Be sure to mark your calendars for Friday, November 30th!  The Village of Addison will holds its Christmas Tree Lighting event ONE WEEK EARLIER than in the past!  You won't want to miss all the festivities.  In the Village Hall Rotunda, children will able to visit Santa and tell him what is on their Christmas wish list for this year from 5 to 7 pm.    Be sure to bring your camera to capture this special moment in your child’s life.  Also, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Santa’s elves will be on hand for additional photo opportunities. Electric trains will shuttle passengers from Village Hall to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Living Nativity scene and the Holiday Craft Fair in front of the museum continuously from 5-9 pm. New this year, will be a special train which will make a circuit around the festively decorated Village Green.

At 7p.m., the official Addison Tree Lighting Ceremony will take center stage in the Village Hall Rotunda.  Students from local schoolswill perform holiday favorites.  At 8p.m. sharp, the Christmas lights of the Village Tree will be turned on for all to enjoy!

Following the ceremony, visits with Santa and Holiday characters in Village Hall and train rides will continue through 9pm.   Throughout the event, complimentary refreshments will be provided by Muggs ‘N Manor, Kiwanis Club of Addison, Clyde’s Delicious Donuts and the Knights of Columbus.

On the Museum grounds, the festivities start at 5p.m. with the second annual Holiday Craft Fair. At the craft fair, you will find the custom handiwork of 15 local craftsman.  Hand crafted and vintage items for sale will include Christmas ornaments, décor, and apparel, jewelry, hair accessories, hand-made wood items, and even that perfect holiday gift for your 4 legged friend!

At 6pm, the Historical Museum buildings will open for touring until 9pm.  The Century House will be festively decorated in the late 19^th to early 20^th Century period.  The interior will be festooned with evergreen garlands. The living room will have a replica of a German feather Christmas tree complete with antique ornaments and presents under the tree.  The dining table will be elegantly set for Christmas dinner.

In the museum, visitors have their last opportunity to view the special Bicentennial exhibit: “Serving the State:  Addison Area residents and their impact on Illinois” before it closes.  In the Coach House, the museum’s new exhibit installation on the daily life of the late 19^th/Early 20^th Century housewife will be on view.

The Vagabond Singers, an A capella quartet dressed in Victorian garb will return to the Christmas Tree lighting event again this year!. They will perform classic Christmas Carols from 6:30-7:30 pm and from 7:45-8:45 pm in the Century House living room.  The Vagabond Singers began performing A capella Christmas Carols in Victorian era costumes in 1994.  They released a caroling CD in 2000 called “The Christmas Album”.  The current group of singers has been performing together as an ensemble since May of 2013.  They are all members of Faith Community United Church of Christ in Bensenville and also sing in the Church choir and play in the bell choir.

They include:

Diana Franzen, of Bensenville, Soprano- Diana is a founding member of the group and has sung both soprano and alto over the years.  She works at the Bensenville Public Library.

Jan Zator, of Elmhurst, Alto-Jan is a retired elementary school teacher whose interests include traveling, Jazzercise and reading.

Al Thurkow, of Bensenville, Tenor-Al has performed “The Messiah” with the Elmhurst Choral Union.  He volunteers for the Bensenville/Wood Dale Food Pantry.

Randy Putnam, of Hanover Park, Bass-Al is a retired machinist.  He operates the sound system at church and maintenance and previously served as Church President and Treasurer.

Light refreshments will also be available at the museum.

So mark your calendars now, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30^th for the Village of Addison Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony!