DeWyze concert a big hit with Elk Grove crowd

Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson conducted an informal poll before the village's tree-lighting ceremony Friday.

Referring to the Lee DeWyze concert that kicked off the proceedings on the village campus, he asked the cold and wet gathering, "Do you like having this concert before the tree-lighting?"

The applause provided the answer, with even more cheering accompanying the ensuing tree-lighting and fireworks.

"American Idol" winner DeWyze, who grew up in Mount Prospect, started by declaring, "I hope you guys are ready for some good old-fashioned Christmas fun." Then he regaled the crowd with holiday favorites, including "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." He also joined Johnson for the countdown to the tree-lighting.

DeWyze fans augmented the usual audience of local residents - some of those fans showing up about an hour and a half before the start of the show.

One DeWyze fan, Kirsten Petersen of Palatine, said she has been to more than 60 of his shows.

"I have met a lot of my close friends through his music and through his concerts. He is like a hometown Chicago guy. He's very down to earth," she said.

The ceremony brought back a number of returning spectators. Bobbi Tezky of Elk Grove Village said she and husband Jan have attended the tree-lighting many times.

"It brings the community back to the innocence of a holiday celebration and what it means," she said.

A hearty corps of volunteers kept the bundled up crowd fortified with free hot chocolate and cookies.

One of those volunteers, Janeen Noto, a member of the Lionesses Club of Elk Grove Village, said, "It's my favorite event, because all the community comes out and pretty much everybody is happy and they ask how much is it, and we get to say, 'It's free.' And all the kids get to see Santa."