Tree lightings have all the trimmings -- and then some

Tree lightings saw their traditional holiday ceremonies ratcheted up a level Friday at events held in Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village and Schaumburg.

No longer would a few holiday carols and a countdown do the trick.

Instead, these villages made their tree lighting ceremonies an entertainment destination, giving families plenty to see and do once they bundled up and turned out for the festivities.

In Arlington Heights, families took in the traditional tree lighting, before a Mardi Gras prince led them in a parade to the neighboring Christkindlmarkt tent, for a German carnival complete with authentic food, music and beer.

The light ceremony drew families through a lighted arch into North School Park, where Village President Arlene Mulder pulled the ceremonial switch, illuminating 70,000 lights on trees spread across the park, as well as whimsical displays.

Tom and Ann Carlson of Arlington Heights used the old wooden sled to take their family photo with 3-year old Matthew.

"We made a day of it," Tom Carlson said. "We saw Santa first and now we're here for the lights."

Likewise, Carl and Kathy Campo of Arlington Heights braved the low temperatures to attend the event for the first time with their two young daughters, Kelly and Catherine.

"It gets you in the holiday spirit," Carl Campo said.

Meantime, over in Elk Grove Village, nearly 1,000 people gathered on the village's municipal campus, for a "Light Spectacular." While it took two tries before Mayor Craig Johnson and former longtime village trustee Kurt Dill were able to get the more than 250,000 lights on, the crowd forgot all about the snafu once the fireworks began.

A spectacular display, lasting nearly 15 minutes, lit up the cold winter sky, as residents watched one furious burst of color after the next.

"That was awesome," declared John Costic, 11, taking it in with his friend Bradley Patterson, both of Elk Grove Village.

The surprises didn't end there, however, as Santa pulled up in a ship, lit up with colorful lights and dubbed the USS North Pole.

In Schaumburg, officials stuck with a more conventional ceremony, warming the crowd up with Mayor Al Larson and members of the trustees leading families in rounds of holiday carols. Santa turned out on cue, on board a fire engine to illuminate the two-story tree in the plaza outside the Prairie Center for the Arts.

Holiday lights

Today

Prospect Heights: Prospect Heights Garden Club will light the tree at 5 p.m. Nov. 24, in front of the Prospect Heights police station, 14 E. Camp McDonald Road. Girl Scouts will sing holiday songs and Christmas carols. Roasting of marshmallows and s'mores for children, home-baked cookies by club members and hot chocolate. Santa will also visit. (847) 253-1223.

Roselle: Village and the Roselle Public Library host a Holiday Sing-Along and tree lighting with Santa at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Roselle Public Library, 40 S. Park St. Santa arrives on a fire truck shortly before 2 p.m. to light the holiday tree on Elm Court. Register for the sing-along at (630) 529-1641.

Sunday

Wheeling: The "Lighting of the Lights" is from 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Friendship Park (Milwaukee Avenue and Dundee Road). Community singing is at 6 p.m.; the tree will be lit at 6:30 p.m. followed by visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. (847) 459-2600.

Coming up

Barrington: Tree lighting at 4:45 p.m. Dec. 1 at Cook and Main Streets in downtown Barrington. The entire event, with carriage rides and Santa, is from 3 to 6 p.m.

Bartlett: Tree lighting at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at Bartlett Park gazebo, North and Oak avenues. Bartlett High School choir will lead carols starting at 6:45 p.m.

Des Plaines: Tree lighting at 6 p.m. Nov. 30 in Metropolitan Square downtown, between Lee Street and River Road. Trees decorated by school children will surround a 25-foot tree decorated by the city's public works department. Music from the Maine West Marching Warrior Band; and the Des Plaines Park District's Footlighter Theater Company's "Grease" cast has a special plan for Mayor Tony Arredia's arrival to Metropolitan Square for the lighting.

Hanover Park: Tree lighting at 6 p.m. Dec. 7 at village hall, 2121 W. Lake St. Featured will be caroling, entertainment, and refreshments.

Mount Prospect: Village's eighth annual Winter Festival Parade is Dec. 1 in downtown Mount Prospect. At 4:30 p.m., choral groups along the parade route will perform; parade is from 5 to 6 p.m. Starts at the Maple Street commuter parking lot, goes west on Lincoln Street, north on Emerson Street to Prospect Avenue and west to Pine Street. After the parade visit with Santa, Mrs. Claus and the live reindeer. Refreshments and activities in the tent at Prospect and Wille. (847) 392-6000 or visit www.mountprospect.org.

Rolling Meadows: Tree lighting, 6 p.m. Nov. 29 outside McDonald's, 3140 Kirchoff Road. Caroling, hot chocolate and cookies. The city will host fireworks.

Rosemont: Lighting of the 30-foot Christmas tree is 6 p.m. Dec. 9 at Donald E. Stephens Park at the entrance to the residential area, Higgins and Scott Street. The rest of the village will be lit as well, by about 1 million light bulbs, at Donald E. Stephens North Park, Bergemeister Park, Westin Park, all interchanges down River Road, Dunne Park, Monument Park, Rosemont Theater, and village hall.

Streamwood: Tree lighting at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at village hall, 301 E. Irving Park Road. Volunteers, civic organizations and families will line luminaria along Park Boulevard, the veterans memorial and village hall, and other areas throughout town. Before the lighting, children can first visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus.