The City of Elgin is kicking off the holiday season with a day of old-fashioned fun at Elgin’s Civic Center Plaza, 150 Dexter Court, on Saturday, Dec. 5 beginning at 12 noon and running through the official City tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m.
At 12 noon, families are invited to help decorate the Community Holiday Tree by bringing home-made ornaments crafted from natural or recycled materials. The ornaments will be placed on the tree throughout the afternoon. Families, schools, and other youth organizations are encouraged to participate by making ornaments, garland or other holiday display items to put on or under the tree. The larger the ornament, the more visible it will be on the city’s stately tree, located on the lawn area by the Civic Plaza. Each child donating a homemade ornament will receive a $2 off coupon toward the purchase of a ticket to “It’s a Wonderful Life,” playing at the Hemmens that day.
“There are lots of great ideas for crafts made of recycled or natural materials available on the internet” said Barb Keselica, Elgin’s special events coordinator. “We hope people will have fun with this and use their creativity to make our holiday tree “greener” than it has ever been!”
From 3:00 -8:00 p.m. the Salvation Army will be handing out free hot chocolate and accepting donations of non-perishable food that will be distributed to the needy during the holidays. Additional ornament-making activities will be going on in the lower level of The Hemmens, sponsored by the Jr. Service Board.