 9 p.m. in the downtown districts of East Dundee and West Dundee. The free event will feature an East Side market in East Dundee, tree lighting ceremonies and visits with Santa in both towns, decorated “living” windows, a raffle to benefit Shop With A Cop, carriage rides and other attractions. For more information, go to dickensindundee.org and eastdundee.net/things_to_do/village_community_events/dickens_in_dundee.php.
Saturday, Dec. 6
Dickens in Dundee continues from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at various locations in West Dundee. Attractions include a bake sale, craft bazaar, a reading of “A Christmas Carol” and, in Grafelman Park, a Winter Wonderland with an appearance by Santa and the Lions Club tree sale. For details, go to dickensindundee.org.
Winterfest begins at 9 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 21 at Randall Oaks Zoo, 1180 N. Randall Road, West Dundee. The fest will feature Santa visits, bonfires, holiday lights and decorations. Regular admission rates apply. For information, go to www.dtpd.org/winterfest.
Riverside Parade of Lights will step off at 6:30 p.m. along the Fox River in West Dundee, crossing the Main Street bridge in Carpentersville then heading south toward downtown East Dundee. For information, go to business.nkcchamber.com/events/Details/4th-annual-riverside-parade-of-lights-1523078?sourceTypeId=Website.
Friday, Dec. 12
Dundee Township Park District will host a “Jolly Stop” from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Adult Activities Center at the Rakow Center, 665 Barrington Ave, Carpentersville. The evening will feature visits with Santa. Registration for children ages 2 to 12 is required and the cost is $6 for Dundee Township resident families and $9 for nonresident families. To register, go to www.dtpd.org/jolly-stop.

Under the Streetlamp’s “Hip to the Holidays” concert will be presented Dec. 12 at Elgin Community College’s Blizzard Theater. | Josh Rzepka
Under the Streetlamp’s “Hip to the Holidays” concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Blizzard Theater, Building H, Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive. The act is made up of former “Jersey Boys” cast members who will put their twist to holiday standards. Tickets are $65, $20 and free for children 12 or younger. For tickets and more information, go to eccartscenter.org/tickets/eventdetails.aspx#event-26CSUS.
Saturday, Dec. 13
Free visits with Santa will be held from 10 a.m. to noon for children and families and from 1 to 3 p.m. for people and pets at Platt Hill Nursery, 2400 Randall Road, Carpentersville. For more information, call 847-428-6767.
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