It's already beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Not even this old Grinch of a recession can steal Christmas.

Local towns may merrily report tight budgets. But that doesn't necessarily mean diminished holiday celebrations this year, just more cooperation for many in order to make them happen.

If you've visited the Gail Borden Public Library in downtown this week, you already know it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Elgin.

Decorated trees line the first floor, ready to be auctioned off Nov. 14 at a gala to benefit the Ecker Center for Mental Health.

The festive trees are just one sign that, despite the bad economy, the winter months will progress with plenty of holiday cheer in Elgin and the surrounding communities.

"No one has skimped this year, but we've gotten more creative," said Jennifer Benson, development director for Elgin's Downtown Neighborhood Association.

"There is not less to do, and there may be more things that are less costly," she said.

In the city of Elgin, close to two dozen local nonprofits have partnered on "Elgin Home for the Holidays," a project that serves, at the very least, as a Web site clearinghouse (www.elginhomefortheholidays.com) for the 50 or so holiday-related activities in the area this year.

Benson credited Mark Billings, development manager for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, for getting the ball rolling on the project. The symphony is moving its seasonal concert back to the Hemmens Cultural Center downtown this Christmastime after holding a spectacle the last three years at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. Billings said the move was due in large part to economic reasons.

In February, the ESO began looking at ways to coordinate all that Elgin has to offer come November and December.

"It doesn't make sense to be competing with other nonprofits," Billings said. "Home for the Holidays," he said, "is a way to showcase the rich well of culture we have here in Elgin and is about the large number of nonprofits here and what they offer to the community."

As for what the city itself is offering, Parks Superintendent Jim Bell said Wednesday that his department is doing an inventory of decorations the city usually displays. Elgin will put up what it typically does, "but anything we can't repair ourselves won't be replaced this year," he said.

The city has announced, however, that Elgin's annual tree lighting will be Dec. 5 and culminate a day's worth of activities, including the DNA Winter Wonderland displays, free ice skating at the rink by city hall, a performance from the Elgin's Children's Chorus and two performances of "It's a Wonderful Life — A Radio Play" at Hemmens.

Here's a look at what some other area towns are planning for the Christmas season.

South Elgin

The Parks and Recreation Department usually purchases a few new holiday decorations each year, but that won't happen this holiday season, recreation director Kim Wascher said.

"We are going to utilize what we have … we haven't purchased any new," Wascher said. "This year, we just put a hold on spending for not-necessary things."

The village plans to save about $2,000 this year by holding its annual "An Almost Winter Day" event at the parks and recreation annex and at the adjacent SEBA Park instead of at County Park, she said. Those funds usually go for tents for the event, but since County Park is getting new bathroom facilities, the park will be torn up. Like years past, "An Almost Winter Day," set for 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 21, will include a visit from Santa, where children will be able to write letters to the man in red and, for an additional $2, get a letter back from him.

"This department has always been very conservative with our spending, maybe a little more this year," Wascher said.

St. Charles

Residents will notice a little less greenery downtown this year. Historically, the city has placed Christmas trees on Main Street (Route 64) light posts from 14th Street to 14th Avenue. This year however, those trees will only go from Seventh Street to Seventh Avenue, community and public affairs manager Beth Mund said.

The city also eliminated parkway tree lights, and fewer lights are planned at city hall, Mund said. There will still be lights at Lincoln Park, where the tree-lighting festival is held, but not at Baker Park, she added.

East, West Dundee

In Christmases past, the holiday season for East Dundee residents brought the treat of "Dickens in Dundee" living window displays — volunteers in Victorian-era holiday garb posed in shop windows throughout the village.

It still will, sort of, East Dundee Village Administrator Frank Koehler said.

The village administrator said that despite hard economic times, it will continue with the holiday events it had last year.

"It's still the holidays. You do what you can to keep the lights on," Koehler said.

Keeping the lights on means sharing "Dickens in Dundee," as it has for the past 22 years. East Dundee will hold a tree-lighting ceremony Dec. 4, while West Dundee will light up its living windows. The "Spirit of Christmas" parade will wind through both villages the next day, Dec. 5.

West Dundee Village Manager Joe Cavallaro said the village will host all the same holiday events as usual, including gingerbread house decorating and a festival of trees. But, he added, the village will cut back in less visible ways.

Village employees are being asked to take vacation days or unpaid days off from work on Christmas Eve, as well as the day after Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. That does not include emergency personnel, such as police and firefighters.

"It's Christmas Eve, so it minimizes the impact on the village," Cavallaro said.

In addition, for the second year in a row, village employees are giving up their holiday party. Cavallaro said the group gave up the party voluntarily last year after being asked to take off of work the day after Christmas.

Carpentersville

It's Christmas as usual in Carpentersville. But then, Village Manager Craig Anderson pointed out his village doesn't "do a lot anyhow" for the holidays.

The village decorates the tree in Carpenter Park and puts up decorations along the Main Street bridge, but those are decorations it already owns. Last year it held a tree-lighting event, but Anderson said none is planned for this year yet.

