The Village of Orland Park will begin the holiday season with its free Holiday Festival on Sunday, November 30, 2014. The festivities begin at 3 p.m. with the arrival of Mayor Dan McLaughlin and Santa Claus at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 South Ravinia Avenue. Activities at the Civic Center will be offered from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
“We invite everyone to enjoy the Holiday Festival at the Civic Center and then to come outside as we light the village’s tree in front of the Village Hall,” said Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin.
Horse drawn sleigh rides around the Village Center will be available from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Encore Concert Band from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and the Carl Sandburg High School Chamber Singers from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and during the tree lighting ceremony. The village’s dance companies will perform from 4:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. with Ken Schultz’s Holly Folly Show from 4:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Santa’s helper, Dale, will entertain those waiting in line to see Santa.
Holiday elves will provide face painting and children will be able to make and take a craft home. Parents should bring their cameras to take photos of their children with Santa. Concessions will be available for purchase.
The Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony will follow at 5:45 p.m. outside of the adjacent Frederick T. Owens Village Hall, where Mayor McLaughlin will light the village’s tree and holiday displays along Ravinia Avenue, officially marking the start of the holiday season in the Village of Orland Park.
“Individuals, families, scout groups and organizations from throughout Orland Park have created decorations for the tree, making it a true community wide effort,” the mayor said, adding. “When we light the tree at the Village Hall, all of the lights down Ravinia Avenue go on at the same time.”
The village’s Winter Festival is sponsored by Aileen S. Andrew Foundation and the University of Chicago Medicine. For more information, call the Recreation Department at 708/403-7275.
