Dec 2 & Dec 3, 2022

Schedule and details are subject to change
  • Friday, December 2

    • Living Windows & Holiday Displays

      Downtown West Dundee

      6:00 – 8:00 pm

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

      Numerous themed windows will be on display between First and Second Streets and along Main Street. Some will feature live actors, some traditional holiday decor, some will be adorned with handpainted designs, and some will invite you in for treats, fun or charitable giving, but ALL will fill you with the holiday spirit!

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

      Business Group Theme

      Woodfire

      127 W Main St
      Window Mural by Hallie Morrison

      Underground Retrocade

      121 W Main St
      Living Window - Theme TBA, possibly on the "stranger" side of "things"

      Edward Jones

      119 W Main St
      Holiday Decor

      The Foote Team @ Compass

      115 W Main St
      St. Catherine of Siena Living Window - Nativity
      Stop in for hot cocoa and mail your letter to Santa!

      Schol & Associates & Amy Ward Photography

      113 W Main St
      Holiday Decor
      Popcorn and pictures with Santa!
      Donations collection for the FISH Food Pantry!

      United Career Fairs

      111 W Main St
      Window Mural by Kathryn Eli - Bringing Home the Tree

      Grid 7 Properties

      109 W Main St
      Window Mural by Kathryn Eli - Reindeer Couple

      Bikini Bottom Bar & Grill

      105-107 W Main St
      Living Window - Baird & Warner Window Mural by Hallie Morrison - Let it snow
      Living Window - Summertime Santa
      Stop in for an "eflie" with Santa
      Donations collection for the FISH Food Pantry!

      Bamboozels

      101 W Main St
      Holiday Decor
      $7 Kids Meals with a free gift from 4-6pm

      bleuroot

      98 W Main St
      Holiday Decor
      Jazz Singer Kaylee Hoffman from 6:30-8:30pm

      Trippots

      102 W Main St
      Window Mural by Kathryn Eli - Succulent Family Photos

      Motl Accounting

      104 W Main St
      Window Mural by Kathryn Eli - Jack Frost / Fun in the new-fallen snow

      Riverside Upholstery

      110 W Main St
      Window Mural by Hallie Morrison - Feliz Navidad!

      Bravingbird

      114 W Main St
      Pro Dance Elite Studios Holiday Harry Potter

      Law Offices of Harlovic and Perko

      116 W Main St
      Holiday Decor

      120 W Main (formerly AES)

      120 W Main St
      Dundee Highlands Elementary School Living Window - Traditions of Togetherness

      Boxwood Home Design & Cabinetry Co.

      122 W Main St
      My Secret Garden Living Window - Wonderland at Christmastime

      Elder & Oat

      124 W Main St
      Window Mural by Hallie Morrison and Kathryn Eli- Gnomes!

      Emmett’s Tavern & Brewing Co

      128 W Main St
      Dundee Township Historical Society Charles Dickens

      Spa Bleu

      106 N Second St
      Hot Chocolate Bar on North Second Street 6-9pm
    • Warming House & Santa Claus

      6:00 – 8:00 pm

      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 Raffle

      6:00 – 8:00 pm

      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 join area children in need on a shopping trip at Wal-Mart to select a Christmas treat.

      Drawing will be held on Friday, December 2 at approximately 7:45pm at the West Dundee Village Hall, and live streamed on the SWAC Facebook page. For more information, visit the SWAC website.

      To purchase raffle ticket in advance of December 2, please visit any of the following police departments:

      • Carpentersville Police Department - 1200 L.W. Besinger Drive, Carpentersville
      • East Dundee Police Department - 115 E. Third Street, East Dundee
      • Gilberts Police Department - 86 Railroad Street, Gilberts
      • Pingree Grove Police Department - 1 Police Plaza, Pingree Grove
      • Sleepy Hollow Police Department - 1 Thorobred Lane, Sleepy Hollow
      • West Dundee Police Department - 555 S. 8th Street, West Dundee

    • West Dundee Tree Lighting Ceremony

      7:00 PM

      Join us in the south lawn of Village Hall to enjoy the glorious sounds of the Dundee-Crown Chamber Choir and count down to the moment that the Village Christmas Tree is illuminated!

