Carol Stream to hold tree lighting, festival on Friday

Carol Stream’s annual holiday tree-lighting ceremony has come a long way since the days of residents gathering around a small tree in village hall.

“It used to be a lobby tree,” says Chris Oakley, assistant to the village manager. “And Santa was in the board room. It was pretty cheesy.”

But tree-lighting ceremonies have been held at the Town Center since the late 1990s, after the village purchased and developed the land at Lies Road and Gary Avenue.

This year’s ceremony, scheduled for 6:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25, will feature Christmas caroling by the choir of Jay Stream Middle School under the direction of Marilyn Leary. Santa is scheduled to arrive by 6:30 p.m., when he and Village President Frank Saverino will light the tree.

Afterward, attendees can have their photos taken with Santa and enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, coffee and s’mores. Children will be able to participate in games and crafts sponsored by the village’s youth council. The park district also is sponsoring a hay ride and an ice sculpture demonstration.

In addition, the village will be collecting old lights as part of its annual recycling program. The village will accept traditional bulb lights, mini-Italian lights, rope lights, LED lights and frayed and non-working extension cords. Lights also can be dropped off at village hall, the Simkus Recreation Center and Carol Stream Public Library.