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DOWNTOWN HIGHLAND PARK TRANSFORMS INTO A WINTER WONDERLAND: GINGERBREAD HOUSE MAKING, REAL SNOW, LIVE REINDEER, FIRE-ROASTED CHESTNUTS, HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES, HOLIDAY CRAFTS, FOOD, HOT DRINKS & MORE

FREE Family Event Kicks off the 2013
Holiday Season, Dec. 13th from 4-8 & Dec. 14th from
11-3



 



HIGHLAND PARK, IL (DECEMBER 13-14, 2013)
Downtown Highland Park's Winter Wonderland will once again
transform the streets of downtown Highland Park into a nostalgic holiday movie
scene for a two day FREE festival combining family fun and encouraging
patronage of local shopping. All are invited to enjoy holiday festivities,
including a gingerbread house making party at Port Clinton Square hosted by The
Art Center
, live
reindeer, horse drawn carriage rides, holiday carolers, s’more making, fire
roasted chestnuts, French crepes, hot cider, fresh popped corn, and more! Rumor has it there is even a guarantee of
real snow in the forecast to put everyone in the holiday spirit.

Find out what's happening in Highland Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.



 



It
all begins Friday, December 13th from 4-8pm and continues Saturday,
December 14th from 11am-3pm. The schedule is as follows:

Find out what's happening in Highland Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.



 



Friday, December 13th:



Gingerbread House Making
Party Kick-Off – 4pm



Gingerbread House Making with
The
Art Center
– 4-8pm



Carolers – 4-6pm



Live Reindeer – 4-7pm



Horse Drawn Carriage Rides –
4-8pm



Live Jazz – 6-8pm



 



Saturday,
December 14th:



Gingerbread House Making with
The
Art Center
– 11am-3pm



Live Reindeer – 11am-2pm



Horse drawn carriage rides –
11am-3pm



Face Painter – 11am-3pm



Live Jazz – 11am-2pm



Gingerbread House Contest Judging
by The
Art Center

2pm



Holiday Acoustical Guitarist –
2-3pm



 



To
kick-off the event, Beth Engleman, Mommy on a Shoestring columnist and You
& Me This Morning

on-air personality, will be on-site for a gingerbread house-making demo from 4-8pm
on Friday at Port Clinton Square. Kids ages 12 and under are invited to join Engleman,
or come out any time throughout the two day event, and will be given a complete
Gingerbread Making Kit, while supplies last. The Gingerbread House Making Party
will culminate on Saturday at 2pm with “best of” competitions. The District 112
Elementary School with the best-decorated collection of Gingerbread creations
will be awarded a pizza party. There will also be gift certificates awarded to
the ‘best of’ by age group. Highland Park resident Engleman, along with fellow
judges from The Art Center
of Highland Park will choose the most creative.  



 



Stroll
the magnificent seasonal streetscapes of downtown Highland Park while taking in
gingerbread creations, warming up to glowing chimineas and the hot roasting
chestnut station, and enjoying fresh popcorn and donuts from Sunset
Foods
and Cornfields Incorporated, roasted chestnuts, hot cocoa and French crepes. The event
will feature live holiday music, carolers and much more! 2-hour parking in City
of Highland Park municipal lots will be temporarily suspended, allowing
shoppers to take more time to enjoy the event.



 



With
over 100 merchants, shoppers are encouraged to come out to experience the truly
unique shops, boutiques and restaurants that will be offering Winter Wonderland
specials. The Downtown Highland Park Winter Wonderland is proud to partner with
Yelp North Shore in their annual drive to shop local
during the 2013 holiday season.



 



ABOUT
WINTER WONDERLAND



Winter Wonderland (formerly Shhh…opping Highland Park) is made up of retailers that want to raise awareness
of the uniqueness and exclusiveness of Downtown Highland Park’s boutique
shopping experience through on-going creative events and promotions. Recognized
as the North Shore’s “Mile
of Style,” the unmatched selection and uniqueness of the areas shops,
restaurants and service businesses creates an eclectic shopping, dining and
entertainment experience that should not be missed. For more information on Winter
Wonderland, please contact Ilyse Strongin-Bombicino at 847.432.6000 or
312.285.7702.

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