Downtown Elgin’s Window Wonderland “Holidays Around The World” Event Ushers in Holiday Season

The Downtown Neighborhood Association’s 8th Annual Window Wonderland Event kicks off the holiday season on December 2 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. All of the event festivities will take place on Elgin’s east side in historic downtown Elgin. This year’s theme, “Holidays Around The World” features activities and events offered by eighteen downtown businesses and several outside organizations. Offerings include refreshments, crafts for children, story-telling, dance workshops, music, dessert and coffee sampling, face-painting, and games. The event coincides with the City of Elgin’s annual tree-lighting ceremony.
Photos with Santa Claus will be offered in the historic Tower Building on the corner of Douglas and Chicago/Grove Streets from 2:00-5:00 p.m. Cost for photos will be $5 each if individuals present a stamped Holidays Around The World “passport,” or $8 each without an event passport. Event passports may be picked up at the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) office at 2 Douglas Ave. or businesses listed below. All activities are free and open to the public.
Assett Realty, 123 S. Grove will have food sampling; Aztec Imports, 163 E. Chicago will offer refreshments; Café Magdalena, 13 Douglas will offer story-telling, “African Christmas” with a craft and refreshments for 3-10 year olds at 2pm and 3:30pm; Evolution Staffing, 10 Douglas will host a bean bag toss game by the St. Edward’s Crusader Youth Cheerleaders; Gasthaus, 15 N. Grove will offer strudel and hot chocolate; Great American Family Diner, 231 Douglas will offer ornament decorating and cheesecake sampling; Jalapenos Restaurant, 7 Clock Tower Plaza will offer a craft for 3-10 year olds, music and Mexican dessert sampling; Kirkpatrick, Jones & Herzog, 19 S. Spring will offer a craft for children; La Quebrada, 50 N. Spring will offer Mariachi’s (music); Let’s Meet For Coffee, 109 E. Highland will offer coffee samples; Mobile Media, 231 Douglas will offer doughnuts; Montana Realty, 8 N. Douglas will offer face-painting and temporary tattoos by the St. Edward’s Crusader Youth Cheerleaders; Razor’s Edge, 55 Douglas will offer hot apple cider; ReRuns Thrift Store, 72 S. Grove will offer refreshments and a sale; Shockey Jewelers, 18 Douglas will offer champagne, refreshments and a sale; Tower Building—ground floor, Corner of Douglas and Chicago/Grove will offer photos with Santa for a fee; YWCA of Elgin, 220 E. Chicago will offer refreshments. Reflejo Latino Dance Group, 15 ½ Ziegler Court will offer dance workshops for 10-16 year olds at 2pm and 2:30pm and 4pm and 4:30pm; Individuals 17 years old and up may attend dance workshops at 3pm and 3:30pm. The Bartlett High School Choir and the Salvation Army will also offer special music all afternoon.
Area groups and downtown businesses and organizations begin decorating windows for the window decorating contest to the theme, “Holidays Around The World” Nov. 17- Dec. 1. Judging by popular vote begins on the day of the event, Dec. 2 and continues through Dec. 24. Windows will also be evaluated by a panel of judges on the day of the event. Votes by the public may be cast by picking up a ballot on the day of the event from the Downtown Neighborhood Association office on 2 Douglas or at any of the participating businesses. Additional information is available online www.downtownelgin.org. The event is sponsored by Chase Bank, Elgin Toyota, and Nick’s Liquors.
If you are interested in more information on how to be part of the Downtown Neighborhood Association or would like to volunteer, please contact the office at 847-488-1456 or visit www.downtownelgin.org.