Fests, sing-alongs and visits with Santa planned for the Elgin-area

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, Nov. 28

• The fifth annual Magical Christmas Drive-Thru will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday through Tuesday, Dec. 30, at Santa’s Village, 601 Dundee Ave. (Route 25), East Dundee. It will feature millions of lights synchronized to holiday music, photo opps, a tube slide and visits with Santa on select nights. General admission is $29.99 per vehicle, with a $5 discount for season pass holders. To reserve tickets, go to www.santasvillagedundee.com.

Monday, Dec. 1

• Santa will be available for free photo opps from 4 to 6 p.m. in the main lobby of the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. To register for a timeslot, go to attend.gailborden.info/event/14918198.
• Gail Borden Public Library will offer “The Power of Meditation and Gratitude” online from 7 to 8 p.m. Sara Gerlickzii will present ways to cope with stress and enjoy the holidays. To register, go to attend.gailborden.info/event/14306801?registration=true.

Tuesday, Dec. 2

Thursday, Dec. 4

• The fourth annual Greater Elgin Sing-Along Messiah will take place at 7 p.m. at Second Baptist Church of Elgin, 1280 Summit St. Admission is $5 and free for children 12 or younger. Proceeds will benefit the Well Child Center. For tickets, go to elginsing-alongmessiah.org.

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.
• The Carpentersville Rotary Club host a free screening of the 2019 animated feature “Klaus” at Classic Cinema 12, 100 L.W. Besinger Drive, Carpentersville. Doors open at 9 a.m. and the movie starts at 10 a.m. Crafts, games and Santa will be in the lobby prior to the showing. For more information, email CarpentersvilleRotary@gmail.com.
• 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.

• Elgin Police Department’s Winter Open House will be held from 10 a.m to noon in the police station lobby, 151 S. Grove Ave. The morning will feature SWAT vehicle rides, crafts, snacks, outfit and ornament contests, the Grinch and Santa. For more information, call 847-289-2520.
• A Holiday Tea featuring sweets and music from soprano Kathleen Monson and friends will be held from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the Elgin History Museum, 360 Park St. Tickets are $10 for the general public, free for museum members. For tickets and information, go to elginhistory.org/event/holiday-tea-2025.
• A Posada celebration featuring crafts, stories, refreshments and classic Christmas carols will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Meadows Community Rooms at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. No registration is required.
• Holiday in the Hollow will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. in Sabatino Park, 145 Thorobred Lane, Sleepy Hollow. The event will feature music from Sleepy Hollow Elementary School students, the lighting of the Sabatino Park Flagpole at the school’s Circle-of-Cheer Christmas trees and a visit from Santa. For more information, call ‪708-573-1973‬.
• Winterville will take place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Triangle Park at West Main and South Washington streets in Carpentersville. The gathering will feature a tree lighting ceremony, treats, carols, crafts and visits with Santa. For more information, go to www.cville.org/550/Winterville.
• 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.
• Jim Witter and his band will present “Christmas Memories,” a concert featuring holiday music, at 7 p.m. in the Blizzard Theater, Building H, Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive. Tickets are $50 and $20 and can be purchased at eccartscenter.org/tickets/eventdetails.aspx#event-26CSJW.

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 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

• The Bartlett Park District will be hosting Breakfast with Santa from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m at Villa Olivia, 1401 W. Lake St., Bartlett. For required registration, more information and menu options, go to bartlettparks.org/event/breakfast-with-santa.
• 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.
• Guests can make small, sequined LeeWards crafts store-style ornaments from noon to 3 p.m. at the Elgin History Museum, 360 Park St.. The cost is $5. To register, go to elginhistory.org/event/leewardsornaments25.

Saturday, Dec. 20

• A Puerto Rican Parranda with holiday music, food and traditions in collaboration with Boricuas Unidos de Elgin will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Meadows Community Rooms at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. For more information and to register, go to attend.gailborden.info/event/13326214.

Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.