It was the first day of the annual Christmas on the Commons, the winter tradition that celebrates the season in New Lenox with pop up shops, food, drinks and lots and lots of Christmas lights, including the tree and a 40-foot-tall Santa Claus.
Some, like Diane Kenny, stopped by just to celebrate with college friends. Kenny, a recent New Lenox resident, met up with handful of other Chicago-area women for their own party.
“We’re having a pajama party at my house,” Kenny said.
She explained that she, a transplant from Oak Lawn this year, took her friends to the Commons because she’d been to summer events there. Before the pajamas at home, the women stopped by the Arrowhead Ale House, one of two temporary warming tents, to unwind, buy a beer and take in the suburban Christmas festivities. The college crowd said they were duly impressed.
“It’s beautiful,” Kenny said. “I just love Christmas.”
Saturday also brought arctic temperatures that hovered in the teens, but the chill didn’t appear to mean much aside from a few more layers.
“We were at the Children’s Museum so, when they closed, we migrated over here,” said Theo Lyons, who showed up with his young daughter, Liz Lyons.
Theo explained his daughter is still scared of Santa, but they enjoyed the lights and the lights and the rest of it. Santa aside, he said his family enjoyed the event.
“We’re mostly out to see the lights. I’m thankful New Lenox does such a nice event and we don’t have to travel far,” he said.
If the cold did get too much, the town offered a couple of warming tents. Aside from the Arrowhead Ale tent, the village tent outside of City Hall gave away snacks and, courtesy of the New Lenox Police Department, plastic photo identification cards for children.
The cards are mostly for fun, giving children a chance to pose in front of the digital camera just like adults in line at driver’s license facilities. But on the back, the cards included safety information such as what to do if lost and numbers to call for help. The children seemed more eager than your average adult waiting for their driver’s license and Officer Kristine Kioltyka said it’s like that every year.
“It’s very popular with the kids,” she said. “And if they’re lost, now they’ll know what to do.”
Vendors lined part of Veterans Parkway in front of City Hall. The small booths didn’t do much to keep the sellers out of the elements, but layers of warm clothes and small heaters did what they could.
At least one seller said she didn’t mind the cold and, if visitors did, all the better for her business. Moody Blues Jean Boutique was selling winter hats, sweaters, gloves and other stylish cold winter gear.
Ashley Oddo ran the stall Saturday and she said the store sells at the Christmas on the Commons every year and she loves the event.
“I look forward to seeing everyone with their family, the lights ceremony and everyone out supporting the community,” Oddo said.
Moody Blues, like other vendors, will sell at the Christmas on the Commons over several weekends, so all the better for residents who picked the warm comfort of home over the Christmas on the Commons kickoff. The event returns every weekend until Christmas with food trucks, drinks and crafts booths and the lighted walkway around the pond.
“The lights will be on every night and we ask you to come on out and shop and support our vendors,” said Mayor Tim Baldermann.
Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