Hampshire

Decorations and celebrations will seem unchanged to the observer, but actually may cost the village and Hampshire Area Chamber of Commerce a bit less. Instead of paying a contractor to hang up holiday banners downtown as usual, the village will use its own employees. After the season, the chamber will hang a new set of banners to last the rest of the year.

The traditional "Santa Comes to Hampshire" for children will continue, and will be held from 3:45 to 8 p.m. Nov. 27 at Hampshire Middle School. Photos with Santa, games, crafts, a "nativity" petting zoo and bingo games will all be free. The chamber is still looking for sponsors to defray the evening's expenses. Anyone interested should visit www.hampshirechamber.org or call committee chairperson Michelle Kollins at 847-683-9263.

Burlington

The village is adding an event to this year's wintertime agenda.

In the past, a cut evergreen tree was donated and erected at Main and Center streets and decorated for the holidays. This year, the Christmas season will kick off with a live event called "Christmas in Burlington," to take place on the west side of Main Street just south the railroad track on Nov. 28. Showcased will be an 18-foot fir tree donated by Reiser Trucking and planted there to become the permanent Burlington Christmas tree. It will be lit at 6 p.m. on the 28th while people sing carols, greet Santa and eat holiday snacks.

In another frugal move, the village will re-hang the same wreaths that were hung last year throughout the downtown.

"Without increasing the financial burden, we'll be expanding the community spirit," Village Clerk Mary Ann Wilkison said.

"Some families are feeling the financial stress, so it's a good time to do things that make us all feel a little better," she added, without really spending more village money.

The village also has begun a coloring contest for children and a decorating contest for homeowners and businesses.

Genoa

Those who enjoyed the Genoa's first outdoor skating rink last year can look forward to another season of ice skating downtown.

The city council has approved a resolution providing an extension of an intergovernmental agreement between the city and the Genoa Township Park District for the community skating rink along North Genoa Street.

The rink is a result of a partnership between the city, the district and Genoa Main Street Inc. Last year, volunteers came forward to donate both materials and labor in order to build the 50- by 70-foot rink.

David Glaum, a Genoa Main Street board director, told the city council Tuesday that this year's rink should be bigger and better than last year.

"Citizens Bank has made a $1,000 donation for a professional one-piece liner," Glaum said. "We have a better volunteer base this year. We've learned things from last year."

Area residents also will be able to enjoy "Celebrate the Season" from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4 in the downtown. The 13th annual event, sponsored by the Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce, will feature the Jingle Bells Parade down Main Street. Santa will arrive in a horse and carriage, provided by Royal Carriage, and travel to the community tree-lighting ceremony at 6:20 p.m., according to Bonnie Hanson, the chamber's executive director. After the ceremony, Santa will pose with the children for free holiday photographs.

Other events that night will include free carriage rides, a nativity petting zoo, cookies and hot chocolate, face painting, children's crafts and carolers.

The Genoa Public Library will have a holiday storyteller from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. and Main Street businesses will extend their hours so attendees can do holiday shopping.

"We're still looking for more parade entries and more organizations to participate in the event," Hanson said.

During these tough economic times, she said, donations and sponsors are what make "Celebrate the Season" a reality. This year's sponsors include Northern Rehabilitation, H&R Block, American Family Insurance, Citizens First National Bank, Jim Wilson of Edward Jones, Unlimited Performance, Prairie View Dental, National Bank & Trust Co. and Resource Bank.

Sycamore

The first weekend in December will feature a variety of holiday events.

The "Walk with Santa" parade, presented by Discover Sycamore and National Bank & Trust, begins at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Midwest Museum of Natural History, 425 W. State St., according to Megan Yockey, Discover Sycamore director.

In light of the current recession, Yockey said, "We are more conscious of what we spend and where we spend it. We try to focus on events that are affordable to the community."

In the parade, Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves and other participants will stroll down State Street to the DeKalb County Courthouse lawn for the tree-lighting ceremony, treats and hot chocolate. There also will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the Santa house downtown.

On Dec. 5 and 6, the annual Chocolate Weekend will commence. Chocolate greeters will welcome attendees at Discover Sycamore businesses and a holiday bazaar will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 5, at Taxco Restaurant's banquet hall, 223 W. State St.

Huntley

The village will trim the light posts downtown and light the Christmas tree as in years past. It also will expand its offerings at the second annual Christmas on the Square event scheduled 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Dec. 5.

At the event, Santa will arrive at the gazebo on the square via fire truck, ready for photos and Christmas stories to be read by staffers at the old village hall, according to management assistant Barb Reed.

There also will be a Kris Kringle market with vendors and crafters selling their wares on the square, and the village hopes to add a choral group to the lineup of activities.

Contributing were staff writers Mike Danahey, Dave Gathman and Emily McFarlan, along with correspondents Janelle Walker, Denise Moran and Jeanie Mayer.