  • Saturday, December 3

    • Ron Rhoades Festival of Trees Display

      Grafelman Park - Main St between 4th & 5th

      9:00 am – 7:00 pm

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

      Trees are decorated on Friday between 9am and 5pm. The community is welcome to observe the decorating, have a cup of hot chocolate and drop off a donation for the FISH Food Pantry.

      Viewing is on Friday until 7pm, Saturday from 9am-7pm, and again on Sunday from 9am-3pm.

      Trees are judged for "Creativity", "Beauty" and "Holiday Spirit", with 3 Gold Awards and 3 Silver Awards given in each category. A People's Choice Award will be determined via Facebook. Vote by "liking" the photo of your favorite tree on the Dundee Lions Facebook Page.

      If you represent a group that would like to decorate a tree, please contact Jim McClung; call (847) 567-7127 or email jimbarbmcclung75@gmail.com. The Festival of Trees is limited to 30 trees.

      Sponsored by the Dundee Lions Club.

    • Reading of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol

      The Mansion Bed & Breakfast, 305 Oregon Avenue

      1:30 PM

      Cozy into the Victorian elegance of The Mansion Bed & Breakfast to hear Victoria Wilbrandt read a shortened version of Charles Dickens' classic tale of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, whose cold and embittered heart is warmed by the joys and rewards of love.

      Unable to attend in person? Click here to view the Reading of A Christmas Carol two-part video from 2020.


    • Christmas Party for Kids

      Bamboozels - 101 W. Main Street

      1:00 – 3:00 pm

      Join the fun at Bamboozels' Christmas Party for Kids, featuring free photos with Santa and kids Christmas karaoke!

    • Dickens of a Christmas Sale by Dundee Township Historical Society

      9:00 am – 3:00 pm

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

      Visit Dundee Township Historical Society's "Dickens of a Sale", featuring new and gently used Christmas items and other giftable items sold at reasonable prices.

      Stop in for nourishment at the Bethlehem Lutheran Soup & Sandwich Lunchwhile you are there.

    • Soup & Sandwich Lunch

      10:30 am – 1:30 pm

      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, stop across the hall to shop for vintage items at the Historical Society's "Dickens of a Sale".

    • Riverside Parade of Lights

      Beginning at Lincoln Ave at 6th St in West Dundee, crossing the Fox River at Main St in Carpentersvile, and ending at Railroad St in East Dundee

      6:30 PM

      Gather with friends and neighbors along the banks of the Fox River for the first annual Riverside Parade of Lights!

      Watch as your favorite Christmas movies come alive and light up the night! For more infomation, visit the Riverside Parade of Lights Facebook event page.

      Parade Registration Form

      Businesses, municipal organizations and not-for-profits are invited to register to participate in the parade.


  • Throughout the Season

    • “Toys for Tots” Toy Drive

      Public Safety Center No. 1 - 551 S. 8th Street

      November 16 - 7:00 am on December 8

      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 West Dundee Public Safety Center No. 1 this holiday season. A collection box was available within the front entry of the West Dundee Police Department, for contactless toy drop-off 7 days per week, 24 hours per day, until December 10, 2021.

    • Lions Club Christmas Tree Sales

      Grafelman Park Tennis Court - 5th & Washington

      November 20 through December 11, or while supplies last

      Purchase your Christmas tree from the Dundee Lions Club! Sales will begin on November 19. The tree sale schedule will be as follows, while supplies last:

      • Sun 11/20, Fri 11/25, Sat 11/26 & Sun 11/27 from 10am-6pm
      • Thereafter, Thursdays & Fridays from 6-8pm and Saturdays & Sundays from 10am-6pm

      Tree sales will end on or about December 11 or when all trees are sold out.

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

      Thank you to the Lions Club and all who volunteer to assist for your community spirit!

Celebrating Dundee's
Community Spirit
During the Holiday Season

2023 marks the 36th year of our annual Dickens in Dundee event to kick off the Christmas season. We invite all area residents to come out and join in the fun!

Dickens in Dundee was formed in 1988. It began as a small community gathering, with caroling and the search for Tiny Tim's crutch in local stores. With the financial support of local businesses and the Villages of East Dundee and West Dundee, it has grown into a weekend holiday festival which attracts a people from all over the Dundee area.

The former Dundee Jaycees organized Dickens in Dundee from 1995 until 2005. The Villages of East and West Dundee and a committee of community volunteers took the reigns in 2006 to keep the event alive.

Dickens Committee Contacts