Mundelein officially kicked off the holiday season on Dec. 2 with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. Some of the festivities included performances of holiday tunes, appearances from the Miss Mundelein Pageant Queens and an extensive fireworks display.

For many community members, this tradition represents an opportunity for families to come together and get into the holiday spirit. Mayor Steve Lentz said, “The Tree Lighting Ceremony is a huge tradition in Mundelein. The Park District and the Village partner to put this event on, and our Public Works Department does a lot of work as well.”

As the sky turned dark and the air grew colder, hundreds of people still made their way to Kracklauer Park in Downtown Mundelein on Friday evening. Here are some memorable moments from the Tree Lighting Ceremony: