Suburbs begin welcoming the holiday season - and Santa
Between Saturday morning's snow and the evening's holiday festivities, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Palatine and other Northwest suburban communities.
Families gathered in Palatine's Towne Square Park late Saturday afternoon, where Mayor Jim Schwantz - with a helping hand from Santa Claus - flipped the switch to light the village's holiday tree.
After the ceremony, young visitors had a chance to visit and take a photo with Santa, while cookies and hot chocolate were available to all.
Palatine wasn't alone in welcoming the holidays. In Hoffman Estates, residents kicked off the season with lighting of the village's Friendship Tree, a fireworks display and a visit with Santa.
Before Santa arrived, the children's choir from the Palatine Park District sang "O Christmas Tree" with Amira Salamah, 10, of Palatine lending her vocals. Santa oversaw the tree-lightning ceremony, thanks to the Palatine Fire Department's aerial ladder truck, as hundreds of people greeted the holiday season with fresh snow, Christmas lights and hot chocolate in downtown Palatine on Saturday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Before Santa arrived, the children's choir from the Palatine Park District sang "O Christmas Tree." Santa oversaw the tree-lightning ceremony, thanks to the Palatine Fire Department's aerial ladder truck, as hundreds of people greeted the holiday season with fresh snow, Christmas lights and hot chocolate in downtown Palatine on Saturday. Tristan Potanski, 5, of Chicago with brother Rhys, 3, enjoy the lights of the Christmas tree.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Before Santa arrived, the children's choir from the Palatine Park District sang "O Christmas Tree." Santa oversaw the tree-lightning ceremony, thanks to the Palatine Fire Department's aerial ladder truck, as hundreds of people greeted the holiday season with fresh snow, Christmas lights and hot chocolate in downtown Palatine on Saturday. Chloe Crimmins, 7, of Palatine tells Santa all her hopes and dreams as she was kid No. 1 to climb up on his lap.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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