Visitors flock to Palos Heights holiday event
Celebration scaled up this year
Opening up the Kris Kringle Market in song, the Alan B. Shepard High School choir sang “Jingle Bells,” “Let it Snow” and other favorites. As Mayor Robert Straz pushed the button to light the tree, Santa arrived on a Palos Heights fire truck.
“The Kris Kringle Market began four years ago with about 16 vendors in a parking lot. The goal was to bring business to the downtown area during the holiday’s” said Stacy Schuble, city marketing coordinator. “Over the years it has grown so now it’s underneath two tents.”
There was no shortage of gift ideas such as handmade jewelry, furniture and light up toys for children. Besides the Kris Kringle Market, there was a Santa parade, a day of activities for families at the Palos Heights Public Library and a concert at Trinity Christian College.
“All the added activities this year that organizations planned are bringing holiday cheer to everyone, bringing a holiday mood for the season,” Schuble said. “These events are bringing everyone together including family and friends.”
Palos Heights resident Mary Kathleen Kuchta and her family began attending the Kris Kringle Market event two years ago.
“Last year we enjoyed the Santa parade. I was happy something was going on despite COVID-19,” she said.
This year her son, Emmett, brought a letter to Santa and took part in the library’s day of holiday celebration.
“There is so much going on this weekend compared to the previousyearduetoCOVID-19, Kuchta said. “This is becoming a tradition for our family. This holiday is especially important because we’re all going to be together again.”
Officials estimated 5,000 people attended this year’s event.
As the two-day holiday celebration was coming to a close, Trinity Christian College opened the doors of the Ozinga Chapel auditorium for the final event, Christmastide. For more than 20 years, the college has presented this Advent and Christmas concert.
“Music is so important, the text in repertoire song or choral literature helps us enter into prayer,” said Toni Esker, assistant professor of music. “It also helps us express what we’re feeling and it draws community together.”
Three choirs — Honors Ensemble,
Concert Choir and the Gospel Choir — sang an array of pieces including. Esker began choosing the music in the summer.
For Esker, her favorite song for the evening had a special meaning.
“Overall, not having to be able to perform for the last year because of COVID-19, ‘Go Tell It on the Mountain’ is something we all want to do. We want to break out, we want to sing and so this is our chance.”
Some audience members said it was their first time at the Christmastide concert.
“It’s important for out students to share their musical talents for the sake of creating community,”
Esker said.
Myriam Melidona, a junior nursing student from Oak Forest, said the songs brought so much meaning.
“Since we didn’t have the opportunity to perform for the community last year, it’s a wonderful opportunity to come together,” Melidona said. “It’s a also a way to showcase our talents and our praises to the people that come and join us and recognize the true meaning of the season of Christmas.”
She said she especially enjoyed
performing Gospel songs “Thy Name Be Praised” and “Wonderful Savior.”
“Both pieces allow for expressions of praise, reminding ourselves of the many things Christ is to us. I’m hoping we were able to uplift a lot of people tonight in this event,” she said.
Ending the concert, the audience stood and joined in singing “Joy to the World.”
“I feel honored to lead and guide these students in sharing their gifts to the community,” Esker said. “It’s something that they’ve wanted to do but they have a passion, they have a talent. It brings us so much closer together not only as a choir but also as a community.”