A spaghetti dinner was served with all the trimmings on Thursday in Round Lake Beach, with a side of reindeer food reserved for the two real caribou appearing at this year’s Supper with Santa and Craft Fair.

Olive, a female caribou, and her younger brother, Fritz, accompanied Santa and Mrs. Claus to the event at the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center.

A buffet spaghetti meal was prepared and served by Supermercado San Judas of Round Lake Park, operated by Carlos and Maria Hernandez. A donation of non-perishable food or a new, unwrapped toy reduced ticket entry prices for guests.

The Olive and Fritz siblings were transported to Lake County by Randy Espe, owner of Whispering Pines Reindeer Ranch in Shabbona, along with Santa’s helper Rebekah Castle.

“They’re pretty cool,” Castle said of Fritz and Olive.

“They’re magical animals,” Espe added.

Rebekah Castle of Compton, Illinois with Whispering Pines Reindeer Ranch of Shabbona, Illinois, walks Olive, a female reindeer or caribou, before the Supper with Santa and Craft Fair on Dec. 4, 2025 at the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center, 2007 Civic Center Drive in Round Lake Beach. (Karie Angell Luc/Lake County News-Sun)

Castle morphed into an elf and Espe donned festive clothing while handling Olive as part of a photo opportunity scene on stage that featured Santa, Mrs. Claus and a grand sleigh.

Fritz was outside in his pen, delighting visitors.

“Our Supper with Santa is one of our community’s most cherished traditions, and I’m thrilled to see families come to the civic center again this year to celebrate the holiday season,” Round Lake Beach Mayor Scott Nickles said.

“Events like this remind us of the generosity and joy that make our town so special,” he said. “I’m grateful to everyone who helped put this celebration on, and I hope all of our families enjoyed creating wonderful memories together once again.”

From left Ava Rodriguez, 10, a fifth-grader from Johnsburg, and her mother Christine Rodriguez, staff Ava’s own snowpeople craft table at the Supper with Santa and Craft Fair on Dec. 4, 2025 at the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center, 2007 Civic Center Drive in Round Lake Beach. (Karie Angell Luc/Lake County News-Sun)

Supermercado San Judas made approximately 500 spaghetti meals. Another extended family member, by the same name of Carlos Hernandez, was the chef of the spaghetti sauce, all 12 gallons of it. The secret to the signature sauce is “love and care and passion,” he said with a smile.

Catering staff family member Antonio Cordova said, “I really believe that food brings us together at the end of the day. Honestly, food, eating by yourself, it doesn’t taste the same as when you’re with your loved ones, friends and family.

“I really do believe that (sharing a meal) can bring a community together,” he added.

New this year was a complimentary snowpeople craft table, which was launched by Ava Rodriguez, 10, of Johnsburg, who asked her father if she could do it.

From left, Antonio Cordova of Round Lake Beach, Jaime Calderon Hernandez of Round Lake Beach and Carlos Hernandez of Lindenhurst, operator with wife and (unseen) business owner Maria Hernandez of Supermercado San Judas of Round Lake Park, serve spaghetti dinners at the Supper with Santa and Craft Fair on Dec. 4, 2025 at the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center, 2007 Civic Center Drive in Round Lake Beach. (Karie Angell Luc/Lake County News-Sun)

Her mother, Christine, helped to shop for and staff the busy table. Ava’s father is Round Lake Beach Police Chief Ryan Rodriguez. The table promoted a police appreciation shoutout theme, with a Round Lake Beach Police Department blue table banner.

People could stack small white balls to create a keepsake snowperson, and add faces with a small fabric holiday scarf, plus other festive items like a hat. A gold police badge sticker was included.

Ava said she was manning the table, “Honestly, just for fun. Volunteering comes from the heart.”

Christine Rodriguez said her husband “was so proud, his chest was so puffed out that his daughter wanted to volunteer here for his community. She wanted to do everything herself for her dad. We’re super proud of her.”

“He helps and serves and represents,” Ava said. “Thank you so much for everything you do, and everything you have done for this village.”

Bob Juenger of Grayslake poses with the Juenger grandchildren, also of Grayslake, Sammy, 2, and Penny, 3, at the Supper with Santa and Craft Fair on Dec. 4, 2025 at the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center, 2007 Civic Center Drive in Round Lake Beach. (Karie Angell Luc/Lake County News-Sun)

 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/08/supper-with-santa-round-lake-beach/