What a wonderful way to celebrate Small Business Saturday! Despite the unexpected snowstorm that led to the cancellation of the downtown Elgin tree lighting, the Elgin Area Chamber (EAC) hosted a heartwarming (and slightly mischievous) event: Photos with the Grinch!

Held right here in the heart of our vibrant community, the spirit of the holidays—and the spirit of supporting local businesses—was absolutely unstoppable.

The Grinch Who Saved the Day

We were thrilled to have Jason Kanak of Braden Business Systems and an EAC Influencer, step into the iconic green fur and deliver a truly memorable performance. Jason's dedication (in that hot costume!) ensured that the holiday cheer was not snowed out. He was the perfect mix of grumpy and charming, delighting everyone who stopped by!

A Steady Flow of Smiles (and Paws!)

While the snow might have kept some events dark, our door saw a steady flow of people eager to capture a unique holiday memory. We saw:

• Happy Families creating new traditions.
• Enthusiastic Children giggling (and sometimes nervously staring) at the Grinch.
• And yes, even some adorable dogs! Our four-legged friends seemed just as eager to pose for a holiday portrait.

It was a true testament to the resilience and community spirit of the Elgin Area. Even when things don't go according to plan, coming together to support each other and enjoy a bit of fun is what makes Small Business Saturday so special.

Thank You for Shopping Small!

More than just a photo opportunity, this event was a chance to pause and appreciate the people who make up our incredible local economy. Every purchase made at an Elgin-area small business this weekend helps our community thrive.

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to say "hi" to the Grinch and, most importantly, thank you for choosing to shop small!

Special Delivery: Letters to Santa!

We added an extra sprinkle of holiday magic! After meeting the Grinch, the kids were also able to sit down and write their very own letters to Santa and drop them into the special mailbox right outside our office!

And the best part? Santa loves to write back!

Mail Your Letter Before December 12th!

If you didn't get a chance to stop by, you can still mail your letter to the North Pole using our special mailbox outside the EAC office! The deadline to mail your letter for a response from Santa is December 15th.

Be sure to include your complete return address so Santa can write back to you!

What was your favorite Grinch moment? Share your pictures and tag the #ElginAreaChamber!