‘This is the one thing that’s stayed the same’
Tree decorating contests boosting Christmas spirit
With COVID-19 numbers on the rise once again and local programs canceled or postponed, many are looking for an annual dose of holiday cheer. But tree trims — outdoors and not beholden to the type of scheduling that leads to massive gatherings— might be having a moment.
The city of Oak Forest’s annual Trim-A-Tree Contest has been going for more than 25 years.
This year, Oak Forest canceled its Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony because of COVID-19 concerns, but the opportunity to decorate small trees along a path leading to the gazebo on the Oak Forest City Hall grounds endured.
Susan Griswold, Oak Forest’s communications coordinator, said she saw the event take on an added importance with so little possible during the pandemic.
“Many of the participants were grateful that we didn’t cancel,” she said.
Decorating was open to all families, organizations and businesses, whether in town or not, Griswold said. Twentyeight groups created a total of 30 trees this year, which Griswold said is “about normal.”
Trees arrived and decorating started onNov. 20. Participants were allowed to come any time between then and Dec. 6 to do the work. Signs were encouraged to help identify who decorated the trees.
City employees voted on the trees, with winners announced Tuesday during a City Council meeting. The top three finishers were awarded monetary prizes, as well as certificates. This year’s winner was Mel’s Minions. Project Fire Buddies took second place, while Girl Scout Junior & Cadette Troop 65163 finished third.
Dawn Harootunian, of Oak Forest, said shewas just happy to see the tree trim taking place this year.
“It’s one of the few things we’re able to do this year,” she said. “This is the one thing that’s stayed the same.”
Since 2007, Harootunian and her family have been decorating in honor of her late aunt, a longtime Oak Forest resident who died from brain cancer. They decorate under the banner of “Memories of Marie.”
“We’ve been doing it every year since she passed away,” Harootunian said. “We do a different theme each year. … We kind of make it up aswe go along.”
This year, that includes crosses, candy canes, stars and trees. A total of 10 people worked on it, including three children.
Alderwoman Laura Gray, who serves as a liaison to Friends of Animal Control, has been taking part in the tree trim for six years. She said it started as a way to raise awareness for the volunteer group, which helps to save stray animals and reunite lost pets with their families. It has grown into a tradition.
“It’s once a year when the volunteers can get together
and get creative before the holidays and talk about the year,” she said.
Their tree themes change from year to year, but for 2020 the group decided to use the photos of their favorite rescues, Gray said. Their tree and the rest in Oak Forest are expected to remain on display through the first week of January.
In Lockport, the Festival of Trees Christmas Tree Decorating Contest has been a roughly 15-year tradition, co-sponsored by the Lockport Township Park District, city of Lockport and Lockport Township government. In addition to providing locals a way to have fun during the pandemic and potentially win a monetary prize, the festival typically donates all of the trees to families in need after voting is completed.
“As much as we can, we try to donate,” said Recreation Supervisor Sarah Hamilton.
Hamilton said the festival is a tradition that tends to draw a “core group” of regulars. Participants were provided 6-foot, pre-lit Christmas trees, staked down along the path at Central Square in Lockport. Families, businesses and organizations decorated the trees during a five-hour window in late November.
This year, the festival had a dozen entries, which Hamilton said is “a couple higher than we normally have.” The trees are on display until Sunday. Community voting, done by scanning QR codes at the trees, ended Sunday, with the winner to receive a monetary prize Hamilton said is usually around $150. On Monday, the trees are to be donated to families in need.
Valerie Miller is in her fourth year of taking part in the festival. The first two years, she made trees with the neighborhood Boys Club.
“We were looking for something to do,” Miller said of joining at the start, but she noted it has been a pleasure to come back year after year. “I think it’s making the homemade ornaments and seeing how people are so creative.”
She said the boys made their own ornaments, and it was a combination of competitive and festive that makes it fun for the holidays. Last year, Miller switched to early invention causes and donated the tree to a child from Lockport who has muscular dystrophy.
“That tree has beenupin her playroom for the last year,” Miller said.
This holiday season, Miller’s tree is designed to raise awareness for Down syndrome. She helps a boy named Jay Kulik, 2, from Homer Glen, with physical therapy. The finished product is going to his family, and they already got a sneak peek, according to Miller.
“We surprised the family,” Miller said. “It was really fun.”
Jay’s mother, Jaime, said she was taken downtown by her husband to see the trees, not knowing there was one dedicated to her son created by “Jay’s Jolly Friends.”
“It was a complete surprise,” Jaime Kulik said. “It was beautiful.”
Miller said between the fun of decorating and moments like that, she was happy to see this Lockport tradition stick around amid all the cancellations.
“Iwas praying theywere still going to do it,” she said. “We’re all looking for a little extra joy this holiday season.” Bill Jones is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.