It's Monday! Get Your Pet's Photo with Santa

The Northbrook Court hosts “Pet Photos with Santa” every Monday through Dec. 17. Get yours today, and don't forget to send Patch the photo!

Five Reasons to Stay Local This Holiday Weekend

Skip the traditional Black Friday this year to enjoy some community fun and support local businesses.

This weekend, take a step out of the crowds of en masse Black Friday shoppers at chain stores and into the light of new holiday beginnings - by staying within the city limits of Lake Forest for all of your holiday fun this weekend. Here's the top five reasons why! 1.  There’s more fun to be had than dealing with the crowds. “Traditionally, the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony kicks off the Holiday season. It’s a time for residents to welcome home family and friends for the Holidays and to socialize,” said Shelley Walker, Special Events coordinator for the City of Lake Forest. This Friday, Lake Forest’s 29th Annual Tree Lighting ceremony on Western Avenue begins at 3 p.m. with a live ice sculpting performance by Art Below Zero.  “Master Carver…

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NORAD Website Tracks Santa Throughout Tonight's Journey

Kids and adults can follow St. Nick's every move.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is charged with keeping the United States and Canada safe from dangers originating from the sky or space. Tonight, however, the Colorado-based government agency adds one more important task to its daily list of duties. The agency will again provide its Official Santa Tracker (http://www.noradsanta.org/) that marks The Big Man's every move as he makes his way throughout both hemispheres. Included on the site is a countdown and activity page (http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html) and a flight tracking system (http://www.noradsanta.org/en/track3d.html) Kids and adults can enjoy this very entertaining site that will have sugar plums dancing through everyone's head before retiring.

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Photo Gallery: Lake Bluff

Lake Bluff Serves up Santa at Breakfast

Proceeds benefit Kiwanis Club Charities.

Santa and his helper brought holiday wishes Saturday to Lake Bluff's Breakfast with Santa at Grace United Methodist Church. The Kiwanis Club of Lake Bluff and Lake Forest prepared breakfast and proceeds from the event went to Kiwanis Club Charities.

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Photo Gallery: Lake Forest

Santa and His Reindeer Make a Stop in Lake Forest

Host of activities make it a fun-filled day.

Santa and his reindeer made a stop at Lake Forest's Market Square Saturday among a host of holiday-related activities taking place in the downtown shopping area. There was also a free raffle to win a 4-foot tall chocolate Santa from Bernard Callebaut Gourmet Chocolates. In addition, carolers from local churches filled the air with holiday songs and The Buckthorns, an adult chorale group, also sang. Market Square merchants also offered specials Saturday, including writing letters to Santa at Helanders; holiday story time at 11 a.m. at Lake Forest Book Store; Kiddles Sports presented, "All I want for Christmas List," and Bank Lane Bakery offered a wine tasting for adults.

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See Live Reindeer and Santa at Market Square on Saturday

Lake Forest hosts downtown event perfect for kids and families.

Santa and his reindeer will make a stop at Lake Forest's Market Square from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday among a host of holiday-related activities taking place in the downtown shopping area. Market Square is located on Western Avenue just north of Deerpath across from the train station. While you visit with Santa and his reindeer, pick up a free raffle ticket to win a 4-foot tall chocolate Santa from Bernard Callebaut Gourmet Chocolates. In addition, carolers from local churches will fill the air with holiday songs from 10-11 a.m., and The Buckthorns, an adult chorale group, will sing from 2:30-4 p.m. Market Square merchants are also offering specials Saturday. For more information, visit the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Chamber website.

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Santa Delights Families At Mellody Farm Preserve

LFOLA sponsors Sunday afternoon of story telling, environmental education and family fun.

The snow-blanketed prairie at Mellody Farm Nature Preserve was the perfect setting for Sunday's visit from jolly old St. Nick. But the man in the red suit went far beyond his customary wish-recording duties this day, as he climbed into a horse-drawn wagon, read a holiday story and sang festive carols along with 70 delighted parents and their children. The "Story Time With Santa" event is the first of its kind sponsored by the Lake Forest Open Lands Association(LFOLA). Jill London, assistant director of development for LFOLA, said that the event was designed to "reinvigorate family programming" for the organization. "We enjoy getting people out on the land," London said. "The kids come here (Mellody Farm) on school field trips, but many of …

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Santa, Mrs. Clause Spend Time With Lake Forest Hospital Staff, Employees

Collect toys for Marine Toys for Tots drive.

Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital physicians and employees brought their children to the hospital last Saturday for a morning of food and photos with Santa and Mrs. Clause. The Deerfield High School Choraliers sang Christmas Carols and violinists provided music.   Staff Sgt. Albert Romero and Lt. Cpl. Dronwyn Jurkowski attended the party, escorting the children to Santa and collecting the more than 150 toys donated by hospital employees during a week-long drive for Marine Toys for Tots.

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