When it’s late November and early December in Brookfield, you know it’s time for the annual Holiday Walk. Yes, that good old-fashioned yuletide spirit arrives in the village, and holiday things begin to happen.
Brookfield’s Recreation Department and the Chamber of Commerce have once again arranged a happy holiday festival for us all.
At noon on Saturday, Dec. 6, the business districts (Grand Boulevard and Broadway), and the Brookfield Village Hall become the sites of exciting entertainment.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be arriving in style by horse drawn sleigh around 1 p.m., stopping at the village hall to pick up the winners of the chamber’s scavenger hunt, who have visited local businesses.
After that, Santa and the Mrs. will proceed to “Santa’s Station” at the Cottage at Irish Times, at 8869 Burlington Ave., from 2 to 5 p.m. Children of all ages can give their Christmas lists to Santa.
The Lincoln School Chorus will be singing those tunes we all know and love, in the Recreation Hall of the village hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave. Also here, at 12:30 p.m., the S.E. Gross School Band will play many seasonal classics, while the traditional array of free refreshments are given away — that hot chocolate, juice, coffee, sweets, cookies and popcorn.
At 1:15 p.m., the S.E. Gross School Chorus will show how well they, too, can sing those good old seasonal songs.
Outside the village hall, the Holiday Walk’s famous Winter Games will be going on. Are you ready to try your hand at the Famous Frozen Fish Toss, the Rudolph Ring Toss, or the ever-popular Un-Hat That Snowman? Win fabulous (OK, fairly good) prizes!
If that doesn’t thrill you, this will. Sleigh Rides begin here, and continue from 2 to 4:45 p.m. They are non-stop and totally horse-drawn, bringing you right back to the village hall.
Back in the village hall lobby you will find the annual collection box for St. Barbara’s Food Pantry Items. Bring something in that doesn’t need refrigeration, or having a shelf life that hasn’t yet expired.
Downstairs in the Recreation Hall you will find the traditional winter murals, and you can get sweet and sassy with cookie decorating from1 to 3 p.m. Be sure not to miss the Tae Kwon Do demonstration at 1:45 p.m. and St. Louise’s Bell Choir ringing in the holiday season at 2:15 p.m.
St. Louise’s Dad’s Club will warble an array of Christmas carols at 2:45 p.m., and the Lyons Township High School Chamber Orchestra will play at 3:15 p.m. At 3:45 p.m., local dance instructor Ann Lenartson will have her Elite Dance Studio students perform in their usual inspiring and highly capable fashion.
Always a welcome favorite, Tommy Twister, balloon artist extraordinaire, will crush and smash balloons into fantastical shapes from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
The LTHS Eurthymic Dance Company will dance their way into your hearts at 4:30 p.m., rounding out the program. Yes, all that happens downstairs in the basement of the village hall.
Upstairs in the courtroom, at 1 p.m., the Riverside-Brookfield High School Brass Ensemble will entertain all, followed at 1:30 by Danny Izarry’s magic show. Danny is now a 15-year-old student of the art of prestidigitation.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make a bud vase, now is the time to find out by going to the conference room. A nominal charge is made, and supplies are limited.
The free holiday trolley, stopping at points between the village hall, Grand Boulevard and Eight Corners will be operating from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. This most valuable foot-saving service is sponsored by the Brookfield Friends of the Library.
The Chamber of Commerce’s portion of the Holiday Walk begins at noon on Grand Boulevard, at the Salt Creek Wine Bar, 8900 Fairview. This year, as last, they will host the Annual Kris Kringle Mart from noon to 5 p.m. An array of fascinating vendors will be offering crafts, food samples, and demonstrations.
Across the street, at Fuego Cantina, 3755 Grand Blvd., face painting will be the thing to style your face for the holidays.
From 1 to 3 p.m., Zoo City Treats, at 3748 Grand Blvd., will feature balloon artist Kylie Hudson. This is a fine spot for finding holiday candy gifts and more varieties of popcorn than you could ever dream of.
The Grand Tavern, 3733 Grand Blvd., offers free candy canes for the kids, and for adults not so much in the candy cane crowd, $5 salty caramel apple cider, with souvenir cups.
Brennan Massage and Spa, at 3700 Grand Blvd. have tasty apple cider and other treats available. Twenty-percent-off spa gift cards are also being given out.
At the Brookfield Public Library, 3609 Grand Blvd., crafty activities are going on all day long. Creative Kids Crafts, a Friends of the Library Mini Sale and a Special Needs Playgroup will be presented.
Betty’s Flowers and Gifts, 9138 Broadway Ave., go a bit beyond the usual refreshments they offer. From 4 to 5 p.m., no less than Elsa, the Snow Queen from Disney’s Frozen, will be available for pictures, and autographs will be freely given. See if she’s wearing gloves; and if not, be careful.
Live holiday music will be playing from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tischler’s Finer Foods 9118 Broadway Ave. Christmas carols in the aisles? Why not?
At 9213 Broadway Ave., Ms. Clara’s Joyful Learning Center from 3 to 4 p.m. will conduct an early childhood sing-along, for kids 6 and younger. Adults must be with the children.
Holidays are For the Birds, at 9207 Broadway Ave. Here you can find refreshments, and also holiday music played by local musician Carolyn Krizek.
Rounding out the day’s festivities is the traditional tree-lighting ceremony at Eight Corners, at 6 p.m. Join your neighbors at this beginning of the Christmas season, feel free to sing along with Ms. Clara, and get that good, old hometown holiday feeling warming up inside you.
