Friday, December 2, 2016 to Saturday, December 3, 2016

West Dundee & East Dundee, 102 S. Second Street, West Dundee, IL, 60118

2016 marks the 29th year of our annual Dickens in Dundee event to kick off the Christmas season. We invite all area residents to come out and join in the fun!

Dickens in Dundee was formed in 1988. It began as a small community gathering, with caroling and the search for Tiny Tim’s crutch in local stores. With the financial support of local businesses and the Villages of East Dundee and West Dundee, it has grown into a weekend holiday festival which attracts people from all over the Dundee area.

The former Dundee Jaycees organized Dickens in Dundee from 1995 until 2005. The Villages of East and West Dundee and a committee of community volunteers took the reigns in 2006 to keep the event alive.

The Dundee Lions Club, Dundee Historical Society, and other organizations have also been very instrumental in the success of Dickens in Dundee throughout the years. Local churches and businesses traditionally support Dickens in Dundee by hosting holiday events and open houses to coincide with the weekend festivities.

The weekend kicks off each year on the first Friday in December, with tree lighting ceremonies in both East and West Dundee. Residents and visitors stroll through downtown East and West Dundee to see local merchant’s windows “come alive” during Living Windows.

Saturday begins with the cornerstone event: the Spirit of Christmas Parade. The parade starts at Second Street in West Dundee and travels across the Main Street Bridge into East Dundee, ending at the Dundee Township Visitors Center (The Depot) on River Street. Other favorite events include Gingerbread House Making, Festival of Trees, Santa’s Petting Zoo and, of course, a visit from Santa Claus himself!

Events take place in East and West Dundee. See the Schedule of Events for a complete listing, event descriptions, dates, times and locations.