Visitors to downtown La Grange early Saturday evening were serenaded by more than 1,000 people singing “Jingle Bells.”
The caroling was part of the 31st Annual LaGrange Holiday Walk, and even with the colder weather this year, there were still well over a thousand people parading through the downtown area and cramming into La Grange shops and restaurants from 5 to 9 p.m.
“This is about community, and it’s about family,” Nick Dubak, of Dubak Electrical Group, the Presenting Sponsor for the event, said. “This is what it’s all about.”
Santa made his way to the La Grange Village Hall about 5:30, after which several young members of the Dubak family took part in flipping the switch to light the tree.
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Included in the switch-flipping team were children Ivan and Mila Dubak, and Vivian Ortega. The Holiday Tree itself was donated by Peggy Ann Medeiros.
The night began with the Lyons Township High School Senior Madrigal Singers singing Holiday songs, one of the first events at which they could sing without masks.
“They did well even when they were wearing masks,” John Musick, Choir Director, said of previous performances. “But they’re even better without masks.”
Musick noted that they had been practicing more than usual in recent months, saying the seniors were actually part of a formal class at LTHS.
“It’s a big commitment,” he said.
Chris and Todd Kovel were there with 10 family members.
“I’ve been coming here since my kids were little,” Chris Kovel said. “Now I’m coming with my grandkids, like my grandson Jacob here.”
Jasmine and Rick Vasquez attended the Holiday Walk for the first time, bringing two-year-old Blake.
“We are having fun,” Jasmine said. “But we’re just trying to get her to keep her gloves on.”
Maria Marciniec, owner of TATES Old Fashioned Ice Cream, was one of the early visitors out in front of Village Hall providing specials to be had at the shop at 25 S. Ashland Ave. that celebrated its 35th anniversary this Summer
“We’re loving Hometown Holidays in La Grange,” she said. “We’ve part of it from many years.”
After the Holiday Tree was lit, Santa spent a couple of hours inside Village Hall, listening to children’s holiday wishes.
Many of the downtown merchants had open houses, there were free trolley rides, a petting zoo, pony rides, and a Kiddie Train.
The downtown area business district was decorated with lights on every street. Ice Sculptures were sponsored by various local businesses and stood outside downtown shops.
The La Grange Road Train Station, children could visit with the Frozen Princess and a Friend.
At Stone Avenue Station, the LeaderShop hosted Letters to Santa, where a student volunteer said that by 7 p.m. they had already had visits from 50 children, estimating that they would probably wind up helping 75 kids total in writing their letters to the North Pole.
Dubak Electrical Group was joined by more than 50 other local businesses sponsoring the event in various ways, including some of them having open houses.
“Attendance was very good, and very strong,” Nancy Cummings, Executive Director of the La Grange Business Association, said when contacted later. “The energy and excitement throughout the downtown was evident.”
Cummings wanted residents to know that Hometown Holidays in La Grange was not over, with Carolers For a Cause performing downtown each Saturday until Christmas Eve, and the Digital Holiday Wish Book offering shopping deals until January 1, 2023.
For further information on Hometown Holidays in La Grange, visit lagrangeevents.com
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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This story has been updated.