New this year at Friday’s fifth-annual Zion Park District Christmas Tree Lighting was the homemade festive light switch used to illuminate several large evergreens with multicolored bulbs.

The oversized switch took a few weeks for Park District former employee Terry Staples to make.

Flipping up the custom switch were Park District board President David Fermaint and Mayor Billy McKinney.

“It is absolutely fantastic, and I was going to say, in the words of Crocodile Dundee, ‘Now that’s a switch,’” McKinney said with a smile. Santa’s helper Staples was in the audience to witness the big illumination moment.

“It’s a great community gift that we’ll look forward to utilizing every year,” McKinney said.

The event, launched in 2021, began this year inside the gym of the Zion Park District Leisure Center along Shiloh Park. After the party, featuring saxophone quartet music and caroling plus visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, everyone headed outside for the flipping of the light switch.

Center, in white sweater, is Xcaret Anguiano, 11, a sixth-grader from Zion in the gym at the Christmas Tree Lighting event at the Zion Park District Leisure Center in Zion on Dec. 12, 2025. (Karie Angell Luc/Lake County News-Sun)

“The magnificent light this tree gives us signifies the unity, goodwill and the fundamental spirit of our community,” Fermaint said. “Our wish is that this season brings peace to every home, hope to every heart, and a lasting promise of harmony as we celebrate together.”

There were snacks, a free handheld laser wand for children from Santa and Mrs. Claus, plus ornament-decorating for the official community Positivi-Tree.

Carlotta Zickovich, 2, of Zion, shyly approached Santa and Mrs. Claus in the company of her parents Felicia Andrade and Justin Zickovich. Carlotta is hoping for “anything Blue” from Santa, her mother said, referring to toys associated with the popular “Bluey” animated franchise.

Local school districts came together to perform choir music.

Some of the 40 Zion school district choir members pose with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the gym at the Christmas Tree Lighting event at the Zion Park District Leisure Center in Zion on Dec. 12, 2025. (Karie Angell Luc/Lake County News-Sun)

“I love that our kids get to participate in community events, and get to come together to showcase their talents for the community,” said Kerri Gilbert, instructional program coordinator for Zion Elementary School District 6.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for them to be able to get in front of people that they know and show what they can do,” she said.

Four saxophonists performed before the choir caroling. The musicians in the quartet were Lindenhurst siblings Lucas and Nicholas Wertman, both on alto sax, tenor saxophonist Gabriel Hernandez of Lindenhurst, and baritone sax player Jay Young from Lake Villa.

“It’s very important,” Nicholas Wertman, 18, said of performing. “I grew up somewhat around Zion, and I have family here, so it’s a lot of fun. I get to play some Christmas music, and it’s great.”

Performing on baritone saxophone with a Lake County saxophone quartet is Jay Young from Lake Villa in the gym at the Christmas Tree Lighting event at the Zion Park District Leisure Center in Zion on Dec. 12, 2025. (Karie Angell Luc/Lake County News-Sun)

Lucas Wertman said music, “can bring cultures together, and it just provides a sense of happiness and joy. It brings the community together.”

“I think music has a way of just setting emotions without words,” Hernandez said.

Young added, “There’s a lot (of music) in my heart, but really what I think it is, is uniting each other with passion and bringing everybody together to feel that same love that music connects us with.”

The Home for the Holidays Lighted Christmas Trail offered the opportunity for motorists to drive through the Shiloh Park lighted trail south near the leisure center.

Not yet turned on. Seen on Dec. 12, 2025 in Zion. The festive switch took a few weeks to make by former Zion Park District employee Terry Staples of Zion. (Karie Angell Luc/Lake County News-Sun)

The traditional trail features more than 50 displays and 100,000 lights. The trail will be open through Jan. 2, open daily from 5 to 9 p.m.

A driver side mirror image of the Trail of Lights in Shiloh Park before the Christmas Tree Lighting event held nearby at the Zion Park District Leisure Center in Zion on Dec. 12, 2025. (Karie Angell Luc/Lake County News-Sun)

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/15/zion-christmas-tree-lighting/