Travel to 1850's Deerfield Tonight

People participating in Deerfield’s annual from 5 to 9 p.m. today and from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow will have a chance to take a trip back into the 19th century according to .

Horse drawn sleighs—wagons if the weather will not permit sleds—will ferry people between Village Hall and the Historic Village this evening for a trip to Deerfield of old. The area will be decorated as it was more than 150 years ago according to Rosenthal.

“It’s a lot of fun for families to ride in the horse drawn carriages to see how things were in the olden days,” Rosenthal said of the 1850’s décor. One house there has a tree decorated as it would have been then.

On Saturday, the rides will start either at Starbucks or Forrest Plaza in Deerfield Square from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Earlier on Patch:

Everyone’s pick of holiday treats will be plentiful at the annual  from 5 to p.m. Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday throughout downtown Deerfield whether the pleasure is music, food, sleigh rides, shopping or gift giving. 

Gift giving will come in two forms. Anyone who has a toy to give can drop it off at the Village Hall Friday or from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. 

For those wishing to give unwrapped toys, canned food, personal care items or cleaning supplies they do not have to leave their car to participate in the second annual Deerfield Police Department Drive Through Charity Event at the Farmer’s Market parking lot.

“It’s good for our young people to know there is more to the holiday than receiving,” Mayor Harriet Rosenthal said. “A lot of good can come from giving.”

 echoed Rosenthal’s feelings about the lesson the drive through event has on the community’s youth. 

“There's such generosity in our village, but even more so during the holidays,” Morrison said. “Parents teach their children how to be kind and thoughtful of others by including them. Carloads of families will stop by to donate both toys and food.”

As in the past people can climb aboard a horse drawn sleigh in front of Village Hall for a ride to the  to see decorations as they were more than 150 years ago. 

“It’s a lot of fun for families to ride in the horse drawn carriages to see how things were in the olden days,” Rosenthal said of the 1850’s décor. One house there has a tree decorated as it would have been then. 

 will be a hub of activity Friday as Rosenthal and the Board of Trustees will be also be giving by serving the community hot cider, hot chocolate and “special warm treats” from . There will also be roasted chestnuts and other edible items.

Music at Village Hall Friday will include the Deerfield High School Choraliers, Bill Robinson and Friends and the  Holiday Jazz Combo.

Other events will be going on Friday at . ,, , ,  and the .

On Saturday, the activities shift to a variety of venues throughout downtown Deerfield including a Santa’s Village at Deerfield Village including a train ride for children from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

When the youngsters finish at Santa’s Village they can cross Waukegan Road to Forrest Plaza at Deerfield Square for pony rides and a petting zoo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The horse drawn sleigh rides will shift from Village Hall on Friday to both Starbucks and Forrest Plaza on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Before everyone is done Rosenthal is hoping Deerfield receives a little something too. “We’d like to see people shopping,” she said. “They should shop Deerfield first for their shopping needs.”