Village serves up seasonal delights

Get the holiday cheer cranked up at the Hinsdale Christmas Walk from 5 to 8 p.m. tomorrow, Dec. 6, in downtown Hinsdale. The 54th annual event, sponsored by the Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce, will feature Cookie's Carousel, the Kiddie Express train, animated characters, strolling carolers, giveaways and more.

Eva Field, the chamber's president and CEO, said visitors will recognize most of the attractions.

"We haven't really added anything new," Field said. But she added that visitors will notice more to stimulate the senses on Washington Street.

"We do have a lot more on-site participant table promotions from a nice selection of members," she said of the corridor north and south of First Street. "A lot of them will be serving hot cocoa."

Presenting sponsor Amita Health Adventist Medical Center Hinsdale will operate a "pop-up hospital" in My Eye Doctor, 104 S. Washington St., and shops will have treats for those who stop in, while restaurants will offer dinner specials.

"A lot of the downtown businesses will be open with giveaways," Field remarked.

Santa will once again make his entrance by fire truck to kick off the festivities at 5 p.m. at the Memorial Building lawn, and Village President Tom Cauley will reprise his role as the official illuminator of the village's Christmas tree.

"Strolling singers from Nazareth Academy will entertain visitors, and Cookie and the Snowman will be walking through town," she said.

The forecast as of Tuesday was for chilly but clear conditions, the perfect mix to ignite warm winter spirits. Field said the last two years the weather has been "fantastic," driving robust attendance numbers.

Donations of women's clothing also will be collected by the Cathy Walsh Group realty team for Breakthrough Urban Ministries in Chicago. Kings Landscaping will set up a fire warming area, and County Line Audio Visual Solutions will provide music.

For more information, call (630) 323-3952 or visit https://www.hinsdalechamber.com.

Here are some other local holiday activities taking place this month in town.

• Meet Santa, decorate gingerbread cookies and enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride before exploring the unique boutiques and delicious restaurants in town during Historic Holidays in Hinsdale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 7 and 14, at Burlington Park, 30 E. Chicago Ave.

• Hinsdale Central High School musicians will present their annual holiday concert from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, in Central's auditorium, 55th and Grant streets.

• Next Chapter Social Club for teens 16 and older and adults with disabilities will host an interactive screening of "Elf" from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at the Hinsdale Public Library, 20 E. Maple St. Each attendee will receive a bag of props and treats to be used at certain times throughout the movie. For information, call (630) 986-1976 or visit https://www.hinsdalelibrary.info.

• Take a holiday tour of the best-lit homes of Hinsdale on Friday, Dec. 13 aboard the Holly Jolly Trolley. The 20-minute tour, sponsored by the Hinsdale Historical Society's Women's Board, leaves every 30 minutes from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. from the Hinsdale History Museum, 15 S. Clay St. Tickets are $25 and include live music, sweet treats, kid crafts and warm beverages (adult- and child-friendly). Visit https://www.hinsdalehistory.org.

• The second annual staged reading of 'A Christmas Carol: In Concert' will be performed Friday to Sunday, Dec. 13-15, featuring friends and neighbors dancing, singing and telling the greatest Christmas ghost story ever. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at The Community House, 415 W. Eighth St., Hinsdale. Tickets are $18, and proceeds benefit The Community House's LyArts Program. Call (630) 323-7500 or visit https://www.thecommunityhouse.org.

• Join the Hinsdale Historical Society at its annual holiday open house from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Hinsdale History Museum, 15 S. Clay St. Festivities include children's crafts, holiday story time and a visit from Santa. Guests also will be able to tour the museum's latest mini-exhibit, "A Hinsdale Holiday" and enjoy vintage holiday decorations. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call (630) 789-2600 or visit https://www.hinsdalehistory.org.

• The West Suburban Symphony Orchestra and Singers, conducted by Peter Lipari, will present its annual holiday concert, titled "Merry," at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at Hinsdale Central High School, 55th and Grant streets. The spirit of the season will come alive with a program including "Many Moods of Christmas, Suite 1 and Suite 2," popular medleys of carols created in 1963 by Robert Shaw and Robert Russell Bennett, Alfred Reed's "Russian Christmas Music," and holiday tunes from movies and other seasonal favorites. Santa has promised to drop in at intermission with treats for children. Tickets are $25, $23 for seniors, $5 for teens and free for children. Call (630) 887-7464 or visit https://www.westsubsymphony.org.

• Find the hidden ornament around town on weekdays through Tuesday, Dec. 17, during Hinsdale's 12 Days of Holiday Cheer. The ornaments will be placed throughout the village, each containing a special prize from a local business. Find an ornament and stop by village hall at 19 E. Chicago Ave. to claim the prize. Daily clues will be posted on social media: @hinsdaleparks on Instagram and facebook.com/HinsdaleParksandRecreation. The event is presented by the Hinsdale Parks and Recreation and Economic Development departments.