Celebrate the season the old-fashioned way on Saturday, when downtown Oak Park hosts "Home for the Holidays" from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Kick off the day at 10 a.m. with the family-friendly movie, Prancer, at the Lake Theatre, courtesy of Classic Cinemas. Then hop on a horse-drawn sleigh, listen to carols, see an ice sculpture take shape, warm up with hot cocoa or coffee, and keep a lookout for Santa.

It's all free, even the parking at the nearby Holley Court and Lake Street and Forest Avenue municipal garages.

Thus far, it's been a merry Christmas for local merchants.

"We're hearing great reports," said Downtown Oak Park executive director Pat Zubak. "Sales are very good. Retailers are elated overall."

A number of participants are lined up for Saturday's festivities. Between noon and 2 p.m., award-winning ice sculptor Robert Childers will take a chainsaw to a 300-pound block of ice in front of the Visitors' Center, 1010 Lake St.

Working in the cold doesn't bother Childers, who teaches the "art of cold food" in the Illinois Institute of Art's culinary program.

"Ice sculpture is my passion and love. I've been doing it for 25 years," he said.

Childers promises to complete two holiday-themed sculptures.

Also from noon to 2 p.m., the Canterbury Carollers, decked out in Victorian finery, will stroll the streets performing carols written before 1870.

The  strictly seasonal group, which has performed at the White House, have 58 carols in their repertoire.

"Most popular, traditional carols were written between 1845 and 1865," said Lisa Miller, who sings with and manages the group.

They will take audience requests, but don't expect ''Frosty the Snowman,'' she said.

If you'd like to sing along, consider taking a sleigh ride. The large, horse-drawn sleigh will load up at Marion Street and Westgage, proceed down Lake Street and circle the block. 

Three tenors from Oak Park's Verismo Opera Club will be on board to lead riders in singing Christmas carols from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and again from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

"We'll be printing out our favorite carols, so people can take the music home," said Brad Schuller, who founded the club with his wife, Yasmeen.

Even those on foot should be able to hear the three tenors as the sleigh passes by. "We are trained opera singers," he said. "We do project."

You also can catch them at the Visitors' Center around 1 p.m.

Besides a chance to get out of the weather, a warming tent in the Marion Street parking lot will have free cocoa, courtesy of Trader Joe's and free coffee from Caribou Coffee. The tent is also a good place to catch the roaming Santa.

If you are looking for a last-minute Christmas gift, Zubak recommends a Downtown Oak Park gift certificate.

New this year, the certificates are good at more than 60 businesses, including restaurants and the Lake Theatre, and are available online or at the Visitors' Center.

"We have great, unique retailers here. It's a great market," Zubak said. "People here are more apt to understand the importance of supporting local business, and what it means to a community."