Deerfield Winter Celebration 2019 Offers Free Festivities

DEERFIELD, IL — Horse-drawn carriage rides, music, and snacks are on offer Friday as part of Deerfield's free annual winter celebration in and around Village Hall at 850 Waukegan Road.

Inside, attendees can catch performances from Shepard Middle School choir groups from 5:15 to 5:40 p.m., costumed Victorian-style carolers The Caroling Party Quartet from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. and local saxophone ensemble The Hurricane Saxophone Quartet from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will also be snacks and treats provided by local businesses.

Outside, carriage rides begin at 5 p.m. and run until 9 p.m. from the front lawn, which will also feature roasted chestnuts, a festive photo booth and a two-hour ice sculpting performance starting at 6 p.m. The Northwest Municipal Council will also be on hand to collect feedback about transit in the village. In exchange for participating in a transportation survey, respondents will receive candy canes.

Then Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Deerfield Public Library, 920 Waukegan Road, hosts the ever-popular North Central "O" Gaugers model railroad club's Winter Wonderland exhibit. The display on show at the drop-in event features snow villages, Thomas the Tank Engine and more.

Also on Dec. 7, the Deerfield Police Department is collecting its 10th annual Holiday Drive-Thru Charity Event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot at Deerfield Road and Rosemary Terrace. Police are collecting new, unwrapped toys for the US Marines' Toys for Tots program and canned food, personal care items and cleaning supplies for the West Deerfield Township Food Pantry. Donors may remain in their cars with officers and volunteers on hand to assist.