Neighbors get frosty waiting for annual West Chicago Christmas tree lighting

Vianca Neiswanger had one goal in mind this holiday season.

"Having the best Christmas year ever," the 8-year-old West Chicago girl said Saturday while huddled near a three-foot plastic tree inside the Wayne and Helen Fox Community Center.

Vianca, her mother, Anna, and seven-year-old brother, Ethan, joined hundreds of community members for West Chicago's annual Frosty Fest tree lighting and holiday parade.

Dozens of neighborhood school children started the parade down Main Street, followed by a fire truck carrying Santa and Mrs. Claus in the ladder basket.

"Check it out, Santa's coming down the street," Rudy Johnson said to his six-year-old son, Griffin, as the pair made their way to the curb. "There he is!"

"Hey Santa!" Griffin yelled.

Much of downtown Main Street was blocked off for the evening, as kids had the streets to themselves to play games or take sleigh rides with their parents.

"The family atmosphere here is great," Amelia Madden said, as the West Chicago woman waited in a growing line to take a horse-drawn sleigh ride with her two sons, Jacob, 11, Corbin, 8, and her daughter, Abbey, 6.

While many spectators braved the freezing winds and snow outside, a few huddled inside the community center chomping down popcorn and sipping hot cocoa.

"We come here just about every year," Steve Lydon said as he was getting ready to head outside with his wife, Diane, and 6-year-old daughter, Sarah. "Actually, it's Sarah who brings us out here."