Community effort brings Dickens in Dundee to life

When you attend the Dickens in Dundee festival this weekend in West Dundee, know that money isn't the engine that's running it as much as the volunteers are.

Sure, planners need the dollars to pay for the tents, materials and decorations. But they are only props that will be put to used after local club members and residents have planned for weeks the holiday tree lighting, parade and children craft-making parties.

If it wasn't for groups such as the Dundee Lions Club and Dundee Township Historical Society, the annual two-day festival could not be held, said West Dundee Village Manager Joe Cavallaro.

"We have great community support for Dickens. It's been around for so long (20 years) that it has become a holiday tradition for Dundee Township."

The tradition is not as large as it was years ago, but it is still going. The three-day party that was held as recently as five years ago has been condensed into 48 hours and its budget has shrunk to $6,000.

No longer are there ice-carving demonstrations. They were stopped years ago. And this year there will be no wagon nor carriage rides. They were cut from the schedule because they cost more than the money brought in, Cavallaro said.

Remember, these are lean times and every penny counts. But, the festival and the recognition it brings to the season count more, said Mike Buhrmann, past president of the Dundee Lions Club.

Club members donated $1,000 to this year's festival, he said. And on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 and 7. they will sponsor the Festival of Trees in Grafelman Park, along Route 72. The Lions Club buys 25 evergreen trees and sets them up. Students in Dundee and Elgin area schools decorate them. During Dickens, the public votes on their favorite by throwing coins in pans at the base of each tree. The school that collects the most money, wins the contest.

"All the money goes to the schools," Buhrmann said. "Some of them can collect as much as $40.

"We participate in Dickens and other events because we draw our support from the community and we want to give back to the community. This is a small town festival. When it's held, it makes the town sort of Norman Rockwell-esque."

For that same reason, Dundee Lions and Carpentersville Lions Clubs members will be selling Christmas trees and wreaths in Grafelman Park. The money they collect will be use to pay for donations to the FISH Food Pantry in Carpentersville and scholarships to college-bound high school students.

The tree sales will continue until all of them are sold or Christmas Eve.

Historical society members feel the same way, said the group's president-elect Marge Edwards. They have been a part of the festival for years because it give residents, especially children, a glimpse of how Christmas was celebrated generations ago, Edwards said.

The society will have an open house from 11 a m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 420 Highland Ave. in West Dundee. Members will have another open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Centerville School in Randall Oaks Park, along Randall Road.

Members of area churches can also take credit for helping keep Dickens alive, Cavallaro said. Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee and the Bethlehem Lutheran and First Congregational churches in West Dundee will hold concerts and serve refreshments.

"The groups and individuals who plan and put on the events make it easy for the village to coordinate Dickens," he said. "Because of their work, the festival is appealing to so many people who attend it. Every year, we realize how popular Dickens in Dundee is."

Dickens in Dundee

The annual 21st annual festival starts today and continues through Saturday in downtown East and West Dundee. For details, visit www.dickensindundee.com

TODAY

7:30 p.m. Seasonal Concert at First United Methodist Church, 318 W. Main St., West Dundee. Members of the Otterbein College Concert Choir will perform.

FRIDAY

6 p.m. East Dundee Holiday Tree Lighting at The Depot, 319 N. River St., East Dundee.

6 to 8 p.m. Living Holiday Windows along the shop fronts of businesses on West Main Street in West Dundee.

7 p.m. West Dundee Holiday Tree Lighting at the West Dundee Village Hall, 102 S. Second St. Dundee-Crown High School Choral members and the Dundee singers will perform.

SATURDAY

10 a.m. Spirit of Christmas Parade with Santa and other marching units will start at the West Dundee village hall, walk east along Route 72 to North River Street and Barrington Avenue and end at Max Freeman Park in East Dundee.

10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Holiday Tent at Grafelman Park. Santa will be on hand as will holiday arts and crafts activities. Refreshments will be served.

10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Community Tree Decorating at Grafelman Park.

10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Santa's Petting Zoo at Grafelman Park.

10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Gingerbread House Crafts at First United Methodist Church, 318 W. Main St., West Dundee. Children can make their own gingerbread houses. A $7 donation will be collected for the materials.

11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Festival of the Nativity at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 310 E. Main St., East Dundee. Various nativities will be on display.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dundee Township Historical Society Open House, 420 Highland Ave., West Dundee. The society will hold another open house Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Centerville School in Randall Oaks Park, off Randall Road in West Dundee.

1 p.m. Birthday Party of Jesus at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Crafts will be made and refreshments will be served. Bring a canned food for the FISH Food Pantry.

1:30 p.m. A reading of a "Christmas Carol" at Mansion Bed and Breakfast, 305 Oregon Ave., West Dundee.

2 p.m. Jacob Marley's Musical Trio at Clearwater Theater, 90 W. Main St., West Dundee. Various singers will perform holiday music.