An estimated 5,000 people attended the annual Holiday in the Park and Parade on Saturday in downtown Glenview.
Many attendees wore heavy winter gear against the 26-degree cold, but some couldn’t resist sporting holiday bulb necklaces, festive headbands and the like.
The parade began in the parking lot of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and moved west on Glenview Road and north on Harlem Avenue to Jackman Park where a party awaited. The parade was held up briefly by a train.
In Jackman Park, attendees could enjoy free visits with Santa Claus in the gazebo, as well as a snow machine.
Meghan Kearney of Glenview, executive director of the Glenview Chamber of Commerce, said 38 parade entries participated, including local businesses, religious and not for profit organizations. The Glenbrook South High School marching band and poms provided school pride.
“For 28 years, the Glenview Holiday in the Park and Parade has filled downtown with sparkling lights, colorful floats, lively music and endless cheer, a magical celebration that brings our community together in holiday joy,” Kearney said.
The Glenview Public Library had a parade entry with numerous group participants.
“I think it’s really important for a library to be part of the community and a vital part of the community,” said Linda Sawyer of Glenview, the library’s deputy director of library services.
Glenview Village President Michael Jenny walked the parade route, greeting spectators.
“We really enjoy coming out this time of year for the official kickoff of the holiday season in Glenview to celebrate what we all have in common, and that is support for our communities, support for our family and friends, and if you can, to shop local and support all the businesses here in Glenview that work so hard to make our community better throughout the year,” Jenny told Pioneer Press.
Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton (14th District) of Glenview was also among elected officials participating, and has been promoting the Cook County United Against Hate initiative, “just to try to lower the temperature and to say, ‘We all just need to take a step, understand that we’re all in this together,’ and try to emphasize our unity as opposed to our division, which I think, particularly at this time of year, it’s a nice message to try and get out,” he said.
Santa Claus rode in a Glenview holiday light decorated red fire engine. For the holidays, Santa hoped for, “patience, love and understanding,” he said to Pioneer Press.
Another message of peace came from the walking nativity scene by Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. The OLPH group walked with a banner which read, “We Await the Wonders of His Love,” and handed out Christmas program and mass schedule cards along with parade candy.
Rev. Patrick Kizza, OLPH associate pastor, said, “It is important to be involved in the community parade because a church is a community itself.”
At the holidays and beyond for all, “I hope for love,” Kizza said. “Every day, love is everything.
“You cannot be kind when you don’t have love, so to me, the best is love,” Kizza said.
“We are what we have because of love of others.”
