Santa Visits to Help Light Holiday Tree at Paulus Park

Holiday cheer was in plentiful supply Saturday when about 125 area residents and their guests gathered in Lake Zurich's Paulus Park to usher in the holiday season with a tree lighting ceremony.

"We're here today to acknowledge all the holidays we celebrate in December," said Village President Suzanne Branding, addressing the crowd assembled just outside The Barn.  "Here we are on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving and the lighting of the Christmas tree."

Speaking into a microphone at a podium placed beneath the towering evergreen, Branding asked if anyone had seen Santa lately. Moments later, the bearded elf marched up from the behind the barn and proceeded to begin the countdown.

"Who wants to help Santa turn on the lights?" she asked. A bunch of kids' hands went up in the air. Naomi Creasy was selected to turn on the switch. And then Village President Branding said, "We'll all help Santa turn on the lights." 

"Five, four, three, two, one," said Santa, joined, in unison, by dozens of voices.  The switch was flipped and some 3,000 lights twinkled as the dusky evening slipped into nightfall.

Before the ceremony, visitors enjoyed cookies and hot chocolate provided by Lake Zurich Patch inside The Barn, where another decorated tree adorns the upstairs room. Afterwards, Santa retired to The Barn to personally greet children and hand out candy canes.

Bonnie Matheson, recreation supervisor for Lake Zurich's Parks and Recreation Department, said staging the event at Paulus Park is a return to an old tradition.

"We had it at Breezewald Park the last few years. We moved it back to Paulus. There's more parking and there's an indoor facility," she said.

The ceremony also was preceded by a serenade of Christmas hymns and holiday songs performed by members of St. Matthew Lutheran Church. Led by John Schuman, the church's music director, the group rang bronze hand bells and offered up such favorites as  "Joy To the World," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "Jingle Bells," and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Many in the crowd joined in, aided by song sheets.

The event was sponsored by the Village of Lake Zurich and the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce.