Watch as the storefront windows in Downtown West Dundee come to life!

There will be numerous winter and holiday themed window displays by local organizations and businesses, as well as special offerings and events. Many downtown businesses participate with live actors, while some open their doors for treats or shopping.

We strongly encourage you to start at Village Hall and make your way east on the south side of Main Street to Around the Corner Candy. Then cross Main at First Street and make your way back on the north side, ending at Emmett's.

Warm up at West Dundee Village Hall with a cup of hot chocolate and some yummy Christmas cookies, while you visit with Village officials and the kids discuss their Christmas wish list with the man in red.

Shop With A Cop of Dundee Township works to build positive relationships between police officers and the children of our community. Each year, area police officers sit down to a holiday breakfast with area children in need, including a visit from Santa, and join the children on a shopping trip at Wal-Mart to select a Christmas treat.

To support this program, you may purchase a chance to win exciting raffle prizes. Shop with a Cop Raffle chances are $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00. This year's prizes include:

• $1,000 Cash - Donated by Schock's Towing
• LG 55" 4K UHD Smart TV
• $500 Spring Hill Mall Gift Card - Donated by Spring Hill Mall
• LG 50" 4K UHD Smart TV - Donated by Pete's A Towing
• Ring Video Doorbell - Donated by Home Depot
• TLC Car Detail - Donated by TLC Handwash & Detail
• $100 Lowes Gift Card & $100 TJ Maxx Gift Card
• $100 Cheesecake Factory Gift Card
• $50 Lettuce Entertain You Gift Card & Cooper's Hawk Wine Tasting for 4 - Donated by Lettuce Entertain You and Cooper's Hawk
• $50 Olive Garden Gift Card

Winners will be drawn shortly before 8:00 pm. Need not be present to win.

For advanced ticket sales, please visit the West Dundee Police Department at 555 S. 8th Street.

Join West Dundee officials for the lighting of the Village Christmas tree and the joyful sounds of the Dundee-Crown Chamber Choir.

The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve "Toys for Tots" Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys to distribute as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted, thereby providing a message of hope to these youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.

Toys for Tots donations will be collected at the following West Dundee locations this holiday season:

• Bikini Bottom Bar & Grill, 105-107 W Main (WD) - The Marines will be on hand at to sell paper trains and collect donations in support of Toys for Tots from 6-8 pm on Friday, November 30.
• Bii Hair Salon - 1955 Huntley Rd (WD) - from November 16 through December 7. Visit biihairsalon.com for hours of operation.
• Randall Oaks Golf Club - 4101 Binnie Rd (WD) - Through December 1, 2018

Enjoy live, local music on stage at the newly renovated RocHaus, while gathering with friends and neighbors.

Performers include:

• 6:00-7:00 pm: Dundee-Crown Jazz Combo
• 7:00-7:30 pm: Boys & Girls Club "Blue Voices" Choir
• 7:30-8:00 pm: Dundee-Crown Chamber Choir
• 8:00-9:00 pm: Controlled Burn

Based on the weather forecast and radar, with significant amounts of rain beginning at 9am and continuing through the day, the 2018 Spirit of Christmas Parade has been cancelled.

Based on the weather forecast and radar, with significant amounts of rain beginning at 9am and continuing through the day, Santa's Workshop and other outdoor activities have been cancelled for the 2018 event.

Based on the weather forecast and radar, with significant amounts of rain beginning at 9am and continuing through the day, the Petting Zoo and other outdoor activities have been cancelled for the 2018 event.

Make memories while decorating your very own gingerbread house. Purchase a "building permit" and receive a gingerbread house kit, which comes with a fully assembled gingerbread house and all of the candy and goodies that you will need to decorate. Decorate on site, or take it home for later.

Limit one kit per family. (If sufficient quantities remain after 1:00, additional kits may be purchased.)

Walk the gallery of unique and beautiful Christmas trees decorated by local school groups and clubs.

Trees are decorated on Friday and judged for "Creativity", "Beauty" and "Holiday Spirit", with 3 Gold Awards ($40) and 3 Silver Awards ($25) given in each category.

For more information or to sign up, contact Jim McClung; call (847) 931-7127 or email jimbarbmcclung@att.net.

Sponsored by the Dundee Lions Club.

Cozy in to the Victorian elegance of the Mansion and listen while Victoria Wilbrandt reads a short version of Charles Dickens' classic tale of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, whose cold and embittered heart is warmed by the joys and rewards of love.

Kick off the holiday season with Breakfast with Santa. A breakfast buffet will be served with fluffy scrambled eggs, bacon & sausage, french toast and much more. Children's art and activities will be provided by DTPD Recreation staff.

Ages 11 & older | $15.95
Ages 3-10* | $8.95
Under 3 | FREE

*Free with an unwrapped NEW toy donation (one toy per child). Toys will be donated to "Toys for Tots" sponsored by the United States Marines.

In honor of our military, we will offer a 10% discount for each adult who shows their Military ID, retired or current.

Reservations are required. Call (847)428-5661 ext 2 to reserve your seat. Click here for more information.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is the place for one-stop shopping this holiday season.

The Dundee Township Historical Society for a "Dickens of a Sale", featuring new and gently used Christmas items sold at reasonable prices.

Bethlehem Lutheran hosts a Craft Boutique with local, handmade items, as well as a Bake Sale to satisfy your sweet tooth or load you up with tasty treats to bring along to your next holiday party.

Stop in for nourishment at the Soup & Sandwich Lunch while you are there.

Cold outside? Come warm up and enjoy delicous hot soup and sandwiches.

All proceeds from the luncheon will be donated to the FISH Food Pantry to assist local families in need this holiday season.

While you're there, top it off with a sweet holiday treat at the Bake Sale and/or shop for handmade items at the Craft Boutique or the Historical Society's "Dickens of a Sale".

Homemade holiday cookies and candies will be available in many varieties and will be sold by weight at “The Church on the Hill.”

Pick your own specialty holiday cookies from the selection; there is no need to bake this Christmas! A boutique of handmade and holiday gift items – art work, ornaments, afghans, scarves, hats, home decor and so much more – will also be on sale.

For further details, call the church at 847-426-2161 ext. 202 or visit their website at http://www.fccdundee.com.

The Dickens Decorating Contest is taking a year off. We are open to your thoughts on how to improve the contest for next year!

Purchase your Christmas tree from the Dundee Lions Club!

Sales will begin on "Black Friday", November 22 from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. Regular hours will be Thursdays & Fridays from 6:00 - 8:00 pm and Saturdays & Sundays from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. Tree sales will end on or about December 9.

In addition to trees, wreathes and garland are also available for purchase. All profits from sales go to support community charities.

Send your letter to Santa via Santa Express! Letters to Santa can be dropped into the Santa Express Mailbox at Around The Corner Candy through Christmas Eve.

Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope to receive an answer personally from Santa!

The celebration continues the week after Dickens in Dundee, as Bethlehem Lutheran Church presents Bethlehem Christmas Live! Travel through Bethlehem as the first Christmas comes to life. Experience live performances from the first Christmas to modern day on a 30 minute guided outdoor walking tour that portrays events before, during and after the birth of Christ.

The outdoor playlets in the churchyard will feature members of the congregation in costume on sets with sound effects and lighting. The presentation will include:

• An Angel Appears to Mary: Mary learns from Gabriel that she will be the mother of Jesus


• No Room at the Inn: Joseph and Mary hear they will have no place to stay for Jesus’ birth


• Shepherds Hear the Good News: Frightened, excited shepherds learn of the birth of Jesus


• The Shepherds' Visit: Shepherds become the Holy Family's first visitors


• The Three Kings Visit: Distant leaders bring gifts to the young Jesus


• Today's Savior: A modern-day teenage girl who is being verbally bullied has an interaction with the adult Jesus