On Dec. 4, the Municipal Complex in Huntley held A Very Merry Huntley’s first night of events including a craft fair, pictures with Mrs. Clause, cookie decorating, and horse-drawn wagon rides.

According the the head director of the event, Barb Read, this is the second year the event has been held at the Municipal Complex, but the event has been happening since 2009.

A Very Merry Huntley is run with the help of the park district, library district, and the village. But the event could not take place without the help of volunteers from the community.

Every year, the event has many volunteers that show up to help, mostly from the churches in Huntley. The volunteers are kept pretty busy, as there are 14,000 people in and out of A Very Merry Huntley, most years.

“It’s just very relaxed and everything is together, which makes it a lot easier with four kids,” said Mandi Kennedy, a Huntley Resident.

Some of the event has changed this year, however. Last year, the tree lighting ceremony was happening during other events that many families wanted to be at, such as pictures with Mrs. Clause or Santa. This year, Read made the decision to split the event into two days so that families could do more.

This also benefits the vendors that are involved in the craft fair, allowing people more time to come to the fair.

The vendors are local people, some of them even come from the farmer’s market downtown Huntley during the summer. People who have done been at the event in the past get first priority over others.

Most people would say that the best part about A Very Merry Huntley is how it is local and run by people who live here as well.

“I love how the different organizations have so much willingness,” said Read. “I’m hoping that this continues to be a small Huntley, grassroots events.”