contest

Don't eat those gumdrops and candy canes. Instead, use them to show off your creativity for the holidays with Downtown Downers Grove's First Gingerbread House Contest.

Entries are welcome in two divisions, Family/Individual and Business. Winners in each division will be chosen by viewers choice during "It's A Wonderful Weekend." Entry forms are due by 3 p.m. Thursday, November 19, and Gingerbread Houses need to be delivered on by 3 p.m. Friday, November, 27, 2009.

Gingerbread houses will be on display throughout downtown Downers Grove from Friday, November 27 to November 29.

For more information, call (630) 729-0380.

Peppercorns Restaurant in Carol Stream recently held its annual pumpkin painting class and attracted almost 20 children who participated in the tradition. Each child chose a pumpkin and then was given painting instruction by local artist Susan Barthel. The winner will receive prize of $50, selected by customers.

The pumpkins remain on display for a week before a winner is picked. Children can check Peppercorns’ Web site for daily updates and pictures at www.peppercornsrestaurant.org.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Peppercorns’ next holiday class will be a gingerbread house building class offered by its chef.

Snap a photo of Cantigny Park in Wheaton and enter the Cantigny in Focus annual photo contest.

Amateur photographers of all ages are invited to share their best images of Cantigny, the 500-acre former estate of Robert R. McCormick and part of the McCormick Foundation. The entry deadline is Friday, Dec. 11.

Cantigny Volunteer Jim Frazier snaps a shot at Cantigny's Rose Garden. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Foodies, perhaps inspired by this year’s hit film “Julie & Julia,” are invited to turn the Sweet Tomatoes salad bar into their culinary playground in a “recipe” contest.

The sweet reward for the top winner will be dining passes for the year and being highlighted cross-country for the effort. Ten finalists also earn passes.
  
The premise is to combine two to five ingredients in this challenge to “crEATe,” says Tracy Marks, public relations coordinator for the restaurant chain.

Maria Cabrera tosses a fresh batch of Strawberry Fields salad with caramelized walnuts at Sweet Tomatoes in Lombard. STAFF  PHOTO BY BILL ACKERMAN

West Chicago Park District is accepting submissions for its 'Create a Spooky Video Contest.' The contest is a new feature of Spooky Trail, the park district’s two-day Halloween event.

Prizes will be awarded to winning Spooky Videos, which will be played during the Spooky Trail event Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23 and 24, in Reed-Keppler Park on the 16-foot movie screen. They also will be aired Friday, Oct. 30, on Cable Channel 17.

Spooky Videos must be no longer than one minute. Entry deadline is 4:30 p.m. Oct. 20. Entries must be provided in MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, AVI, MOV and/or WMV Format(s).

For more details, visit West Chicago Park District’s Web site at www.we-goparks.org.