No Shortage of Ways to Get the Holiday Spirit

'Tis the season to be jolly.

In addition to on Saturday, the Plainfield Park District, Plainfield Police Department and the Plainfield Public Library are hosting many events designed to ignite the holiday spirit.

• At 7 tonight, the will play the faculty of in a charity basketball game at the school, 14723 S. Eastern Ave., Plainfield. All money will benefit the Shop with a Cop holiday program. For more details, call 815-267-7234 or 815-577-1985.

• At 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at the , 15025 S. Illinois St., Chef Michael Niksic will display gingerbread houses and share building tips and recipes. One attendee will get to take home one of the gingerbread houses. Admission to "Gingerbread House Extravaganza" is free. To register, call 815-436-6639 or visit www.plainfield.lib.il.us.

The will offer special events, telephone calls from Santa and winter-break camps for kids and teens.

• Registration is due today (Dec. 10) for "Parents' Night Out." Children ages 4 to 11 are invited to enjoy games, movies, crafts and pizza from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Streams Recreation Center, 24319 Cedar Creek Lane, while their parents go Christmas shopping or do something else without the kids. The cost is $25 per child, $37.50 for non-resident; a sibling admission is $10, $22.50 for non-resident.

• From 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, kids can take a 10-minute pony ride and have their photos taken on a festively costumed pony at Normantown Trails Equestrian Center, 12151 S. Normantown Road. Costs are $5 for photo, $10 for pony ride or $15 for both. Registration is not required. First come, first served. For other details, call 815-254-1950. 

• Forms are due Monday for "Phone Calls from the North Pole." Children ages 5 to 8 can get on Santa's special list by downloading a form at www.plainfieldparkdistrict.com. Calls will be made from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

The Plainfield Park District also will offer winter break events for kids.

• A snow-tubing outing for ages 12 to 17 at Villa Olivia in Bartlett will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 27, with drop off and pick up at the Recreation/Administration Center, 23729 W. Ottawa St. The cost is $44, including a pizza buffet and transportation. Registration is due Dec. 20.

• Ages 5 to 12 are invited to "Time Out for Fun," with games and crafts, Dec. 20 to 22 and Dec. 27 to 29 at the Recreation/Administration Center. Sessions are available from 9 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $21 for half day ($31.50 for non-residents) or $42 for full day ($63 for non-residents). The 6-day program costs $168 ($252 for non-residents). Registration is due Dec. 17.

• Teens age 13 to 15 are invited to "Leadership Camp" from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 20 to 22 and Dec. 27 to 29 at Streams recreation Center, 24319 Cedar Creek Lane. One day costs $42 ($63 for non-residents). The 6-day program costs $168 ($252 for non-residents). Registration is due Dec. 17.

• The park district's sledding hills are at: Boy Scout Park, 23729 W. Ottawa St. (behind the Recreation/Administration Center); Norman Greenway, on 135th Street west of Route 30; and Cumberland Park in the Cumberland subdivision off County Line Road and Manchester Drive.

For other details or to register for a park district event, call 815-436-8812 or visit www.plainfieldparkdistrict.com.

• Nearby in Shorewood, the Plainfield Community Chorus will perform at 1:30 p.m. Saturday during the seventh annual Timbers' Santa and Timbers' Elves from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Timbers of Shorewood retirement community, 1100 N. River Road. The event also will feature photos with Santa, hay rides pulled by draft horses, Friendly Farms' 25-animal petting zoo, kids' activities and caricature drawings. Call 815-609-0669.