Community Events

Santa greets Patrick Cassidy, 4 of La Grange, perched on his dad, Tom’s shoulders. La Grange holds its annual Hometown Holiday celebration on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Photo by Bill Ackerman for Shaw Media

While holding a green iguana, Owen Lesher gets a much closer look at a Tegu lizard held by Dave DiNaso, from his Traveling World of Reptiles, at the Community Park District of La Grange Park. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Kira Conroy, 6, of Brookfield, holds two of the seven snakes that she tried on for size: a gray ratsnake and a corn snake (orange) at the Brookfield Conservation Commission’s Meet the Creek in Kiwanis Park. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Mikey Vogel reacts to “gorilla” George Tackes on the sidelines during the 69th annual La Grange Pet Parade. Photo by Bill Ackerman

A referee leans way back as T.J. Weinrich (right) of the Carol Stream Fire Department team lets loose in the third annual dodgeball tournament at Wheaton’s Franklin Middle School. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Bargain hunters line up outside Cossitt School in La Grange, circling the playground as they wait for the doors to open for the annual clothing sale. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Madeline Faron has a private chat with Santa at the Lemont Junior Woman’s Club’s Breakfast with Santa at Cog Hill Golf Club in Lemont. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Santa breaks the ice with a shy Adriana Hernandez as he drops by Berwyn, taking requests and photos with young and old alike. Staff photo by Bill Ackerman

Chicago Blackhawks goalie and Lemont native Scott Darling carries the Stanley Cup into the Lemont Park District’s CORE building for his day with the cup. Photo by Bill Ackerman

A shy Alex Avila meets a new friend, Disney Channel star Stefanie Scott, and gets her autograph during a back to school event at Promenade Bolingbrook. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Despite their expressions, next door neighbors Rachel Bernas and Mary Eterno climbed right back onto the Super Shot after they experienced its fast vertical drop at the 28th annual Woodridge Jubilee Festival. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Viktoria Woszczyk and her dad, Michael, ride the Mini Himalaya ride at Berwyn’s annual Oktoberfest in the Depot District featuring carnival rides, food, drink and live music. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Ava Januski seems delighted with her ride on a dragon at the annual Woodridge Jubilee summer festival. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Stuart Sanko, of Lombard, spins the water out of a sponge before dry sponging the barrel of a howitzer before reloading it, as Stanford’s Mississippi Light Artillery battles Union Army units in Cantigny Park in Wheaton. Photo by Bill Ackerman

A hand stand and a head stand; Cirque Italia opens a weekend run in their tent erected in the parking lot of the Bobby Hull Community Ice Rink in Cicero. Photo by Bill Ackerman

First-grader Desiree LaRocque (right) dances with one of the Riverside Brookfield High School’s Repertory Dance Ensemble, performing their “Bag Dance” for students at Ames School in Riverside. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Watermelon lover Emerson Roessler takes a big juicy bite at Western Springs’ 19th annual Gathering on the Green held near the historic water tower. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Anna Rieger attacks some corn on the cob at the annual Taste of Glen Ellyn held downtown. Photo by Bill Ackerman