Friday, December 02, 2011

Window Wonderland Decorating Contest Participants

The following is a list of participating windows in the 2011 Window Wonderland window decorating contest. Pick up your printed ballots at the DNA Office on Saturday, December 3 beginning at Noon. Paper ballots must be submitted by 5PM on December 3.

You can also VOTE ONLINE for the People's Choice Award at www.DowntownElgin.com. Online voting concludes on Monday, December 5 at 5PM.

To vote, you will need to enter the code number (example: B-100) either on your printed ballot or in your online ballot for the entry you feel is the "best of the best" and most effectively represents the theme of this year's event, "Rockin' in a Window Wonderland".

View photos of most of the participating windows in the Window Wonderland Photo Album.

2011 WINDOW WONDERLAND DECORATING CONTEST PARTICIPANTS

B-100
The Annex Antiques
201 E. Chicago Street
Business

B-101
Demi and Cooper Advertising
18 Villa Court
Business

O-200
Downtown Elgin Harvest Market decorating
59 Douglas Avenue
Open

B-102
Elgin Antiques and Uniques
203 E. Chicago Street
Business

O-201
Elgin Citizens Police Academy decorating
Elgin Police Department
151 Douglas Avenue
Open

O-202
Elgin Junior Service Board decorating
Al's Café
43 DuPage Court
Open

O-203
Elgin Lodge No. 117 decorating
56 S. Grove Avenue
Open

C-300
Elgin River Rats HS Rugby
Steffen, Kelly and Steffen
17 Douglas Avenue
Business

B-103
Elgin Symphony Orchestra
20 DuPage Court
Business

B-104
Extreme Wireless
119 S. Grove Avenue
Business

O-204
Gifford Park Association decorating
Future Link IT
164 E. Chicago Street
Open

C-301
Highland Christian Academy decorating
62 S. Grove Avenue
Children's

O-205
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church decorating
165 E. Chicago Street
Open

O-206
Judson University decorating
Ken Stepps State Farm
111 Douglas Avenue
Open

B-105
Kirkpatrick, Jones and Herzog
19 S. Spring Street
Business

O-207
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
205 Fulton Street
Open

O-208
Puerto Rican Heritage Organization decorating
Montana Realty
8 Douglas Avenue
Open

B-106
Ravenheart Coffee
176 E. Chicago Street
Business

B-107
The Razor’s Edge
55 Douglas Avenue
Business

B-108
Rediscover Records
207 E. Chicago Street
Business

B-109
Salon Couture
176 E. Chicago Street
Business

B-110
Shockey Jewelers
18 Douglas Avenue
Business

B-111
Simple Balance Holistic Center
221 E. Chicago Street
Business

C-302
Spring Hill Gymnastics decorating
61 S. Grove Avenue
Children's

O-209
SWAN decorating
SpaceTaste Gallery
10 Douglas Avenue
Open

B-112
Two Doors Down Antiques
207 E. Chicago Street
Business

B-113
WRMN's Radio Shopping Show
22 Douglas Avenue
Business

B-114
Wrona Brothers
205 E. Chicago Street
Business

O-210
YWCA Elgin
220 E. Chicago Street
Open



Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Window Wonderland Ready to Rock Downtown Elgin

It's almost here! Downtown Elgin Window Wonderland - Presented by Provena Saint Joseph Hospital, returns to the streets of downtown Elgin this Saturday, December 3 from 12-5PM.

In addition to all of the beautifully decorated storefront windows, decorated in this year's event theme of "Rockin' in a Window Wonderland", lining Elgin's downtown, Window Wonderland offers the following list of activities and locations (subject to change), including:

Real Live Reindeer - Santa's Crew Reindeer fly into Elgin's Civic Parking Lot (Highland and Douglas Avenues) from 12-4PM.

Holiday Horse Drawn Carriage - Presented by Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick. Enjoy a festive, horse-drawn carriage ride up and down Douglas Avenue. The carriage will also drop off and pick up visitors at the Elgin Winter Market, 166 Symphony Way. Round trip rides are $5 per person (kids 5 and under FREE) and can be purchased at the Civic Parking Lot (Highland and Douglas) or at the Winter Market. The Horse Drawn Carriage will operate from 12-4PM.

Live Nativity Scene with Nativity Animal Petting Zoo - First United Methodist Church, 215 E. Highland Avenue, will again be performing the live nativity in front of the church from 12-4PM. Kids can also enjoy petting and feeding all of the nativity animals. Nativity performances take place every half hour. In between performances, FUMC invites you inside to partake in their Holiday Open House with refreshments and tours of the church.

Kris Kringle Mart - Browse dozens of holiday crafts and unique gift ideas at our special Window Wonderland Kris Kringle Mart at 215 E. Chicago Street from 12-5PM. The Kris Kringle Mart will open Friday, December 2 and remain open until Sunday, December 4.

Ice Sculpting Demo - Artist Joe Gagnepain will demonstrate his ice sculpting skills from 12-2:30PM by showing guests how to transform a block of ice into an intricate holiday work of art in DuPage Court near the Elgin Symphony Orchestra offices.

Rockin' Santa - He's part Santa, part Elvis but he's all about rockin' your Window Wonderland! Join Rockin' Santa as he performs all your holiday favorites (and maybe a few you haven't heard before) at Villa Verone, 13 Douglas Avenue, from 12:30-2PM, and then at Ravenheart Coffee, 176 E. Chicago Street from 2:30-3:30PM! (Times subject to change)

Holiday Passport - Beginning at Noon, kids and families can pick up a free goody bag at the DNA Office, 2 Douglas Avenue, containing menus and coupons from downtown businesses as well as an exclusive Window Wonderland Adventure Kit containing: a map detailing the day's activities and passport stops, a People's Choice Award window decorating ballot and a secret message decoder. To decode the message and redeem your free Photo with Santa and gift at Elgin Public House, visit all of the passport stops and write down the codes on the posters at each stop to reveal your super secret message from Santa before turning it into our Elves at Elgin Public House.

Photos with Santa - Presented by Elgin Public House. After visiting all of the passport stops, turn in  your decoded message to Santa's helpers at EPH, 219 E. Chicago Street, and get your photos taken with the big guy himself from 2-4PM. You will receive a printed photo in a keepsake holiday card (while supplies last) and a secret Santa gift!

Window Decorating Contest/People's Choice Balloting - Be sure to check out all of the beautiful decorated windows and vote for your favorite in the People's Choice Window Decorating Award Voting. Ballots will be available to pick up at the DNA Office, 2 Douglas Avenue, beginning at Friday, December 2. You can also VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE WINDOW ONLINE throughout the weekend. Online voting concludes on Monday, December 5 at 5PM.

The day culminates with the City of Elgin's Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5PM in front of City Hall at 150 Dexter Court. The Elgin Children's Chorus will perform followed by Council Members and City Staff helping to throw the switch to officially usher in the holiday season in Elgin.

Beginning Friday, December 2 you can pick up your Window Wonderland Adventure Kit at the DNA Office at 2 Douglas Avenue or at other downtown locations, or download at DowntownElgin.com.

Winners of the Window Decorating Contest will be announced the week after Window Wonderland. Three winners will be selected by our judging panel in the categories of Open, Business and Childrens. Each category winner receives a $50 Downtown Elgin Gift Certificate. The People's Choice Award winner will also receive a $50 Downtown Elgin Gift Certificate. One overall winner selected by our judging panel will win a $500 Cash Prize.

CLICK TO SEE A COMPLETE LIST OF PARTICIPATING DECORATED WINDOWS

Thank you to our valued sponsors Provena Saint Joseph Hospital, Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Elgin Public House, Judson University and Elgin Junior Service Board.

For more information about Downtown Elgin Window Wonderland, contact DNA Promotions Coordinator Jason Pawlowski at (847) 488-1456 or e-mail jpawlowski@elginil.org.