Gingerbread Festival This Weekend in Downers Grove

Friday, Nov. 29

• Gingerbread House Contest Voting — All Day
• Gingerbread Man Hunt — All Day
• Storytime at Downers Grove Public Library, 1050 Curtis St. — 3:30 p.m. (Doors open at 3:15 p.m. and space is limited.)
• Procession to Tree-Lighting Ceremony — 4:20 p.m.
• Tree-Lighting Ceremony — 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 30

• Fourth Annual American Express Small Business Saturday — All Day
• Gingerbread House Contest Voting — All Day
• Photo opportunities with Gingerbread Boy and Girl — All Day
• Gingerbread Man Hunt — All Day
• Visit with Santa Claus at the Gingerbread House — 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Downers Grove residents are encouraged to "shop local" on Saturday at the village's various downtown merchants.

Sunday, Dec. 1

• Gingerbread House Contest Voting — All Day
• Photo opportunities with Gingerbread Boy and Girl — All Day
• Gingerbread Man Hunt — All Day
• Breakfast with Santa — Emmett's Ale House, noon to 1 p.m., Lemon Tree, 9 to 10 a.m., Kristina's Cafe, 10 to 11 a.m., Pinecone Cottage, 11 a.m. to noon. (Reservations Required)
• Visit with Santa Claus at the Gingerbread House — 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Complimentary Carriage Rides, from 1028 Curtiss St. — 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, click here.

Also this week:

• Coat Drive Underway: Starting Monday, Nov. 25, the village will be collecting gently used coats and winter accessories for all ages. Drop boxes will be located in the lobbies of the Village Hall, 801 Burlington Ave.; Police Department, 825 Burlington Ave.; and Public Works, 5101 Walnut Ave. All items collected will be donated to Sharing Connections to benefit those in need in the community. Items will be collected through Jan. 13, 2014. The coat drive is organized by the VOICE Committee, a voluntary group of village employees with the goal of supporting humanitarian efforts in the organization and the Downers Grove community.
• Feed My Starving Children Food Packing: The organization is seeking people to volunteer their services for two hours to pack food for the less fortunate Wednesday, Nov. 27, Game Pazzo, 63rd St. and Woodward Ave., Downers Grove. Children ages 8 and up are welcome to volunteer, too. Reserve a time slot here, and click on "Volunteer to Pack." For more information, contact Jack Reidy at jreidy@sentinel.com.
• Bonfield Express 5K Run/Walk: The Bonfield Express 5K is held each Thanksgiving morning and treks through the downtown and side streets of Downers Grove on a USTAF certified course. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28, and race starts at Main and Grove streets. For more information, click here.
• Used Cooking Oil Collection: Downers Grove will accept used cooking oil from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 30, at Village Hall, 801 Burlington Ave. Bring the liquid in its original container, milk jug or bucket. Collected oil will be turned into clean burning biofuels. Containers will be returned. For more information, contact SCARCE at (630) 545-9710.