South Elgin hosting ‘An Almost Winter Day’ and tree lighting Saturday, Nov. 22

South Elgin will host “An Almost Winter Day” festival from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, in Seba Park, 151 S. Water St., followed by a holiday tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. in Panton Mill Park, 9 N. Water Street, South Elgin.

Attendees can make s’mores, decorate cookies, enjoy craft projects, get a balloon animal, drop off letters to Santa, and get a reply from the North Pole, according to a social media post for the free event. The afternoon will also feature an ice sculptor, bonfire, a tree decorating contest, snowball slingshot fun, and a collection drive for the South Elgin Food Pantry. Concessions will be on sale, too.

Santa will arrive at 2 p.m. and stay until 4:45 p.m. for pictures guests can take for themselves. At 5 p.m., the event shifts to Panton Mill Park for the village tree lighting.

For more information, go to www.southelgin.com/residents/special_events/an_almost_winter_day.php.

Free YogaRayne session at Gail Borden Public Library 

The Gail Borden Public Library will host “YogaRayne: Stretch & Reset” from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 in the Meadows Community Rooms at the main branch, 270 N. Grove Avenue, Elgin.

The free trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness program is designed for teens and adults managing stress, anxiety and emotional overload, according to the library’s website. Through gentle movement, breathwork, mindfulness, and soothing music, participants will be guided to release tension, restore balance and reconnect with their inner selves. The program is inclusive, beginner-friendly, and culturally aware.

To register to attend, go to attend.gailborden.info/event/14285524.

Presentation about National Parks at Gail Borden’s South Elgin library Sunday, Nov. 23

Travel writer Theresa Goodrich will present a virtual tour of five National Parks during a free presentation from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, in the Hoffer Meeting Room at the South Elgin branch of the Gail Borden Public Library, 127 S. McLean Boulevard, South Elgin.

Goodrich will discuss the history of the National Park system before talking about Badlands National Park, Glacier National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Zion National Park, according to the library’s website.

To register to attend the free program, go to attend.gailborden.info/event/14457351.

Dundee Lions Club Christmas tree sale starts Sunday, Nov. 23

The Dundee Lions Club will launch its annual Christmas tree sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, on the tennis courts at Grafelman Park, 112 N. Fifth Street, West Dundee.

More than 300 trees, along with wreaths and garland, will be available to purchase, according to a post on the club’s Facebook page. Proceeds from the sale will be given to various local charities.

The courts will next be open for the sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, Saturday, Nov. 29, and Sunday, Nov. 30. The following two weeks, the courts will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, while supplies last.

For prices and other information, email dundeetownshiplions@gmail.com.

Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce Thanksgiving luncheon Tuesday, Nov. 25

The Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 44th annual Thanksgiving luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Tuesday, Nov. 25 in the Building E banquet room at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

According to a news release, during the program, the Chamber will honor the following people for their volunteer work with local nonprofits: Kathy Festen, Habitat for Humanity; Nancy Flory, Ecker Center; Mark Gibb, Marklund; Kim Goehring, Anderson Humane; Lova Jackson, Community Crisis Center; Ken Karszewski, Hands of Hope; Mary Kemmerlin, Elgin History Museum; Greg Korbecki, Food For Greater Elgin; Michael Novelli, Side Street Studio Arts; Pat Sekowski, Elgin Symphony Orchestra.

“This holiday luncheon is a wonderful reminder of what makes Elgin and South Elgin so special – the people, the partnerships, and the shared purpose of building thriving communities,” Carol Gieske, President & CEO of the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, said in the release.

Cost for the luncheon is $30 per person or $225 for a table of eight. To make reservations, call 847-741-5660 or go to ElginChamber.com. For more information, email info@elginchamber.com.

 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/20/elgin-courier-news-digest-november-23/