Santa and His Elves Travel To Twin Lakes

The event held Saturday included breakfast or brunch with Santa, where attendees enjoyed a craft, pictures with Old St. Nick and a show from magician, The Great Scott.

Saturday was filled with holiday cheer at Twin Lakes, as Santa rode in with a number of his elves to celebrate the season with more than 50 good little boys and girls, and their family members.  The event, sponsored by Salt Creek Park District, included two sittings; either breakfast or brunch with Santa, where a craft was enjoyed, along with pancakes, bacon, sausage and eggs, and a picture with Santa before a magicial, magic show presented by The Great Scott. 

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Frugal Family

Frugal Family: Deals at Twin Lakes, Kinsch's and J.J. Twig's

Frugal Family found several deals in the Palatine area this week.

This column is dedicated to giving you great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line. You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you've seen. Just add them to our comment box. Then come back each week and see what we've uncovered together. Remember to check with the merchant for additional conditions: 1. Star Wars Party - 1200 E. Twin Lakes Drive at the Twin Lakes Golf Course and Recreation Center, Palatine Deal: Party for kids ages 4to 8 years old for $12 a person. Register at www.saltcreekpd.com Available: Oct 11   2. Dennis DeBondt's Very Funny Magic - Cutting Hall, 150 E. Wood St. Palatine Deal: $6 per person. Register at www.palatineparks.org Available: Oct. 10   3. Kinsch's Annual Autumn Fun…

PHOTOS: Racers Have a Ball at Floating Zucchini Kayak Relay

Smart Farm of Barrington held the race in Palatine on Sunday Aug. 28

Smart Farm of Barrington held a unique fundraising event Sunday. The not-for-profit educational vegetable gardening group held the first-ever Floating Zucchini Kayak Relay at Palatine's Twin Lakes Recreational Center.  Kayakers signed up for the race in teams of two or four. At the start of the race, the first team member kayaked across the lake, grabbed a hidden vegetable in the water, and paddled back to shore for the next relay member to take off. Once all team members had their turn in the kayak, they assembled a sculpture made out of the vegetables found in the lake. "I thought it was really fun to do something that I've always wanted to do in a safe environment," kayaker Becky Fiedler said. "The people were extremely friendly. …

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Super-Couponing Workshop at Wolff's Flea Market

Let Patch help you make plans for something fun to do this weekend.

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? We've got the best bets for your done-with-work-outta-here time. Check out our picks for activities to hit and new places to explore this weekend. 1. Downtown Palatine Street Fest Where / When: Downtown Palatine; 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 26; 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, Aug. 27; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28. Why Go? Live music, food and fun. Street Fest includes a wide variety of family fun entertainment. Palatine Patch also has compiled a Street Fest schedule.   2. Super-Couponing Live Workshop with Jill Cataldo Where / When: Wolff's Flea Market; 11 a.m.; Saturday, August 27. Why Go?:  Learn how to drastically cut your grocery bill and buy hundreds of dollars worth of items for …

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Turtle Trek Race and Raffle at Twin Lakes Aug. 5

First place turtle wins $500 grand prize and dozens of other prizes will be awarded, and a number of family-friendly activities will be available.

Turtles will take over Donut Lake at Twin Lakes Recreation Area, 1200 E. Twin Lakes Drive, on Friday, Aug. 5 during the Turtle Trek Race and Raffle. The 10th annual event, similar to duck races held in Chicago, is open to all ages and is being offered by the Salt Creek Rural Park District. “There is no age range; last year’s winner was just a few months old,” said Jessica Hart, recreation supervisor at Salt Creek Rural Park District. Participants can ‘adopt’ a turtle to race against other turtle competitors. One turtle costs $5, or a ‘snap pack’ of five turtles can be purchased for $20. “The kids and parents just get a kick seeing all the turtles in the water, they don’t know which one is theirs because the numbers are on the bottom so …

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Independent Film Festival at Cutting Hall and More

Let Patch help you make plans for something fun to do this weekend.

