Zoo fundraiser helps families finish holiday decor

After two days of decorating their home, the De Soto family was looking for the finishing touch on Sunday. And, thanks to one of Cosley Zoo's largest fundraisers of the year, they found a tree that will become the centerpiece of their home for the holiday season.

As part of the Wheaton zoo's annual Festival of Lights and Trees, park district officials laid out about 2,200 fir and pine trees for area residents to browse. The festival will run every day from 3 to 9 p.m. through Dec. 30, excluding Christmas Eve.

It was the first year that West Chicago resident Stewart De Soto brought his family to the event.

“We try to enjoy the traditions and we like to remember the reason we have Christmas,” De Soto said as his wife, Laura, and two children, Riellie, 9, and Zachary, 6, positioned their home's latest arrival on a cart.

The De Sotos usually get their trees from area lots but this year decided not to travel as far in order to speed up their decorating.

“It's a lot of work getting everything ready,” said Stewart, who admitted that Laura and Riellie did most of the work this year. “This is a lot better than going to a parking lot at a Walgreens.”

Although the De Sotos were making their first trip to Cosley for a tree, Zoo Director Sue Wahlgren said some families have made the festival, which is in its 27th year, a tradition.

Wahlgren said the event usually brings in about $70,000 for the zoo's fundraising arm, Cosley Foundation Inc.

As part of the park district, the zoo receives subsidies to stay afloat. However, like other areas of the parks, the zoo has had to make do with less recently. Three full-time staff were let go in recent months.

“The money we receive (from the park district) has not gone down, but it has not gone up,” she said. “And, along with that, expenses go up.”

To offset some of that, the festival offers trees brought in from Michigan every year in December. With holiday music playing and strings of lights illuminating the small area, Wahlgren said families get into the spirit.

“It's a way to enjoy the zoo in a different way,” Wahlgren said. “It's another great way to get them here and get them to the zoo.”