West Dundee trustees step up, plan a holiday fest to remember

The West Dundee village board had time on its side this year while organizing the Dickens in Dundee Festival.

They had the entire year to put together their Christmas tree lighting ceremony, "Living Windows," which will be on Friday, and the parade that will follow on Saturday.

"Last year, we had six weeks to organize it," said Joseph Cavallaro, village manager. "We did a good job last year, but we did better this year. We had more time."

And with that time, organizers contacted churches and civic groups to participate in the two-day festival.

"We have good participation in the parade," Cavallaro said. "Last year, we had 37 units. This year, we already have 40 units."

Besides firefighters, police officers and Santa, many of those units will consist of members of local organizations who want to help Dundee Township usher in the holidays.

This is the second year West Dundee has organized Dickens. In 2006, village trustees had two months to put it together after learning the lead coordinating group, the Dundee Jaycees, had disbanded for lack of enough members.

That group worked with such organizations as the Dundee Township Historical Society and the Dundee Lions Club to put on events such as the Living Windows display and Tiny Tim's Tour of wagon rides in the residential neighborhood.

But without a leader, the 20-year festival was in trouble.

West Dundee trustees stepped in to ensure it would not stop. They set aside a couple of thousand dollars from their budget went ahead with the planning.

This year's festival will mirror previous years with many of the same events. Holiday tree lighting ceremonies are planned in East Dundee, near the North River Street depot at 6 p.m. Friday. An hour later, West Dundee officials will plug in the lights on their tree near the South Second Street village hall.

Santa will be at the East Dundee depot at 6:30 p.m. The Living Windows will be displays in West Main Street shops from 6 to 8 p.m.

The parade will start the next day at 10 a.m. It will begin on West Main Street at West Dundee Village Hall and proceed across the Fox River to North River Street and to Max Freeman Park on Third Street.

A holiday tent will be set up in Cal Grafelman Park in West Dundee from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Kids and their parents will have a chance to take part in games or decorate the community holiday tree. Some of the ornaments can be used hats, gloves and mittens. After they are put on the tree, they will be donated to needy families.

Immanuel Lutheran Church, on Route 72 in East Dundee, will display different nativity scenes from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It also will have an arts and crafts shop for children. Volunteers will also be collecting canned food for people in southern states still rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina.

The First United Methodist Church, on Route 72 in West Dundee, will have gingerbread house-making classes for children from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

And from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church will have a living nativity scene in the church.

"This year, the festival is really going to be a nice event," Cavallaro said. "We have had good participation from some group, but we would like to have the more groups from East Dundee be involved."

If you go

What: 20th annual Dickens in Dundee festival

When: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Various locations in downtown East and West Dundee

Info: Visit http://www.wdundee.org/ddid/index.html for a complete schedule, or call (847) 551-3800.