Deena and Lonnie Givens’ children faced a towering task when they flipped on Wilmette’s holiday lights Saturday.
Especially when the larger-than-life switch stood taller than both of them.
The Givens’ 5-year old daughter, Sloan, and 2-year-old son, Beau, nevertheless managed to turn on the lights decorating the Christmas tree and the entire snow-covered green in front of Village Hall. Sloan cheered, while Beau looked ahead with his mouth agape, perhaps in astonishment.
Their momentary but momentous role arose from an ask by Wilmette Village President Senta Plunkett. Deena Givens, who sits on the village’s Human Relations Commission, said she works closely with Plunkett.
“It was just one of those things that just all came together,” Deena Givens said.
And so the Givens basked in the resplendence around them, including what Plunkett told the crowd were the more than 8,000 lights on the tree alone.
The village had planted the white fir four years ago, replacing a tall but declining tree, Plunkett told Pioneer Press. The fir started out at 14 feet. Since then, while the tree shot upward, the decorations in the square have largely stayed the same, save for a few undisclosed tweaks.
“We don’t want to give all our trade secrets away,” said Brigitte Berger-Raish, Wilmette’s engineering and public works director. The department plans the decorations.
Ahead of the tree lighting, children played in the snow while the New Trier Swing Choir performed carols in front of Village Hall. Earlier in the day, Santa appeared downtown and the Wilmette Theatre showed “Elf” as part of what the village called “Holiday Happenings.”
Morgan Russo came with her husband and their children. They brought Finley, 3, and Lucy, 1, to see the lights for the first time.
“We’ve lived here for about four years, but we haven’t ever come to see this,” Russo said. “And I think our kids are now at the age where we want to start having traditions, so we thought this would be a fun tradition to start.”
