Tree-lighting opens holiday season in Bensenville

There are some rules if you're going to call your tree-lighting ceremony Holiday Magic.

First, the weather has to be at least a little crisp, even in what's been an unusually warm fall.

Next, you've gotta have reindeer and hot chocolate and songs of the season and, most of all, a visit by Santa.

Finally, you must make sure you don't forget folks in need by asking the lucky among us to bring a new and unwrapped toy, or a gently used coat, or a new hat, or some nonperishable food items.

If you do all that, you truly can call your event magical.

In Bensenville on Sunday evening, organizers of Holiday Magic checked off all those boxes and more as they got a quick jump on the season with a three-hour party that included music, reindeer and face painting. It also featured free holiday movies at the Bensenville Theater, sleigh rides, commemorative ornaments and hot chocolate. There was a toy drive, a coat drive and a food drive.

And, yes, Santa arrived riding the Yuletide Express to take pictures with kids and to be on hand for the tree-lighting ceremony that capped off the evening.

There are some rules if you're going to call your event Holiday Magic. Maybe the most important is that you have to put smiles on people's faces.

Organizers of Bensenville's party checked off that box, too.