Waukegan officials awoke Saturday to falling snow and a forecast of eight to 12 inches, according to the National Weather Service, forcing them to decide how to conduct the city’s annual Christmas tree lighting in the midst of snow forecast to fall at a rate of an inch per hour.

Jingle on Genesee, as the city named this year’s celebration, was a combination of lighting the tree, the annual Kris Kringle Market at the Waukegan Public Library, a Hot Chocolate Walk run by the Waukegan Park District and Small Business Saturday for downtown merchants.

Mayor Sam Cunningham said the question of postponement was a nonstarter. The problem-solving centered around continuing a longstanding tradition while managing a weather emergency.

Before the snow stopped on Sunday morning, 10 inches fell on the city, according to Waukegan Snow Fighter Command, as the Public Works Department is called when the time to report to work is 4 a.m., as it was Saturday.

While the Park District cancelled the walk, Cunningham and Tiffany Verzani, the library’s executive director, said everything but the tree lighting itself was moved inside the library, including the hot chocolate.

“It is a tradition of our community, and we wanted to continue it,” Cunningham said. “With everything that’s gone here, especially the past two months, we wanted to give the community this experience. The crowd looked like Waukegan.”

With the speechmaking portion of the Waukegan Christmas tree lighting held inside due to a snowstorm, the participants walked one block from the Waukegan Public Library to Jack Benny Plaza on Saturday. (City of Waukegan)

Cunningham, Santa and Mrs. Claus led a group of more than 80 people one block from the library to Jack Benny Plaza to flip the switch, lighting the city’s Christmas Tree Saturday in Waukegan, officially starting the holiday season.

Two of the people in the crowd, both at the tree lighting and later at the library, were Grace Contreras of Waukegan and her daughter, Sophia Marquez, a fifth grader. Sophia, who said she hopes Santa brings her a kitten for Christmas, was glad she walked to the tree lighting.

“It was real colorful,” she said. “The flashing lights twinkled.”

“I appreciate the flexibility that allowed us to all come together,” Contreras added. “A lot of people worked hard to make it happen.”

A parent coaxes her young child to talk to Santa Claus during holiday festivities at the Waukegan Public Library on Saturday. (Waukegan Public Library)

Santa said he liked being part of the walk from the library to the tree lighting and back. He also had some advice for youngsters who want to assure themselves a place on his nice list.

“Be nice to your mom and dad,” he said.

Usually positioned at Jack Benny Plaza near the tree lighting, the Waukegan Chamber of
Commerce provides free hot chocolate as well as snacks. Chamber President Mike Reid said this year the snacks were conchitas, a Mexican sweetbread. Moving inside to the library was easy.

“Due to the weather, we had to figure something out,” Reid said. “The library was very festive.”

Josies Ortiz, behind table, a Waukegan 7-year-old, started Josies Stay Fresh to both sell lemonade and make beaded jewelry. She was one of the vendors at the Kris Kringle Market on Saturday at the Waukegan Public Library. (Waukegan Public Library)

Traditionally, inside the library, the annual Kris Kringle Market took place with a variety of local businesses displaying their crafts. Jennyfer Cordova, the library’s communications and community outreach manager, said there were fewer vendors than usual, but the event went well.

Cordova said between 150 and 170 people came to the market, as well as took advantage of a visit with Santa and free family pictures at a photo booth. Much of it was holiday-themed. One of the merchants was Josies Stay Fresh.

Josies Stay Fresh is operated by Josies Ortiz, 7, a Waukegan resident who started the business selling lemonade and making beaded jewelry when she was 5. Cordova said she takes custom orders, and there were numerous visitors to her table.

“It’s so nice to see someone 7 years old making a difference in the lives of others,” Cordova said.

More than 80 people dealt with a snowstorm to participate in Waukegan’s Christmas tree lighting Saturday at Jack Benny Plaza. (City of Waukegan)

Along with jewelry, Cordova said there were other jewelry makers, people crafting holiday cards, glass ornaments and one woman who does wood etchings of people’s pets. Those customers bring a picture of the pet, not the animal itself.

Though the weather may have slowed sales for some of the downtown merchants and other businesses in the city on Small Business Saturday, Cunningham said officials are working on a plan for a localized Small Business Saturday before Christmas.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/01/waukegan-christmas-tree-lighting/