Since last Friday was the day after Thanksgiving, it’s totally understandable if you couldn’t waddle your way to Bensenville’s Holiday Magic celebration. Although you missed a great kickoff to the holiday season, you have another chance this Sunday,  Dec. 2, at the City of Wood Dale’s annual Holly-Day Tree Lighting Ceremony.

The festivities, at City Hall, 404 N. Wood Dale Road., start at 1:30 p.m. with the Fenton Swing Choir performing in anticipation of Santa and Mrs. Claus, who arrive at 2 p.m.
Kids can smile and cry on Santa’s lap for pictures and a goodie bag from the North Pole while everyone else enjoys wagon rides, makes Christmas tree crafts, nibbles holiday treats, listens to the caroling Vagabond Singers and oohhs in wonderment over a 4 p.m. magic show.

The Holly-Day fun will end with a bang at 5 p.m. when City of Wood Dale Mayor Ken Johnson and Santa light the city’s tree as a holiday fireworks display starts.

“This event is bound to bring out the Christmas spirit in everyone,” said Amanda Melone, City of Wood Dale special events coordinator. “Plus, you get a chance to tell Santa what you want for Christmas.”

All activities are free.

This event is sponsored by the City of Wood Dale, but it is not alone in running the day’s activities. The Wood Dale Park District is supervising the craft; the Wood Dale Historical Society is running the wagon rides; and it’s the Wood Dale Chamber of Commerce who went all the way to the North Pole for the goodie bags.

“It is important that the City of Wood Dale, the park district, the historical society and the chamber create events in Wood Dale to bring the community together,” Melone said.
During Holly-Day, donation boxes for the City of Wood Dale’s participation in Toys for Tots will be out. They will remain at City Hall and the Wood Dale Public Library, 520 N. Wood Dale Rd., until Wednesday, Dec. 12.

“The Toys for Tots program is well-known throughout the United States and is a good way to provide presents to children that may not be as fortunate as the rest of us,” Melone said. “’Tis the season for giving and what better way to do it than make a child’s day on Christmas.”

Park district fair
Before lighting the tree on Sunday, get some holiday shopping done on Saturday Dec. 1  at the Wood Dale Park District’s Celebrate Arts and Crafts Fair.
Entrance is free to the recreation complex, 111 E. Foster Ave., and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. vendors with wares like jewelry, quits and hand-dipped confections will be out. Shop without kids by dropping them at the cookie decorating workshop which runs from 10:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. The workshop fee is only $1 per child. For more details, call (630) 595-9333.

Yesterday’s Farm
Continue the holiday fun next SaturdayDec. 8 with the historical society during its Holiday on the Farm at Yesterday’s Farm Museum, 850 N. Wood Dale Road.
The farm will be buzzing at 4 p.m. with holiday merriment like a craft fair, raffle table and bake sale. At 7 p.m. attendees will start making a holiday craft and singing carols until 9 p.m. This event is free. For more information, call (630) 595-8777.

In more Wood Dale holiday fun, nominations for the Winter Holiday House Decorating Contest are being accepted at City Hall through Thursday, Dec. 13. Entry forms may be found in the Wood Dale Community Newsletter or contact Melone with the property owner’s name, phone number and address. To reach her, call (630) 787-3712 or e-mail AMelone@WoodDale.com. Also contact Melone for more information about Sunday’s Holly-Day Tree Lighting Ceremony.

 Ideas and items for Border Bounding may be e-mailed to hipychk73@yahoo.com.