Members of Orland Park's Dance Company dance during Sunday's holiday parade. (Photos by Jeff Vorva)
Orland Park gets in the holiday spirit with parade and tree lighting
Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau dons a Santa hat and hands out candy during the parade.
By Jeff Vorva
The Village of Orland Park’s lighting of the Christmas tree ceremony has been going on for decades, but its holiday parade just completed its sophomore run.
The second holiday parade kicked off the festivities on Sunday followed by Mayor Keith Pekau and a group of children pulling the switch to not only light the village’s Christmas tree, but a large group of lighted décor items displayed near Village Hall.
Santa Claus greets children and families at the Orland Park Civic Center on Sunday.
The Civic Center housed food, entertainment, items for purchase and a long line for families to visit Santa.
Thousands turned out for the event and the mayor enjoyed seeing that.
“The turnout was great,” he said. “The event keeps getting bigger and bigger and the parade was great. People enjoyed it. The rain held off.
“We have a great community and it shows when everyone comes out for these events.”
Some of the parade entrants were from Automedics Inc., Baird and Warner, Bobby’s UltiMUTT Dog Training, Calvary Church, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School, Carl Sandburg High School Chamber Singers, Carl Sandburg High School Marching Band, City Nation Studios/Dance Workshop, Cub Scouts Pack 372 Orland Park, European Wax Center, EXP Realty, Granite Mountain, Heights Cycle, Hobby Town, Jingle Johns, Miss National American Teen, Nicky V’s Food Truck, North American Beauty Pageant and Northwestern Medicine .
Also marching and walking in the parade were the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce, the Orland Park Children’s Theater, the Orland Park Fire Service Unit 614, the Orland Park Pioneers Football organization, the Orland Park Public Library, the Orland Park Recreation and Parks Department, Orland Park Special Recreation, Orland Park Sting Football Club, Orland School District 135 the Orland Township Highway Department, the Orland Youth Association, Ozinga Merry Mixer, Polish Folklore Dance Group Mali Hyrni, Boys Scouts of America Troop 318, Shine.FM 89.7, the Village of Orland Park Public Works , the Village of Orland Park Mini, Junior and Senior Dance Company and the Village of Orland Park officials.
Bringing up the rear of the parade was Santa himself.
Members of Orland Park’s village board pose after the lighting of the Christmas tree on Sunday.
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