The 14th Annual Downtown Elgin Window Wonderland returns Saturday, December 1 from Noon-5PM. The theme of this year’s Window Wonderland event is “Win This Window” – a celebration of our Elgin area non-profits and an opportunity for them to fundraise and fun-raise.
Window Wonderland passports will be available at www.DowntownElgin.com and at area businesses, City Hall, and the Gail Borden Public Library beginning Thursday, November 29.
HOLIDAY TREASURE HUNT PASSPORT PUZZLE
The Holiday Treasure Hunt Passport Puzzle is a new wonderous Window Wonderland activity. Kids 12-and-under are invited to participate in this unique holiday quest. Collect pieces to a special holiday puzzle by visiting all 12 Window Wonderland Passport Stops. Once the puzzle is assembled, bring it to Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago Street, for a free photo with Santa Claus and an entry into a drawing for $50 in downtown Elgin gift certificates. Kids can even keep the puzzle as a memento of their downtown holiday adventure.
WINDOW WONDERLAND ACTIVITIES
The following is a complete list of the holiday fun that awaits visitors on Saturday, December 1:
The Centre 10th Anniversary Open House, The Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way, 7AM-2PM
Free Ice Skating at City Skate, Elgin Civic Plaza, 150 Dexter Court, Begins at 12PM
Chestnut Roasting, Elgin Tower Building, 100 E. Chicago Street, 12-3PM
Letters to Santa, Downtown Neighborhood Association, 2 Douglas Avenue, 12-4PM
Santa’s Crew’s Real Live Reindeer, Civic Parking Lot, Highland & Douglas, 12-4PM
Santa’s Workshop with Mrs. Claus, Primerica Financial, 162 E. Chicago Street, 12-4PM
Boy Scout Troop #10, Serving Trail Doughnuts & Refreshments, Civic Parking Lot, 12-5PM
Boy Scout Troop #111, Selling Wreaths and Serving Cobbler, Civic Parking Lot, 12-5PM
Horse Drawn Carriage Rides, Up and Down Douglas Ave, Starts at Civic Parking Lot, 1-3PM
Kringle Karaoke, Villa Verone, 13 Douglas Avenue, 1-3PM
Elgin Police Department Holiday Open House, Elgin Police Department, 151 Douglas Avenue, 1-3PM
Polar Express Story Telling & Activities, Burritt Building, 25 S. Grove Avenye, 1:30, 2 & 3 PM
Photos with Santa, Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago Street, 2-4PM
Winter Kaleidoscope Concert Elgin, Civic Plaza, 150 Dexter Court, 3:30-4:30PM
City of Elgin’s Tree Lighting Ceremony, Elgin City Hall, 150 Dexter Court, Begins at 5PM
WINDOW DECORATING CONTEST
On December 1, the Window Wonderland judging panel will determine the best decorated windows in the categories of Business and Open and each will receive $50 in Downtown Elgin Gift Certificates. The BEST OVERALL decorated window will receive a $300 cash prize! Winners will be announced in the December 5 edition of the DNA’s Downtown Neighborhood News Top 10 eblast.
Decorated Windows by Category:
Business
Corner Antiques, 201 E. Chicago Street
Elgin Antiques & Uniques, 203 E. Chicago Street
Elgin Knit Works, 17 N. Grove Avenue
Hernandez Law Office, 76 S. Grove Avenue
Kirkpatrick, Jones & Herzog Insurance, 19 S. Spring Street
Neighborhood Housing Services, 163 E. Chicago Street (Decorated by Totally Cool Piano Studio)
Primerica Financial, 162 E. Chicago Street
Rediscover Records, 207 E. Chicago Street
Salon Couture, 176 E. Chicago Street
Simple Balance Holistic Center, 221 E. Chicago Street
Soulful Sparrow, 10 Douglas Avenue
SpaceTaste Gallery, 215 E. Chicago Street
Two Doors Down Antiques, 207 E. Chicago Street
Wrona Brothers, 205 E. Chicago Street
Razor’s Edge, 55 Douglas Avenue
Open
Al’s Cafe, 43 DuPage Court (decorated by Elgin Junior Service Board)
Elgin Area Chamber, 31 S. Grove Avenue (decorated by Highland Community Church)
Elgin Police Department, 151 Douglas Avenue
Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago Street (decorated by Elgin Community Garden Network)
Future Link, 164 E. Chicago Street (Decorated by St. Edwards Boys Bowling Team)
Habitat for Humanity, 56 S. Grove Avenue
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, 205 Fulton
Ravenheart Coffee, 176 E. Chicago Street (decorated by Gifford Park Association)
YWCA Elgin, 220 E. Chicago Street
“WIN THIS WINDOW” PEOPLE’S CHOICE VOTING
Beginning November 29 thru December 12, visitors can vote for their favorite windows (and each window’s corresponding gift basket they would like to win), in the Win This Window People’s Choice Award voting. Votes are $1 per vote online or in person at the DNA. All participating non-profit organizations will receive the total proceeds collected for their window/gift basket from the People’s Choice Award voting so get out and rock the vote!
At the conclusion of the voting process, the window receiving the most People’s Choice votes will receive the total proceeds collected for their window/gift basket PLUS a matching cash donation from DNA up to $300! Gift baskets will then be awarded via raffle drawings from the all of votes cast for each basket.
“Win This Window” Participants (to date):
Al’s Cafe, 43 Dupage Court, (benefitting NorthEast Neighborhood Association)
Elgin Antiques & Uniques, 203 E. Chicago Street (benefitting NorthEast Neighborhood Association)
Kirkpatrick, Jones & Herzog, 19 S. Spring Street (benefitting Boy Scouts Troop 10)
Neighborhood Housing Services, 163 E. Chicago Street (benefitting Stronger for Women)
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, 205 Fulton Street (benefitting Fox Valley Pregnancy Center)
Ravenheart Coffee, 176 E. Chicago Street (benefitting Gifford Park Association)
Soulful Sparrow, 10 Douglas Avenue (benefitting ReStore)
