Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived at Village Hall in downtown La Grange a little late on Saturday, leading several thousand revelers to wonder if they would show up to light up the La Grange Village Holiday Tree.
“We’re waiting to hear from Santa,” La Grange Business Association President Stephanie Posey told the crowd as the appointed lighting time of 5:30 came and went. “Let’s look around. Do we see Santa anywhere? I don’t hear him, and I don’t hear Mrs. Clause.”
When the crowd made it clear that Santa was nowhere in sight, Posey called an audible.
“I wonder if we start singing some Christmas Carols, maybe that would get them here,” she said, after which the Lyons Township High School Madrigal Choir repeated their renditions of “Jingle Bells,” and “Silent Night.”
That did the trick and the Clauses arrived by fire truck, and flipped the switch to light the tree at exactly 5:47 p.m., signaling the official beginning of the 34th Annual La Grange Holiday Walk.
“La Grange is awesome,” Santa told the crowd. “And you know what helps make it awesome? Our firefighters and our police department and all the different services for our community. We’ve got a small-town feel with some fantastic stores, a lot of great shopping, and the Hometown Holiday Walk is going to be really special.”
Mrs. Claus told the crowd “keep it kind and keep it jolly. Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday!”
Coming on the heels of the Nov. 29 Small Business Saturday flash sale, the Holiday Walk is the central event of La Grange’s Hometown Holidays, and it included much more than just the lighting of the Holiday Tree.
There was also the Great Light Display, a 12-foot tall nutcracker and candy canes.
Santa was available for photo ops on his sleigh and took gift requests from children in the Village Hall auditorium. Kids also could drop off letters to Santa at the Stone Avenue train station, while Olaf and Queen Elsa from “Frozen” were hanging out at the La Grange Road station.
A kiddie train behind Palmer Place transported youngsters, who could also take advantage of pony rides and a petting zoo.
Other Village officials joined in the festivities.
“I love the Holiday Walk a lot,” said Charity Jones, La Grange’s community development director. “It’s the centerpiece of the holiday season for La Grange and it’s a wonderful celebration of community and our businesses all coming together to just enjoy the spirit of the season.”
Denise Oros, owner of Linnea Jewelers and sponsor of the Great Light Display, said the event was “a fabulous attraction for many, many people.”
“I mean, look at this,” she said, pointing to the enormous crowd gathered at La Grange Road and Harris Avenue.
La Grange residents Al and Kathie Gress attended with their 4-year-old granddaughter Katie, who was at the tree lighting for the second time.
“We live here and we always brought our kids,” Kathie said.
Local photographer Kristina Joseph was there with her sister, niece, and father.
“I feel great and very festive,” she said. “I’ve got my family here, the lights are on and Santa’s here.”
Joseph’s niece, 9-year-old Vivian, said she looked forward to the Holiday Walk every year, as did her mom, Nina Makovski.
“This has been a tradition,” Makovski said. “We moved back here from California in 2017 when Vivian was only 8 years old and we’ve been coming here ever since. We have never missed a year, so it’s very special to our family.”
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.