A night of song rings in the holiday in Winnetka for another year

Classic Christmas songs performed by neighbors were in the air of Winnetka’s Village Green Park on Christmas Eve as residents joined together in a 29-year holiday tradition.

The annual Holiday Sing, put on by the Winnetka Park District, brought around 90 people of all ages to the park on Tuesday evening, Dec. 24, to sing Christmas classics ranging from “Jingle Bells” and “Frosty the Snowman” to “Silent Night” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Some used candles to help them read from their programs, while others used flashlights or the lights on their cellphones.

All who were there joined in the festivities, singing with friends, family and neighbors. A few family pets even attended.

Rose Murphy, with the Winnetka Park District, called the Holiday Sing a “wonderful community tradition.”

“This is just such a great example of the community that Winnetka as a whole and WPD are able to bring and build events like these,” she said. “I just think it’s really wonderful that we can bring the community together like this.”

Among the attendees were families who said they had been attending for almost as long as the Holiday Sing has been around, with one saying it’s been a family tradition for 28 years.

The event included members of local singing groups, including the Sheridan Singers, leading the crowd in song.

The Holiday Sing is free and traditionally goes on for about 25-30 minutes.

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Subscribe to The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a subscriber? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.