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? We've got the best bets for your done-with-work-outta-here time. Check out our picks for activities to hit and new places to explore this weekend.   1. Patio Entertainment at Twin Lakes Where / When: Twin Lakes Recreation Area Deck; 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.; Friday, July 22. Why Go?: Jim Bulanda ... a Tribute to Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & More will perform on the deck at the Twin Lakes Recreation Area. The free concert is presented by the Salt Creek Park District. Arrive early and enjoy an evening sitting outside, listening to music. Plenty of delicious food and drinks will be available for purchase. Pricing: Free admission to concert.   2. Sounds of Summer Concert Where / When: Fred P. Hall …

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Get Out: Neverly Brothers at Community Park

Let Patch help you make plans for something fun to do this weekend.

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? We've got the best bets for your done-with-work-outta-here time. Check out our picks for activities to hit and new places to explore this weekend.   1. Patio Entertainment at Twin Lakes Where / When:Twin Lakes Recreation Area Deck; 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.; Friday, July 8. Why Go?: Forget Hannah will perform rock classics and a bit of blues on the deck at the Twin Lakes Recreation Area. The free concert is presented by the Salt Creek Park District. Arrive early and enjoy an evening sitting outside, listening to music. Plenty of delicious food and drinks will be available for purchase. Pricing: Free admission   2. Sounds of Summer Concert Where / When: Community Park and Fred P. Hall Amphitheater; 8 - …

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Diversions

Twin Lakes Patio Entertainment Kicks Off for Summer

The schedule of musical entertainment to be featured at Twin Lakes Rec Area through August.

Continue to explore summer fun resourcefully by dropping in on Salt Creek Rural Park District’s free Friday Night Patio Entertainment concerts through August. Featured musicians offer great evenings out for the family. Performances take place at Twin Lakes Golf Course and Recrecation Area, 1200 E. Twin Lakes Dr. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Find out who’s coming to Twin Lakes: Jimy Sohns’ Rock and Roll Side Show is led by Jimy Sohns from Shadows of Knight, and features Michael Gotshall guitarist and Cindy Gotshall of that same group. The show also incorporates contemporary rock hits. For more information on Jimy Sohn’s Rock n Roll Side Show, visit: www.rocknrollsideshow.com Forget Hannah performs rock classics, modern rock and a bit of blues …

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Get Out: Live Music at Lamplighter, Nellie's and More

Let Patch help you make plans for something fun to do this weekend.

  Looking for something fun to do this weekend? We've got the best bets for your done-with-work-outta-here time. Check out our picks for activities to hit and new places to explore this weekend.   1. Puppet Show at the Palatine Public Library, Rand Road Branch Where / When: Palatine Public Library, Rand Road Branch; 12:15 - 12:45 p.m., Friday, June 17. Why Go?: The Palatine Puppet Players will perform two fairytales with puppets that are sure to entertain young children and their families. Pricing: Free   2. Train Company Where / When: Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St. 10 p.m. Why Go?: Check out the rock and roll band Train Company. According to their website their music has been categorized as rock and roll with heavy blues and jazz …

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Hauling In The Big One At Twin Lakes

Fishermen braved foggy weather at Twin Lakes derby.

Despite sometimes-foggy weather and temperatures that felt more like fall than summer, more than 100 people came out Saturday for the Salt Creek Rural Park District’s fishing derby at Twin Lakes Recreational Area in Palatine. Adults totting rods, reels, tackle boxes and chairs, and kids excited about hauling in the “big one,” lined the shore on the overcast day, which saw light fog rolling across the still lake waters. The conditions didn’t stop Colin O’Donnell from winning the award for catching the biggest cat fish of the day, a 2 pound, 2 ounce specimen brought on shore with a three-foot long child’s rod. Joe Castro won honors for catching the largest carp of the day, a 3 pound, 11 ounce fish, and Sarah Negretti won for hauling in the …

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