Wilmette village leaders are inviting residents to start their 2011 holiday season Friday at an official tree-lighting ceremony, scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. in front of Village Hall.
Local children’s groups will sing at the hour-long event on Nov. 18, which is co-sponsored by the Wilmette Chamber of Commerce. The celebration will culminate when Village President Chris officially lights up the large tree on the front lawn of Village Hall, 1200 Wilmette Ave.
Holiday fun will continue Saturday at the chamber’s annual holiday parade. The parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. in the Chicago Transit Authority parking lot, at Linden Avenue and Fourth Street, and will wend its way west on Central Avenue to Village Hall at 11:15 a.m.
Neighborhood groups are being encouraged to decorate cars and bicycles in holiday finery to join the parade. Families can also bring their cameras to take pictures with Santa Claus after the parade at Village Hall.
As people gear up for seasonal celebrations, they can also plan to recycle holiday lights once the strings come down off trees and other decorations.
Wilmette, in partnership with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County and Elgin Recycling, will accept lights for recycling between Nov. 28 and Jan. 20 of next year.
People can bring their holiday string lights, including mini lights, rope lights, LED lights, C7 and C9 lights and extension cords to the village’s Public Works facility, at 711 Laramie Ave. Boxes will be outside in the visitor’s parking lot, accessible 24 hours a day.
Garlands, live greenery and wreaths are not accepted recyclables for this program.
For information on the Nov. 18 tree lighting and the Nov. 19 parade, contact the Chamber of Commerce at (847) 251-3800.
For more recycling information contact the village at (847) 251-2700.
