South Elgin is ready to usher in the holiday season with an event designed to inspire warmth and festiveness in even the coldest of hearts.
The 23rd annual An Almost Winter Day will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Seba Park.
New this year will be the Huskies of the Valley dog sled team, which will be on hand to talk about dog sledding and give demonstrations at 2:15, 3:15 and 4:15 p.m., said Jess Day, recreation supervisor for South Elgin Parks and Recreation.
It should add to what is already a big draw for residents and visitors alike, he said.
“An Almost Winter Day is one of the top two most popular events the village of South Elgin Parks and Recreation does each year,” Day said. “And depending on the weather, you’re looking at 1,000 to 3,000 people (in attendance).”
Santa will be posing for photos until about 4:45 p.m., when he walks across the street to Panton Mill Park for the village’s official tree lighting. There will be music, singing, photo ops and, of course, the official flipping of the switch to illuminate South Elgin’s Christmas trees.
It’s one of residents’ favorite events and a well-loved community tradition, Day said.
“We try to do something different all the time,” he said. “We have a community organization holiday tree decorating contest where we have 11 community organizations come out and (each) decorate some type of tree. It could be a ladder with hoses, like the fire department did one year. Everyone who attends can vote on their favorite tree.”
Another big attraction is the ice sculptor who spends the day “sculpting ice on site and taking pictures and teaching people about ice sculpting,” Day said. “It’s a pretty cool event.”
Look for a seven-foot-tall snowman you can take pictures with and fire pits placed strategically around the park for people to warm up next to and make s’mores. Cookies, frosting and decorations provided by Mad Batter Bakery and Confections in St. Charles will be set up in the north room of the annex building.
Kids can write letters to Santa (and get a response) and spend some time with coloring sheets.
Before Santa’s arrival for photo ops with his visitors, people can meet with and take pictures with The Grinch.
One of the day’s highlights, Day said, is the snowball slingshot, which fires off white dodgeballs at Buddy the Elf.
“We built a giant slingshot … to sling pumpkins originally, but dodgeballs are better. And they’re safer,” he said
The event goes on unless there’s a downpour, Day said. That doesn’t sound likely this year given the National Weather Service’s current forecast of partly sunny skies and a high of 43.
“It is a wonderful holiday family kick-off to the season,” Day said. “It’s free, you don’t have to spend anything to do all the holiday activities. It’s a memory maker. It’s a good way to start the holiday season.”
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
An Almost Winter Day
When: 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23
Where: Seba Park, 151 Water St., South Elgin
Admission: Free
Information: 847-742-5780; southelgin.com/residents/special_events/an_almost_winter_day.php
